volume 25/no.6 PETS… AT THE LIBRARY july/august 2005 MOVIN’ ON: DOWNSIZING CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY COLOR YOUR SHADY GARDEN WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT MT. LEBANON? PLUS HISTORIC HOUSES: WOODVILLE PLANTATION SENIOR LIVING GUIDE SUMMER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE www.mtlebanon.org TEL: 412.343.3407 • FAX 412.343.7841 E - MAIL : LEBOMAG @ MTLEBANON . ORG MUNICIPAL COMMISSION T Y E LY , PRESIDENT ; B ARBARA L OGAN , VICE PRESIDENT ; D ALE C OLBY , D AVID H UMPHREYS , K EITH M ULVIHILL 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 CONTRIBUTORS T RACY C ERTO , J OHN C ONTI , M ONICA K AO , F RANK K ELLY , B ETH M AY , D EBBIE M C G EE , L OTA M ITCHELL , C HRISTINE H. O‘T OOLE , V IRGINIA R. P HILLIPS , J OEL R OTEMAN , H OLLY S CHULTZ , J ANICE S EIGLE , L ARRY S LATER , A LICE D EMETRIUS S TOCK , C AROLE T AKACH , B ETSY T HOMPSON , B OB T AYLOR , E LAINE W ERTHEIM , W ILLIAM W YLIE , A NDREA Z RIMSEK INTERN N EAL B ROWN COPY DESK J OHN P ARKER , HEAD ; E LAINE C APPUCCI , H ENRY D AUBNER , J OYCE D E F RANCESCO , C AMILLE H UZZARD , S HANNON P ROUD , D ENISE R ITTER ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER H ELEN M W ORSING PHOTOGRAPHERS friend who visit- ed our house for the first time looked around and asked, wide-eyed, “Where in the h—- did you get all this stuff?” Knowing he lived in a sparely decorated, kid-proofed house, I understood his consternation. My house is overflowing with “stuff.” But I can answer his question. I bought the gold-framed mirror in my din- ing room at an estate sale in Squirrel Hill. The Chippendale-style dining room chairs came from a lady in Scott Township who advertised them in the Post-Gazette. The antique card table in the entry is from the old Vicar Antiques. The elephant lamp in the den is from TJ Maxx. The tole trays on the opposite wall are from The Meadows, the Castle Shannon Antiques Center, a Bemus Point, N.Y., flea market and an antiques shop in Lawrenceville. The 20 or so small mirrors in the hall are souvenirs from my mother-in-law’s world travels. Four of the break- fast room’s Windsor chairs are from the World’s Largest Garage Sale; two are from Twice Treasured. The family room rug—the most valuable thing I owned until the cats scratched it—is from an antiques dealer on the South Side. I found my bedroom furniture at a garage sale on Crestvue Manor. My daughter and I bought the zodiac prints on the mantel at a tiny shop on Isle St. Louis in Paris. (I actually bar- gained in French!) The Luke Swank photo- graphs on the stairway were my aunt’s—she worked with him. The alabaster lamp that looks like it came from Restoration Hardware was my mother’s—she thought it had gone out of style! I could go on and on, and that’s only the stuff he could see. Inside my drawers and closets there’s more stuff. Piles of photos my mom kept in a drawer for 40 years, realized she would never get around to making an album and gave to me; I stuck them in a drawer, where they’ve waited 10 more years. There are dozens of my daughter’s school papers and drawings, a drawer filled with enough long underwear to outfit the U.S. ski team, two closets full of coats no one wears, an entire armoire of beach towels and three junk drawers filled with paper clips, rubber bands and pens that don’t work. And there’s a dusty box under the eaves in the attic with old diaries, pressed rosebud corsages and letters from old boyfriends. I love my stuff. Every single piece of it reminds me of something, someone or somewhere important or is something that I am sure I’ll need sometime soon. Don’t ask me to get rid of it. I’m not ready. Still, there comes a time in everyone’s life when it’s time to move to a house with a small- er yard, a one-floor house, a condo, an apart- ment or an assisted living situation—to go through the beloved stuff of a lifetime, piece by piece, and decide what to take with us, what to give to the kids and the grandkids, what to donate to charity and what to toss. For people who shop at Roomful Express and have only an ashtray as an accessory, downsizing might be easy. For me, thank goodness there’s help, as Anne Caffee’s story on page 34 points out. I should probably start now. Susan Fleming Morgans Editor in Chief E RIN A RNOLD , M ARY J ANE B ENT , C OREY L A C HAT , G ENE P USKAR , E D R IEKER , C HRISTOPHER R OLINSON , R ENEE R OSENSTEEL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR D IANE C YPHERS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES C YNTHIA G ISSIN , J EAN P ETERSON , K RISTA T ROY F OSTER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT R ITA L EVINE mt lebanon magazine is published by Mt. Lebanon Municipality, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15228. The magazine is a non- profit source of public information, taking a constructive approach to com- munity and regional issues, news, trends and events. Copies are mailed free to residents 10 times a year (Jan./Feb. and July/Aug. are combined). If you do not receive a copy, tell your postal carrier. Nonresident subscriptions are $35. mt lebanon does not accept political advertising of any kind and reserves the right to refuse advertising that is inconsistent with the magazine’s purpose or aesthetic standards. mt. lebanon magazine never knowingly publishes adver- tising that is misleading or makes fraudulent claims. If you have a concern about an advertisement offer, you should contact the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, 412-456-2700 or www.pittsburgh.bbb.org mt lebanon magazine issues from 2002 to the present may be viewed online at www.mtlebanon.org. Bound volumes of all past issues are available at Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Extra copies are available at Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Scott, Castle Shannon and Upper St. Clair libraries, area coffee shops and Borders Books and Music. ©2005 Mt. Lebanon, Pa. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without permission of the editor. E M E R G E N C Y O N L Y POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL RESCUE 9 1 1 O V E R N I G H T P A R K I N G R E Q U E S T S 4 1 2 - 3 4 3 - 4 0 2 3 ( M O N D A Y T H R O U G H F R I D A Y 3 : 3 0 P . M . T O 1 1 P . M . W E E K E N D S A N D H O L I D A Y S B E T W E E N 7 P . M . A N D 1 1 P . M . ) GENERAL OFFICES 412-343-3400 Fax 412-343-3753 Mt. Lebanon InfoLine 412-343-0400 Homepage: www.mtlebanon.org Administration 412-343-3404 412-343-3409 Recreation Programs Police/Fire Non-Emergency 412-531-5300 412-341-LEBO Recreation INFOLINE Public Works 412-343-3403 412-561-4363 Ice Rink Inspection 412-343-3408 412-561-6626 Swimming Pool Economic Development 412-343-3412 412-561-9761 Golf Course Tax Office 412-343-3405 412-343-3411 Tennis Center Finance 412-343-3410 412-531-1912 Library Sewage Billing 412-343-3406 412-561-5405 Outreach Magazine 412-343-3407 412-343-0369 TTY (deaf non-emergency) Public Information 412-343-3407 412-343-5111 Medical Rescue Team South www.mtlebanon.org 1 about this issue mt. lebanon A mt. lebanon C O N T E N T S features 34 34 38 42 48 50 MOVIN’ ON: DOWNSIZING Taking the leap from the family home to a condo or a retirement community? Let the experts help you decide what to preserve, pass on or pitch. By Anne Caffee With research by Neal Brown THE LIBRARY GOES TO THE DOGS… And the cats and the birds and the gerbils and the worms. The library’s annual pet show is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. By Lota Mitchell PLAYING WITH FIRE Fun without the fear factor—that’s how Merle Jantz and M.A. Jackson experienced the Citizens Fire Academy, where they learned there’s more to firefighting than extinguishing flames. SHADE GARDENING It is possible to grow something other than dirt under your mighty oak. How to put color under the canopy. By Janice Seigle WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT MT. LEBANON? The magazine staff shares a few of its favorite things. What are yours? 38 ABOUT THE COVER 42 Everyone’s a winner at the Library’s Pet Show—Patrick Walsh’s fearless hamster Teddy, was voted “softest.” Though dogs and cats outnumber them, even goldfish and earthworms come away with an award that captures their most outstanding traits. Don’t miss this annual event, now in its 21st year, at 7 P . M ., Wednesday, July 20. 54 See story, page 38. Cover photo by Renee Rosensteel Vol.25/No. 6 july/august 2005 departments 4 EVENTS 6 LETTERS 7 AROUND TOWN Town Topics…7 Mark Your Calendar…14 Community Updates…16 Public Safety…22 Ones to Watch…57 Stuff We Like…69 24 COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT B ARBARA LOGAN 54 HISTORIC HOUSES: WOODVILLE PLANTATION Home to a Virginia gentleman who fell victim to the Whiskey Rebels. By Larry Slater 74 LIBRARY PROGRAMS 76 BACKWORDS The Living Room…Again. It’s a (Greek) family affair. By Alice Demetrius Stock 54 market place 76 market place mt. lebanon 13 SUMMER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE 25 SENIOR LIVING GUIDE 70 CLASSIFIED ADS 73 COUPONS 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 (September 2005 issue informa- tion is due by Thursday, July 21). Fax: 412-343-7841; E-mail: mjackson@mtlebanon.org; Mail: 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228. For more information call 412-343-3790. Annie O’Neill’s “The Contractor, North Side” is part of Silver Eye Center for Photography’s “Pittsburgh NOW” exhibit. Dallas Mavericks owner and for- mer Mt. Lebanonite Mark Cuban will speak at St. Clair Hospital’s Golf Classic and Gala, Sunday, July 17. See “be there!” for details. MARKET DAYS An eclectic open-air market featuring flowers, antiques, collectibles and French flea market items takes place 9 A . M .-1 P . M ., Saturdays, July 9, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10, Corner Shops of Mt. Lebanon, Shady Drive East and Castle Shannon Boulevard. Vicar Antiques, Josephine Florals, The Cuckoo's Nest Café, Locante's Restaurant and assort- ed vendors. Tables are $25 at 412-341- 5431. LITTLE LAKE THEATER “Twigs,” July 7-9, 14-17, 21-23. “Moon Over Buffalo” July 28-30, Aug. 4-7, 11-14. “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Aug. 18-20, 25-28 and Sept. 1-4. Shows are 8 P . M ., Thursday, Friday, Saturday; 2 P . M ., Sunday. Tickets: $12.50, Thursday and Sunday; $14, Friday and Saturday. Children 15 and under, $8. 724-745-6300. Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg. CALL FOR ARTISTS Mt. Lebanon Sunrise Rotary’s annual fine arts festival “Art in the Park,” is Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2. Call 412-561-1224 for information and applications. SILVER EYE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY “Pittsburgh NOW,” runs through Aug. 20 at 1015 East Carson Street. Features works of nine photojournalists and documentary-style photog- raphers who have described with their cameras what Pittsburgh looks like today. Admission is free; gallery hours are noon-5 P . M ., Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and noon-9 P . M ., Thursday. 412-431-1810. www.silvereye.org. MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATER July 23, Sept. 3, Oct. 8 and 29, Christian W. Klay Winery, Laurel Highlands. Buffet, wine tasting and interactive murder mystery. $34 per person. Other July/August events include a French & Indian War com- memorative dinner on July 9, New be there! England clambake on July 30 and Aug. 20 and Dancin’ to the Oldies on Aug. 13. For information, call 724- 439-3424. www.cwklaywinery.com. SUMMER TEEN CENTER Teens! Come to the Mt. Lebanon pool 8:15 to 10 P . M ., Friday, July 15 and Wednesday, Aug. 31 for swimming, DJ and fun. $3. PITTBURGH BLUES FESTIVAL July 15-17, Hartwood Acres. Children’s area, food booths, arts and crafts and musicians Edgar Winter, Elvin Bishop, Dickey Betts & Great Southern and more. Benefits Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Tickets are $18 in advance; $20 at gate. REUNIONS Weekend pass is $50. Tickets at www.pghblues.com, Dave’s Music Mine and Paul’s CDs. For a list of perform- ance times, check the Web Site or call 412-460-BLUE. GOLF CLASSIC Southwinds, Inc. hosts the Missie Berteotti Golf Classic Monday, Aug. 29, Southpointe Golf Club. Sponsor- ships are available. Individual golfer package includes golf, golf cart, green fees, locker room, gift, lunch and din- ner for $225. The event also features silent auction, raffle, hole-in-one auto- mobile prize, cash prizes and an appearance by former LPGA golfer Missie Berteotti. Information at 724- 941-7600. CABARET PITTSBURGH This classic cabaret experience was developed by the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. July 9 features actor Robert Cuccioli; Sept. 9 is jazz artist Ann Hampton Callaway. Both shows Celebrating Diversity celebrates its fifth anniversary 12:30-4 P . M ., Sunday, July 10 with a picnic at Barbara and Fred Kraft’s house, 109 Parkridge Lane (abutting Mt. Lebanon Park). Bring a snack or finger food to share and a chair. Drinks and cake will be provided. Game playing and socializing. Call 412-343-7178 for information… St. Clair Hospital’s Golf Classic and Gala kicks off 5 P . M ., Sunday, July 17, Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe. The evening includes dinner, silent auction, music by Studio-e Band and guest speaker Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Tickets are $100. All proceeds benefit the hospital’s capital campaign. For information about the gala or the Monday, July 18 golf classic, call 412-344-6600 ext. 2465. www.stclair.org. 4 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 are 9:30 P . M . at the Renaissance Hotel Tickets are $45 and include perform- ance, glass of wine and selection of hors d’ouevres. 412-394-3353 or www. picttheatre.org. MUSIC FOR MT. LEBANON Diamond Jubilee Anniversary will be held at the newly renovated Holiday Inn on Fort Couch Road, 5 P . M ., Saturday, Nov. 19. Singer, songwriter, pianist and comedian Cahal Dunne will provide entertainment. For tickets, call 724-941-9490. LANNY FRATTARE GOLF CLASSIC 27-hole scramble is 9 A . M ., July 11, St. Clair Country Club. Continental breakfast, lunch on the course, cock- tail reception, silent auction and din- ner. Register at 412-924-0172. Benefits FamilyLinks. MT. LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL 1955 REUNION October 14, 15, 16. Call George Schoeppner at 412-851-9132 for information. MT. LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL 1995 REUNION 7 P . M ., Friday, Nov. 25, Keystone Corner Room of the Pittsburgh Baseball Club Level, PNC Park. E- mail current contact information to mtlhsclassof95@hotmail.com. CLUBS MT. LEBANON JUNIOR WOMEN'S CLUB A fun social and civic club where new members are welcome. Activities include lunch with babysitting, wine and dine and volunteer opportuni- ties. Call now for information regard- ing the August new member social. www.mljwc.org. 412-531-5002. NEWCOMERS’ CLUB OF MT. LEBANON A social club where new friends are made. Open to Mt. Lebanon women who are new to the area or are just looking to meet new people. $30/year membership. 412-531-2581. HELPING HANDS PARENT LEARNING SUPPORT NETWORK For parents of children with special education needs (from slight to very involved). Support, free monthly meetings, information. Open to the public. 412-531-5869; 412-561- 8432. SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCE CENTER Adult section, Mt. Lebanon Library. Resources for gifted and disabled stu- dents including books, pamphlets, videos, Web site links and organization contact information. 412-531-1912. don’t miss… Society for Contemporary Craft hosts the exhibit “Color: Ten African American Artists” through Oct. 22. The show features a variety of craft media including clay, fiber, wood and mixed materials by 38 emerging and established artists from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Located at 2100 Smallman Street, Strip District, the Society for Contemporary Craft is open 9 A . M ., to 5 P . M ., Monday through Saturday. For informa- tion on hands-on art activities and the Drop-In Studio, call 412-261-7003 or www.contemporary craft.org. WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY Nonprofit organization helping wo- men recover from problem drinking. Meets 7:30 P . M ., Wednesdays, St. Paul’s Church, 1066 Washington Road. www.womenforsobriety.org. PAGE (PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED EDUCATION) For parents whose children are/may be gifted. Support/information. 412-343- 7641; e-mail: Lourdes@manyquarks. com or www.penngifted.org. COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES Offered by Medical Rescue Team South. Adult CPR/AED is 6:30 P . M ., Wednesday, July 13 ($30). Infant/child CPR is 6:30 P . M ., Thursday, July 14 ($30). Healthcare CPR is 8:30 A . M ., Saturday, July 9 ($45). Heartsave First Aid is 6:30 P . M ., Tuesday, July 19 ($55). Discounts for a combination of classes. Registration required at 412-343- 5111. All classes held at MRTSA head- quarters, 315 Cypress Way. MICHELLE’S PLACE A support group to help people with cancer lead productive lives while cop- ing with the disease. Meets 7 P . M ., the first Thursday of each month, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church, 1207 Washington Rd. 412-279-3774. The theme of the Aug. 5, First Friday on Washington Road is “Latin Heat.” Stop by Washington Road from 6 to 9 P . M . for food, shopping and music by Azucar Latin Ensemble, Tangueros de Ley, Resonance Steel Band and Ben Hartlage. Children’s activities include The Balloonatic and street performer Donna Penoyer. In addition there will be a juried art show, farmers market and special guest appear- ance by local mime Dan Kamin, below. First Fridays is produced by the Washington Road Business and Professional Association and Mt. Lebanon Municipality. www.washingtonroad.com. SOUTHWINDS SEEKS VOLUNTEERS This nonprofit organization providing community-involved living arrange- ments for mentally retarded and devel- opmentally challenged individuals seeks volunteers for help with special events and home improvement proj- ects and for being “special friends.” 724-941-7600. FAMILY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE Seeks volunteers with professional skills to do computer work, office work, public relations and special projects. Call 412-572-8806. MOTHERS & MORE A support group for moms who have altered their career path to care for their children at home. Meets 7:15 P . M . on Monday, July 11 and Monday, Aug. 1, Panera Bread, The Galleria. Infor- mation at 412-343-1916. www. geoci- ties.com/mothersandmore_swpgh ASK AN ARCHITECT Mt. Lebanon residents who plan to expand or remodel their homes/land- scapes can have a two-hour consulta- tion with an architect because of Mt. Lebanon's membership in the Com- munity Design Center's Renovation Network. Cost is $150. Call 412-391- 4333 Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, offers a myriad of classes for the home gardener (including Weed Identification and Control and Home Lawn Care), children (Deserts and Desserts), and artists (Summer Field Sketching). Topics for the free public programs include butter- flies, flowering trees and orchids. Or take an herb garden walk 10 A . M .-noon, Thursdays July 7 and Aug. 4, with members of the Herb Society of America in Mellon Park’s Elizabeth Herb Garden (free) or visit Muddy Paws Organic Farm 10 A . M .- noon, Tuesday, July 19 ($16, members; $20, nonmembers). For information, call 412-441-4442 or log on to www.phipps.conservatory.org. GREATER PITTSBURGH LITERACY COUNCIL Hosts a 12-hour workshop 6-9 P . M ., Aug. 15, 17, 22 and 24, Mt. Lebanon Public Library to train volunteer tutors to teach English as a Second Language to adults in our community and throughout the South Hills. 412-531- 3004, 412-661-7323 or www.gplc.org for registration forms. Advance regis- tration is required. CLASSES & LECTURES AUDUBON SOCIETY OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA Offering classes throughout August for children, families and adults including Backyard Bird Feeding, Bird Identification Workshop and Beginner Mushroom ID. An Owl Prowl at Todd Sanctuary in Butler County is 8-10 P . M ., Tuesday, Aug. 9 ($3 members; $5 nonmembers; reservations required). A Full Moon Hike is 8:30-10 P . M ., Friday, Aug. 19, Beechwood Farms, Fox Chapel. ($4, members; $5 non-mem- bers. Reservations required) www.aswp .org or call 412-963-6100. WOODVILLE PLANTATION SPEAKER SERIES The National Historic Landmark, located on Route 50, presents a lecture “The Whiskey Trail,” Sunday, July 10. House tours will be given between 1 and 4 P . M .; lecture at 1:30 and 3 P . M . www.woodvilleplantation.org. PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER SUMMER LECTURE SERIES Hear world renowned glass artists speak about their art, 6-7 P . M ., Wednesdays. July 13 is Ben Edols; July 20 is Matthew Eskuche and Frantisek Janak and July 27 is Erik Meek, Jeff Mack and Caroline Madden. Lectures are free and open to the public. 5472 Penn Avenue, East End. 412-365- 2145. www.pittsburghglasscenter.org. BUSINESS SERIES Free classes at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 612 Smithfield St. 12:15 P . M . Thursdays. July 14 is “Real Estate Tax Issues for Rental Property and Home Owners.” For information and other topics, call 412-281-7141 or www.carnegielibrary.org/locations/ downtown. www.mtlebanon.org 5 mt. lebanon magazine probably can’t easily toot • Understand the basic components of compo- sition, content and print quality. • Excellent interpersonal skills. Resume/Digital portfolio to: mt. lebanon magazine, RE: PHOTO, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228. CORRECTION Kieran O’Malley’s name was misspelled in last month’s “Out of Bounds.” PUBLIC WORKSHOP Discussion of the Mt. Lebanon Station Air Rights Development Project, Tuesday, July 12, 1 to 5 P . M ., Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road. The meeting will begin with a brief overview of the history of the site, existing conditions, issues and challenges and then move into an open work session on possible development alternatives. Public comment will be recorded. SCHOOL BOARD Discussion sessions, Mondays, July 11 & Aug. 8, Mt. Lebanon High School Library, 155 Cochran Road, 7:30 P . M . Regular meetings, Mondays, July 18 & Aug. 15, Mt. Lebanon High School Library, 155 Cochran Road, 7:30 P . M . S HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD Mondays, July 18 & Aug. 15, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, 7 P . M • Demonstrated knowledge in preparing and formatting both printed and digital images for print. Experience using digital camera. R ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Wednesdays, July 13 & Aug. 10, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Conference Room C, 7:30 P . M . • MAC OSX. Minimum two years experience in Photoshop, Quark, InDesign, and Illustrator or Freehand. E COMMISSION Mondays, July 11 and Aug. 8, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, Room A, 710 Washington Road. Discussion session 6 P . M ., meeting, 8 P . M . Agendas will be available the Friday before the meeting on InfoLine, 412-343- 0400, message number 142 and 143. IDEAL CANDIDATE MUST POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: T PUBLIC MEETINGS Will also work closely with art director in design of display ads and layout of classified ad and recreation pages, develop designs for various municipal departments, and serve on the planning team for all special events. T Editor’s Note: mt. lebanon magazine writers have won 23 Golden Quills and numerous Matrix, IABC, PRSA and other awards since the maga- zine was founded in 1981. In addition to Morgans’ six, Golden Quills have gone to Virginia Phillips, the magazine’s founding editor, and to current editorial staffers Merle Jantz, managing editor; M.A. Jackson, associate editor, and Anne Caffee, staff writer, and to contribu- tors Tracy Certo, Christine H. O’Toole, Elaine Wertheim, Alice Demetrius Stock and Rae Anne Urick. Thanks to our design staff for making us look good, to the Mt. Lebanon staff and commis- sion for their support, to our loyal advertisers, and most of all to you, our readers. Position involves management of all photo- graphic information for magazine production. Responsibilities include assigning photos, managing freelance photography staff, first- stage editor and preparer of photographic material. E is own horn, but it should be tooted nonethe- less. The most recent Golden Quill Award for excellent journalism—yet another feather in Susan Morgans’ quill—is only one in series of citations the magazine has garnered since its founding 24 years ago. Even without awards, the magazine, like our library, is a communi- ty jewel with something of value for every res- ident, linking past to present, people to places and neighbor to neighbor. Congratulations and thanks. Baylee Gordon Magnolia Place PHOTO COORDINATOR/ JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER FOR PART-TIME POSITION AT MT. LEBANON MAGAZINE L CONGRATULATIONS TRAFFIC BOARD No July or August meetings. PARKS ADVISORY BOARD Tuesday, July 5, Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center, Room B, 2nd floor, 900 Cedar Blvd., 7:30 P . M No August meet- ing scheduled. ZONING HEARING BOARD Thursdays, July 28 & Aug. 25, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, Commission Chambers, 7:30 P . M PLANNING BOARD Tuesdays, July 26 & Aug. 23, Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road, discussion session, Confer- ence Room C, 7 P . M ; meeting, Commission Chambers, 8 P . M . For information on locations and times for the remaining public meetings, click on “What’s New” on the municipal Web site, turn on Mt. Lebanon Cable Channel 7, or call the Mt. Lebanon Info Line at 412-343-0400. 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 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 mt. lebanon ♦ MARTHA’S PLAYGROUND W complete, hen at Mt. no the one new Lebanon will Martha’s be able Park Playground finally land- is to tell TOWN TOPICS better playground in the end.” Martha’s Playground is a collaborative project with the municipality and the Martha Dixon family to build a signature playground in Mt. Lebanon Park. Martha’s Fund, a foundation established in 1997 in memory of Dixon, a Mt. Lebanon native and FBI agent who was killed in the line of duty, contributed $50,000 toward the playground. Contri- butions from Martha’s Fund have helped build other playgrounds in Beltzhoover and at Holy Family Institute. Martha’s Run, held in Mt. Lebanon every April, is the foundation’s main fund-raiser. The Mt. Lebanon Parks Master Plan, formally adopted by the commission in March 2004, has earmarked about $400,000 toward playground improve- COMPASSIONATE CARE CENTER natural and serve the active needs of users, too,” says LaQuatra Bonci’s Joe Hackett. ➤ p.9 scape architect Joe Hackett of LaQuatra Bonci that public input was ignored. Redesigning the playground at Mt. Lebanon Park has been a back-to-the- drawing board balancing act to please two different types of park users—those who seek to preserve as much empty green- space as possible in Mt. Lebanon’s parks, and those who want to create a premier playground. “We had to find ways to pre- serve as much greenspace as possible and still provide an adequate play space at the same time,” he says. “There were times I got the impression that people didn’t want any play equipment at all. But their com- ments pushed us into what will be a much ➤ p.8 Mt. Lebanon’s parks are for everybody—young, old and in-between. But users differ on what makes the perfect park: it’s a delicate but achievable balance between those who Gene Puskar appreciate greenspace and those who come to play. “There is a way to keep the park Groundbreaking on the Center for Compassionate Care, Family Hospice and Palliative Care’s new 42,000-square-foot building at the former Ward Home on Moffett Street, should take place in July, says Family Hospice’s president and CEO Rafael Sciullo. Building renovations and landscaping of its 3.3-acre campus— which should take between 12 to 18 months to complete—will cost about $4 million, and will be funded by a capital campaign scheduled to begin this fall. Family Hospice’s 12 inpatient hospice units will feature a kitchen for patients and families, overnight accommodations for family members, a family gathering space and a quiet contemplation room. The center also will serve as a community and professional educational facility for end- of-life issues, with meeting rooms for care- giver and bereavement support groups, and a 200-seat auditorium to accommodate professional seminars and conferences. www.mtlebanon.org 7 around ♦ town ▼ P L A Y G R O U N D p. 7 ments. Commemorative brick sales to help fund the playground should reach around $20,000 this year, says Recreation Director Bill Moore. If the Martha’s Playground plan is approved by the com- mission in July, bids will go out in August, and the heavy equipment will move in come September. Western Pennsylvania’s steep topogra- phy, poor soils and bad drainage are all challenges a landscape architect has to grapple with, along with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations for public parks. Combine all of this with everyone’s particular vision of what makes a nice playground, and you see how difficult it can be to reach consensus. The first few designs Hackett presented at the parks advisory board meetings were met with skepticism. Some residents thought there was too much playground equipment and too little greenspace. Others questioned the brightness of park lighting. Still others clamored for enough space for Frisbee and volleyball in the summer and sledding in the winter. So it was back to the drawing board to create a park that would look spa- cious yet have enough play value to be a destination playground. “Kids have as much fun running around on the grass as they do playing on the equipment,” says Moore. “We wanted to create a balance.” In 1972, Mt. Lebanon Park underwent its first major renovation with the Cascade wooden playground and the construction of the park’s well-loved curved stone walls. The wooden structures that lasted for almost 25 years are gone now, but the same “curved wall” theme will be echoed throughout the new playground, starting at the entrance. There will be three sepa- rate play areas: An area for the youngest users, up to five years old will be closest to the entrance. Area two, in the middle, will be for early school age users, ages 5 to 7. In the back corner will be an area for older children, ages 10 to 12. Swing sets, a tradi- tional playground favorite, will be includ- ed in the plan but not to a great extent: they gobble up too much space. Safety regulations require a swing to have quadruple the amount of space in front and back as it measures in feet off the 8 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Residents wanted to maximize greenspace in Mt. Lebanon Park, and landscape architects at LaQuatra Bonci listened. The final Martha’s Playground design preserves a maximum of trees (the umbrella-like figures in the above drawing) and has a center green perfect for activ- ities like Frisbee and tag in the warmer months and sledding in the winter. ground. For example: a 7-foot high swing must have 28 feet of clearance ahead and behind to be considered safe. Hackett was impressed with a Swedish company, KomPan, whose unique, sculptural collec- tion of play structures—nets, steel cables and poles—provide maximum play value with a minimum of space. “Every square inch is designed for a child to play on,” he says. A picnic pavilion and small amphitheater may be phased in at a later time. The park’s existing play structures will be moved to Williamsburg Park, says Moore, and the two existing picnic shel- ters will remain. The costs for playground equipment go up every year, due to constant testing, research and development, says Hackett. Some pieces can go for $50,000 or more. Constantly changing safety regulations also play a part in driving up costs. “Most of the play equipment you prob- ably grew up with is no longer considered safe,” he says. The surface below the equipment can be expensive, too: rubber- ized surfaces cost more upfront, but are easier and cheaper to maintain in the long run. “If you design a playground properly, the maintenance costs will be reasonable,” says Moore. With 14 active and passive use parks in six square miles and a municipal govern- ment dedicated to improving and main- taining them, Mt. Lebanon is much closer to meeting ideal park and recreation stan- dards than most places, says Hackett. “All the commissioners came to each park meeting and all the public meetings,” he says. “And that’s how things get done.” Other LaQuatra Bonci projects include the riverfront trails at Washington’s Landing and on the South Side, the playgrounds in South Park, the Regional Parks Master Plan for the city of Pittsburgh, and a major city park in downtown Asheville, N.C. If you would like to contribute to the playground consider purchasing a com- memorative brick to be part of the walk- way, similar to those at the public safety center and the library. They come in two sizes—4-by-8 inches and 8-by-8 inches— for $100 or $200. Order forms are avail- able online at www.mtlebanon.org, at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, 900 Cedar Blvd., or by calling 412-343- 3409. Brick donations are tax deductible. Donations to the Martha Fund, also tax deductible, can be sent to the Martha Fund, 933 Rockwood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15234. T O W N T O P I C S Family Hospice and Palliative Care received final commission approval in June for a new 12-bed inpatient hospice unit at the former Ward Home on Moffett Street. When complete in 2006, the 42,000-square-foot building will serve as the agency’s headquarters and will feature a courtyard and meditation gardens, kitchen facilities, overnight accommodations for families, community ▼ education rooms and a 200-seat auditorium. p. 7 The former Ward Home’s indoor gym will remain as is—good news for the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, which uses the gym for its basketball, tennis, soc- cer and baseball programs—but the out- door basketball court will be removed to make way for a new 51-space parking lot on the building’s south side. Extensive changes to the building’s look and landscaping will ensure that the facil- ity will blend in well with the surrounding residential area. A new pitched roof, new windows and a courtyard meditation gar- den and sculpture garden will help soften the institutional look of the building for a more welcoming look, says architect Dick Schmitz of MacLachlan, Cornelius and Filoni, Family Hospice’s architectural firm on the project. “We wanted to make the building more comfortable and inviting for patients and their families, so they will feel comfortable when they bring their loved ones here,” he says. The center’s entrance will move to the south side of the building, with an entrance driveway from Moffett Street leading to a circular drive and a three-story open well entry. Along the driveway will be a garden walkway with two seating areas lined with flowerbeds and a four sea- sons sculpture garden at the end of the walkway. The front of the building will have an enclosed courtyard and medita- tion garden shaded by the existing tall oak trees. Each patient room will have access to the meditation garden through French doors and a balcony. Family Hospice, which has both teen and adult volunteers, is looking ahead to “a lot of intergenerational interaction and exchange with the students across the street at Jefferson,” says Sciullo. “We will welcome their presence in and around the center.” Last year, Family Hospice and Palliative Care served more than 2,500 patients with life-limiting illness and their families in homes, nursing homes, hospitals and personal care homes in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It operates at four sites—Mt. Lebanon, Shadyside, Hermitage and Butler/Beaver County—serving 250 patients a day with a staff of more than 100 employees and 250 volunteers. To find out more about Family Hospice and Palliative Care, call 412-572-8800 or visit www.familyhospice.com. T O W N T O P I C S p.10 www.mtlebanon.org 9 T O P I C S Christopher Rolinson T O W N QUALITY WORKMANSHIP Serving the South Hills for 23 years Fully Insured • Free Estimates M EMBER OF THE B ETTER B USINESS B UREAU 412-854-5272 The sky finally cleared and the colors were posted at Clearview Common, proclaiming the Washington Road parklet officially open during the First Friday street fair on June 3. Cutting the rib- bon were Commission President Ty Ely, color guard member and Brownie Sarah Rogan; Wallace Workmaster, Mt. Lebanon Historic Preservation Board; U. S. Rep. Tim Murphy, Spec. Joshua Keller and Girl Scout leader Susan Gold. ▼ Kitchens • Bathrooms Family Rooms • Additions Electrical Wiring Ceramic Tile p. 9 TAGGED It’s unlikely that the people who have been spray painting “Troop 262” on Mt. Lebanon buildings are Boy Scouts. “We guess these are all Mt. Lebanon kids who are probably all in junior or sen- ior high school,” says Deputy Police Chief Gene Roach of the recent spate of graffiti throughout the community. He adds that the graffiti is more than likely a competi- tion between a couple groups of kids. “These are cliques, not gangs,” Roach says of the graffiti “artists.” Under police code, graffiti is defined as “an unauthorized inscription, word, fig- ure, mark or design which is written, marked, etched, scratched, drawn or painted.” Depending on where the graffi- ti has been painted, the offense will be either criminal mischief or institutional vandalism. Graffiti on private property generally carries a criminal mischief charge. If the graffiti appears on public buildings—schools, churches, parking garages, cemeteries, municipal buildings or government facilities—it is considered institutional vandalism. Depending on the damage done, the charges can esca- late—damage costing more than $5,000 can bring a felony charge. Cleanup fees are often tacked on to the fine. 10 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Although every year, Mt. Lebanon gets its share of “I (heart shape) Scott” and “David is a big fat jerk,” 2005 has seen a jump in graffiti crimes. Approximately 45 incidences have been reported since the beginning of the year and it seems two groups—Troop 262 and 36 Goths—are the main culprits. Four arrests have been made from the Goth group, who will have to pay damages of $2,500. “The police department is attacking graffiti with zero tolerance,” says Roach, adding that several areas around the com- munity are being monitored. The graffi- tists know it and aren’t happy—in May “Troop 262/Kill MLPD” appeared on two buildings on Washington Road. “[The kids] think it’s a prank and fun, but there are people who suffer,” says Roach. In some instances, the graffiti can just be painted over, but when done on brick walls, the spray paint must be washed off with acid or sandblasted, pro- cedures that can be expensive. Parents who find cans of spray paint, markers and tags (an artistic rendering of a name or nick- name) in their children’s room or back- packs may want to talk to them about what that graffiti “fun” could cost them. Christophere Rolinson With five eateries in Pittsburgh and 75 across the country, Houlihan’s opened at The Galleria in June and is sporting a new attitude: a revamped casual dining menu and drink specials daily. Houlihan’s manager Jean Reilly (left) and general manager Tim Limbacher invite you to come by and taste the difference. In the ‘60s, you could hear some of the best live acoustic music around at basement coffee houses. We’ve lost the bell bottoms and love beads, but coffee house music is still around and strong as ever—like a good Italian Roast. Mo’ Joe Coffee House at 390 Broadmoor Ave. across from Howe School, has been hosting some of Pittsburgh’s best acoustic singer-songwriters—Brad Yoder, Tony Lee, Rick Malis, Jamie Marich and Jeff Miller to name a few—every Friday and Saturday night since March, with no cover or minimum. Mo’ Joe’s offers a selection of fair trade coffees, teas, hot and cold espres- so drinks and smoothies, plus specialty sandwiches, desserts and hand-dipped ice cream. Thursday is “Open Mic Night,” where the almost-famous test drive their talent, starting around 7 P . M . Mo’ Joe’s hosts card and Scrabble nights, knitting circles and poetry workshops, too. To get in on the next big thing, visit Mo’ Joe’s Web site at www.mojoeinfo.com and click on “Events.” STORM SURVIVOR Last September, the Cuckoo's Nest Café at 194 Castle Shannon Blvd., next to Vicar Antiques, was getting ready for its October opening when Hurricane Ivan stormed in, filling the café's basement with three and a half feet of water. Unfortunately, that's where owner Eddie Firanski had stored all of his JUMPIN’ JAVA food service equipment—slicers, refrigera- tors, microwaves and paper products— while refinishing the hardwood floors upstairs. The water damage derailed Firanski and co-owner Stephanie Holsworth's plans to open—but not for long. The café and deli officially opened in May, offering muffins, cinnamon rolls, and scones in the morning, panini sandwiches, wraps and salads at lunchtime, plus desserts, Mediterra and Mancini's breads by the loaf and Boars' Head meats and cheeses to go. The Cuckoo's Nest has a small deck in the rear and a few tables out front for lunch alfresco. BUSINESS MOVES Ona—a French Basque word meaning “all good things”—is open- ing soon in the former Twice Treasured location at 692 Washington Road. Owner Karly Tetlow, a Rosemont Avenue resident and 1996 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, spent four years living (and shopping) in Los Angeles, and will bring in some unique collections of West Coast- inspired women’s apparel, jewelry, acces- sories and maternity wear in time for fall shopping. “I want this to be the kind of shop where girlfriends can get together and enjoy a glass of wine while getting one-on- one customer service,” says Tetlow, a Duquesne University grad. Look for a late August/early September opening. GREAT AMERICAN LANDSCAPES DESIGN ◆ BUILD MAINTAIN Transforming visions and ideas into beautiful private worlds. 412-835-3245 www .gir tyland.com www.mtlebanon.org 11 O N B U S I N E S S Renee Rosensteel F O C U S TWICE TWICE TREASURED Visit us at our new location 308 Castle Shannon Blvd. 412.341.1160 Sales of home furnishings, interior accent items, art, china, jewelry, accessories and more! Dan Coll’s Hometown Mail Center has grown from its first store on Cochran Road to two more locations—in East Liberty and at Brentwood Towne Center. All of Hometown’s 25 Accepting consignment quality merchandise Open Monday-Saturday 11 AM -5 PM employees take continuing education courses on the latest packaging methods, so they’re ready to ship that 80-year old elk head to your uncle in Montana. YOU’VE GOT MAIL W Hometown hat from sets Mail the a bigger homegrown chains? owner business Simple, Dan apart Coll. says Center’s “We try to do the things no one else does,” Like pack and ship an 18-foot kayak, or a single chair, or your great aunt’s 6-by-6 antique breakfront, using crates and boxes built to order. In the three years Hometown Mail Center has been in business, they have become the largest non-franchise shipper in Western Pennsylvania representing five dif- ferent shipping companies. Their vol- ume—about 100 to 120 packages per day—puts them in the top five percent of UPS shippers. During the holidays, that number soars to 1,500 or more. Coll, a 1990 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, earned a B. S. in international business from the University of Pittsburgh, worked for 10 years at ADT Security, but was always looking to hang out his own shingle some day. In 2002, Coll and his retired father Robert opened Hometown Mail Center together, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. “I have always enjoyed hands-on kinds of jobs, and dealing with customers,” says Coll, now the shop’s sole owner. eBay sellers and buyers make up a big 12 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 part of his business, he says, but they’ve recently branched into estate distribu- tion—shipping precious heirlooms and antique furniture—across the country. Hometown does more than move pack- ages: they also build custom crates for ship- ping, sell stamps, send certified mail, send and accept faxes, and offer mailbox service with an address, not a P. O. box. Hometown supports local sports teams, and in May donated 50 cents from each sale to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. But one of their most appreciated gestures is to offer free packaging—materials and labor—for parcels shipped to U.S. soldiers in Iraq and other military installations around the world, about 150 parcels each month, estimates Coll, who lives in Dormont with his wife, Kathy, and their 19-month-old daughter, Cecelia. The most unusual thing he ever had to pack and ship was a Stradivarius violin, val- ued at $1.5 million, to Florida. The instru- ment was tracked carefully at every station, with each station manager hand-carrying the instrument through to its final delivery at a cost of about $400. You may never have to ship a priceless Stradivarius. But in the right hands, ship- ping mom’s antique soup tureen to your sis- ter in Cleveland should be a piece of cake. — ANNE CAFFEE Summer in the Neighborhood • Re-Upholstering Residential & Commercial • Refinishing & Repair Enjoy the nights at Bado’s… SAMPLE BEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! • Custom Draperies & Window treatments • Professional excellence for over 30 year s 307 Beverly Road •Mt. Lebanon 3101 West Liberty Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA 15216 412.563.5300 Office 412.563.1338 • Fax 412.563.2102 THE NOBLE CRAFTSMAN Caribbean Cuisine Tues., Wed., Thurs. 5-10 PM Fri. and Sat. 5-11 PM 3821 Willow Avenue, Castle Shannon 412.440.0244 BYOB “The Caribbean Comes to Castle Shannon” Cafe & Coffee Shop Now Open 194 Castle Shannon Blvd. 412.344.0633 7 AM -6 PM , M-F 8 AM -4 PM , S & S YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDLEWORK AND KNITTING SHOP SCOTT TOWNE CENTER 2101 Greentree Road Pittsburgh, PA 15220 412.429.8870 Join us Tuesday through Saturday SUMMER ART CLASSES, AGES 7 & UP SUMMER ART CAMP, Ages 7-12, Aug. 1-4 Ages 13-18, Aug. 8-11 Grand opening! Call Becky Mayhew, 724.413.9521 Pittsburgh’s Largest Hot Sauce Bar 3001 West Liberty Avenue 412.571.9001 100% SMOKE-FREE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE www.mtlebanon.org 1 3 Ask An Architect M t. Lebanon residents may have a two- hour consultation with an architect for $150 because of Mt. Lebanon partner- ship with the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh’s Renovation Information Network. To schedule a consultation, call Tara Merenda, 412-391-4333. Q A THE ROAD IS CALLING…HERE’S YOUR ANSWER CADILLAC CTS… GET BACK WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MISSING 412.344.6000 www.rohrich.com One mile south of the liberty tunnels 14 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 My American Foursquare house needs new windows. What do you recommend? The American Foursquare is a distinctive style emphasizing solid construction through its visual mass and architectural details. A large front porch, hip roof with dormers and various configurations of double-hung windows reinforce the strong architectural statement. When looking for replacement windows, you need to keep the character of the house in mind. New windows come in four basic cate- gories: • Wood construction These are basically the same type of window you already have, but they incorporate new tech- nologies, such a insulated glass, weather stripping, simplified tracks and epoxy coatings. • Wood clad construction This is a wood window encased in vinyl or aluminum. Many systems have the cladding, which is relatively maintenance free, on the outside and exposed wood on the interi- or that can be painted or stained. • Vinyl construction The entire structure of the window is made of “extruded” vinyl, meaning that the semisoft vinyl is forced through a specially shaped mold. • Aluminum construction The complete structure of the window is made of extruded aluminum. Because metal is a poor insulator of heat, a thermal break is incorporated into the sash and frame construction. around ♦ town Remember that you will preserve or even enhance the value of Make sure the window construction has the same proportions your property if you choose windows that closely resemble the and detailing as the original wood units. The sash members (the original windows. Take along photographs of your house and framing that holds and divides the glass panels) should be the close-up shots of the windows when you meet with sales people. same thickness you would find in a wood window. Many new (If you are replacing inappropriate windows that replaced the systems have thinner profiles and look weak when installed on original windows, check at the library for a book that features an older home. good photos of American Foursquares.) A picture is really worth Don’t rule out replacement sash systems (where new sash is a thousand words and gives you a point of reference when look- installed into the existing frame.) The cost is far less in materials ing at window samples. and installation. Installation is quick and Manufacturers of quality window sys- less intrusive. If you become overwhelmed tems will have many sizes to choose from with the scope of the project and the and can provide custom units for unusual choices available, consider hiring an archi- conditions. It is important that the new tect to assist you. anufacturers of quality window fits the existing opening; don’t let Your Mt. Lebanon home is your per- the vendor modify (shrink) the opening to sonal landmark. Spend the time and window systems will have many sizes fit their window. The money you might money to do the job right, and then enjoy to choose from and can provide save in using an off-the-shelf unit that does the fruits of your labor. not fit the opening results in an installation Thanks to Sam Taylor of Orchard Drive, custom units for that looks like an after thought. The same the principal architect for the Allegheny holds true for substituting a cheaper slid- unusual conditions. County Department of Public Works and a ing sash to replace original double hung member of the Mt. Lebanon Historic units. Preservation Board. M www.mtlebanon.org 15 Gene Puskar MARK YOUR CALENDAR Someday, maybe he’ll play in the West Penn Tennis Championships. This year’s event runs from Saturday, July 2 through Sunday, July 10 at Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center, one of the nation’s top-rated community tennis facilities with 15 Har-Tru courts. The 2005 West Penn/National Collegiate Clay Court Championships return to the Mt.Lebanon Tennis Center from July 2-10. The USTA Men’s Futures Pro Circuit also makes its stop at the tournament for the Dick’s Sporting Goods $10,000 Men’s Futures of Pittsburgh, an entry-level tournament for world-class young players from around the world. The qualifying tournament for the Men’s Futures will begin on July 2 with 64 players vying for 8 open slots; there will be 32 players in the main draw. Tournament play begins on July 5. The National Collegiate Clay Court Championship, which includes events in men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles, is a summer circuit event of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for high school and college amateur players. Winners receive circuit points for entry into major collegiate tournaments throughout the school year. The Men’s Futures Tourna- ment, a USTA Professional Circuit event, awards winning players prize money and points for entry into professional events such as the U.S. Open. WBGN, Channel 20, will broadcast the Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, semifi- nals on tape delay. Admission is free; finals for both tournaments are 1 P . M ., July 9 and 10. WEST PENN TENNIS Amelia Paré, M.D. BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON Mt. Lebanon Post #156 THE AMERICAN LEGION Department of Pennsylvania, Inc. PO Box 11715 Mt. Lebanon, Pa 15228 LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS FROM WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM, SPECIALIZING IN: GRENADA/LEBANON, PANAMA AND BREAST SURGERY • NOSE SURGERY PERSIAN GULF CONFLICTS. FACELIFT SURGERY • LIPOSUCTION ABDOMINOPLASTY • EYELID SURGERY Contact Post Commander 412-531-6827 SUMMERFIELD COMMONS Suite 1121 • 2535 Washington Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15241 for information. Pittsburghplasticsurgery.net Amypare.com FOR GOD, COUNTRY, COMMUNITY, AND THE VETERAN 412.831.2554 16 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Christopher Rolinson Enjoy 60 booths of great art work on a crisp fall day (we hope) at Art in the Park, Oct. 1 and 2 in Mt. Lebanon Park. About 4,000 attended last year’s event. ART IN THE PARK There is still time to reserve a spot in the fourth annual Art in the Park. Sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon Sunrise Rotary Club and the Mt. Lebanon Police Association, the event will run from 10 A . M . to 6 P . M ., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2, in Mt. Lebanon Park. Last year about 60 artists came to sell items at this juried show. Already signed up for 2005 are Barry Jeter, who creates wood art; Ruth Richardson, a watercolorist whose work is displayed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; Yeager Studios, which specializes in photographs of Pittsburgh; the hand-dyed and knitted sweaters and scarves of Edna’s Attic; sculpture by Roland Metal Art and pen and ink drawings from Nevin Robinson studio. “The emphasis is on fine arts rather than crafts,” says Rotarian Eric Tupper. In addition, the two-day event will fea- ture music, food booths—including Greek delicacies, soft serve ice cream and every- one’s favorite festival food hot dogs—and children’s activities—such as face painting and games. Exhibit space is $150. To reserve a space, call Elaine Rosenfield at 412-561-1224. Businesses and organiza- tions can purchase advertising space in the festival’s program booklet. For information, call Tupper by Sept. 1 at 412-561-4073. Proceeds from the event benefit commu- nity organizations including Mt. Lebanon and Dormont libraries, Mt. Lebanon Police and Recreation departments and Outreach Teen and Family Services. www.mtlebanon.org 17 U P D A T E S Christina Worsing C O M M U N I T Y NORTHERN ITALIAN RESTAURANT & LOUNGE Join Jamie’s new PREFERRED GUEST CLUB on your next visit (free) You will receive a membership card entitling you to perks of the month BANQUET FACILITIES AVAILABLE GIFT CERTIFICATES SUNDAY BRUNCH 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 3220 W. LIBERTY AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA 15216 412.561.0450 412.561.0452 FAX Newcomers' Club of Mt. Lebanon members (left) Mary Lou Dickson, Jana Walczak and Helen Richardson, who designed and planted this frog-themed planter on Washington Road, can tell you it's easy being green—when you've got a little help. Each takes a shift keeping the planter clean and clear at this busy corner, and the guys at Mineo's keep it watered. Think your club, book group or neighborhood might like to adopt a planter? Call Commercial Gene Puskar Districts Manager Mame Bradley at 412-343-3412. Bank on bigger, more spectacular 4th of July fireworks at Mt. Lebanon Park, thanks to a $5,000 donation from Citizens Bank’s Washington Road branch. Bank manager Rodney Patterson, above, promises a big bang for the buck when the Zambelli show begins. Plan to spend the day at Mt. Lebanon Park starting at noon, and enjoy family activities in the Park—limousine rides, train rides, a moonwalk, petting zoo and pony rides, food and com- munity booths—until 5 P . M . Music in the Park with performer Lee Alverson ‘s tribute to Elton John begins at 7 on the basketball court, and the fireworks spectacular follows at 9:30 P . M . 18 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 around town Christopher Rolinson ♦ Our Smiles are recognizable • Complimentary Initial exam • We offer Invisalign ™ Assistant Municipal Manager Marcia Taylor has been named to the Government Accounting Standards Board. The seven- member board is responsible for maintain- Braces for Children and Adults 7 5 0 W a s h i n g t o n R o a d 4 1 2 - 5 6 3 - 5 8 0 0 w w w . g o b b i e o r t h o . c o m ing and upgrading standards for govern- ment financial accounting. TAYLOR JOINS BOARD Assistant Muni- cipal Manager Marcia Taylor is a new member of the Financial Accounting Foundation’s Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Taylor, a certified public accountant and former Mt. Lebanon Finance Director, served four years on the foundation’s Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council, chairing the council’s communication and public relations com- mittee. She is also an active member of the Government Finance Officers Association and several other professional organiza- tions. Taylor is an adjunct instructor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. The GASB is an independent, not- for-profit organization that establishes and improves financial accounting and reporting standards for state and local governments. The Financial Accounting Foundation is responsible for overseeing, funding and selecting the members of the GASB. www.mtlebanon.org 19 F O C U S O N M T . L E B A N O N has discussion A ics on nyone before the agenda each who commission ever wonder attended meeting how Mt. the and Lebanon’s elected the sessions list officials of held top- perused may find the time to focus on so many things in such a limited time. Well, the answer is, sometimes they can’t. Complex issues, such as how to maximize revenues at the ice rink in the face of increasing competition, or what to do when county funding for the 911 cen- ter dries up, take a lot longer to explore than the 15 or 20 minutes it may to talk about sidewalk repair. So twice a year, in the spring and summer, the commission holds a off-site “retreat”—usually at a hotel conference room—to spend as much time as needed to look at several complex issues from all angles. Topics for the spring retreat vary from year to year, while the summer retreat usually focuses on the coming year’s municipal budget. The all-day meetings, which are open to the public, allow com- missioners to devote more attention to gathering information, without having to keep one eye on the clock. Key staff mem- bers and others who can answer questions or share their expertise on the topic of the day are invited to attend. “The purpose is not to make decisions,” says Municipal Manager Steve Feller, “but to provide the commissioners back- ground for decisions we know are coming up.” Commission President Ty Ely sees the sessions as a chance to bring in a number of outside experts with a range of experience. “It’s more of an educational opportunity,” he says. “A chance to dig deeper into an issue without the time constraints.” 20 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 C O M M I S S I O N This spring the ice rink and 911 took center stage. For the first half of the day commissioners examined the pros and cons of pri- vatizing the ice rink. Peter Martell, executive director of the Ice Skating Institute, a national trade organization, gave a presentation on current industry trends in both private and public rinks. Also participating in that discussion were Mt. Lebanon Finance Director Willy McKain and Mt. Lebanon Recreation Director Bill Moore and his staff. In the afternoon, the topic turned to the future of the South Hills 911 Center, which loses Allegheny County funding this month. Mt. Lebanon has allocated $515,870 to allow the center, which is located in the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, to operate through the end of the year. In the coming months, the commis- sion must decide whether to continue funding it as a ringdown center or go with the county service. At the retreat, representatives from the Eastern Regional Dispatch Center in Monroeville, which is facing the same situation, talked with the commission about their experiences. Southwest Regional Manager Mike McGrady and Police Chief Tom Ogden also made presentations and answered questions. No decisions have been made yet on either the ice rink or the 911 center. The next commission retreat, focusing on the 2006 municipal budget, will take place sometime in August. To find out the time, date and place of the next commission retreat, call 412-343-3404 or log onto www.mtlebanon.org. around ♦ P U B L I C town S A F E T Y On “CSI,” reports come back from the lab with lightning-quick speed, trapping the criminal in an inescapable web of hard and fast evidence. So how come they haven’t found the jerk who stole your car’s CD player last November? It’s all about priorities. Yes, that CD player is important to you, but more seri- ous crimes are going to take precedence. While there may not be a rash of murders and other serious crimes in Mt. Lebanon, the crime labs that process the fingerprints and other evidence are working with many other police departments on a whole range of cases. Police officers use a priority matrix to rank crimes, looking at, among other fac- tors, the grade of crime (felony, misde- In May, Howe Elementary PTA hosted a safety day for students. Police Officer Mike Reimer meanor, summary), the victim (person or says it was the most extensive safety day ever held at any Mt. Lebanon elementary school. property) and if it will involve other juris- Mt. Lebanon Fire department brought the fire safety trailer, a house-like structure where chil- dictions. dren learn how to react when a smoke detector goes off and how to make a 911 call. Medical It may take Mt. Lebanon police officers a few days, if not weeks, to get fingerprints Rescue Team South arrived with an ambulance to show the kids what paramedics do. from a crime scene to a crime lab, either Reimer, above, flew in on the MedEvac helicopter to give a talk about safety including how the state police lab in Greensburg or the to be street smart. Allegheny County Crime Lab. The for- mer receives prints from several surround- prints—could take six to nine months. In to attend training outside the depart- ing counties; the latter handles all finger- the meantime, police are doing what they ment—from vehicle rescue to EMT certi- prints lifted from crime scenes in the can to solve the crime any way they can. fication. “Unfortunately we can’t hire county. Each lab receives thousands of MOVING ON UP Two Mt. Lebanon Fire them all,” Darcangelo says. prints per week. Once received, lab tech- Department volunteers have accepted full- BANDING TOGETHER Three years ago, nicians prioritize the cases according to the time paid positions in fire departments several police chiefs in the South Hills Area severity of the crime before running the outside Pennsylvania. Scott Meyer, a nine- Council of Governments (SHACOG) prints through the Automated Fingerprint year veteran of Mt. Lebanon, has been communities began meeting once a Identification Sys- hired by the Frank- month to discuss how they could work tem (AFIS). Even fort, Ky., Fire De- together better. As time passed, more though AFIS has partment and Dev- SHACOG chiefs joined in. SHACOG more than 64 mil- on Zaroda, a seven- Executive Director Lou Gorski says the f you’re a senior or have a disability, lion sets of finger- year veteran, has committee has standardized communica- prints on record, gone on to the tions, received grant money for equipment don’t try changing your smoke detector there is still no guar- M o r g a n t o w n , and training, and hosted intensive joint batteries yourself—call the antee that the per- W.Va., Fire Depart- training sessions that have prepared them to work together in the event of an large- son who stole your ment. fire department for help. CD player will be Fire Chief Steve scale incident. Last year, the South Hills fire chiefs decid- in the system. Darcangelo says So physical evi- many volunteers ed that such an alliance could benefit them dence, while important in an investigation, join Mt. Lebanon’s Fire Department in as well. In May, SHACOG granted the often will take a back seat to information order to receive the training they need to Fire Chiefs Advisory Committee formal developed through personal interviews. pursue a career in firefighting. Volunteers status. SHACOG covers Baldwin Borough, In all, the whole process—from the day receive professional instruction in fire you reported the CD player missing until attack methods, rescue, techniques and Baldwin Township, Bethel Park, Castle the police receive the report on the personal safety. Volunteers are encouraged Shannon, Brentwood, Dormont, Heidel- THE MYTH OF THE FINGERPRINTS I 22 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 www.mtlfd.org berg, Jefferson Hills, Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Oliver, Pleasant Hills, Scott, South Park, Upper St. Clair and Whitehall. “This is a worthwhile opportunity to work as a collaborative group,” says Mt. Lebanon Fire Chief Steve Darcangelo. “This will give us a chance to formalize and use SHACOG resources.” Those resources include writing grant proposals, setting up meetings and consolidating resources for programs and events. Several initiatives are already on the board, such as: • A mutual aid agreement, so if one department needs extra equipment during an emergency other depart- ments will provide what they can • Joint training in an effort to get every department following the National Incident Management Structure that was created by the Federal Depart- ment of Homeland Security (fire departments must have adopted this structure to be eligible for federal grant money) • Bulk purchases to save money. DETECTOR CHECKERS Seniors or peo- ple with disabilities who need help installing or changing batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can call Mt. Lebanon Fire Department for help. “Don’t crawl up on a chair and try to replace the batteries yourself,” says Fire Chief Steve Darcangelo. Make an appoint- ment by calling 412-343-3402, and within a few days a friendly firefighter will stop by. While at your home, the firefighters will check that the detectors are working prop- erly and located in the right places. SUMMER FUN Turn a ho-hum summer picnic into a banner block party by invit- ing a few Mt. Lebanon firefighters. Make an appointment a few weeks before the party—reservations are filled on a first- come, first-served basis (and there are times when Mt. Lebanon is hosting 12 or more block parties on the same day, so call early). After a brief talk about fire safety, kids will be allowed to check out and climb into a fire truck. Parents will have an opportunity to ask firefighters questions and will receive fire safety brochures. Call 412-343-3402 for a reservation or for information. www.mtlebanon.org 23 C O M M I S S I O N E R S ’ R E P O R T The Commissioners’ Report is a series by members of the Mt. Lebanon Commission. In this install- ment, Commissioner Barbara Logan discusses the separation of city and suburb. A CULTURE OF RELOCATION he June 1 New York Times carries a lengthy, detailed article that de- scribes the lives of the families of corporate America. Because the employed parent’s job requires frequent moves, this segment of our population is called the “relos.” People with school-age children who change cities often are forced to seek housing that resells readily, and their short tenure rules out housing with character but needing extensive rehabilitation. The end result is thousands of people of simi- lar demographics essentially segregated into costly ghettos—subdivisions that an- nounce their price ranges at their entrances. Because the housing develop- ments are located in remote suburbs, far from cities, corporate families are divorced from the cultural life of large cities, as well as from the problems of urban life. Instead, tomorrow’s corporate leaders, more particularly their mothers, spend their time shuttling from one youth activ- ity to another, leaving little time for the arts or philanthropy. I think the tendency of today’s subur- banites to shun the city, with its assets and its troubles, has many troubling aspects. It is disturbing to think that children are not being exposed routinely to art galleries, symphonies, ballets, botanic gardens and the other advantages customarily enjoyed by the upper middle class. If an entire gen- eration of the privileged is not learning that the great cultural institutions provid- ed for us by the robber barons of the industrial age are treasures to be experi- enced and supported, who will continue to fund museums and orchestras? In the past, it was expected that corpo- rate wives would be involved with arts agencies. Their husband’s boss’s wife usu- ally held a leadership role, and it was expected that the younger women would T 24 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 be groomed to be future philanthropic executives. Then, too, corporations made generous contributions to groups that their employees patronized. Everyone profited; children learned, wives had inter- esting and worthwhile leisure activity, and arts groups were well funded. Somehow, reading about the frenzied and vapid lives of educated women whose sole job is to chauffeur children from one activity to the next reminded me how for- tunate we are to have our little enclave in which children can walk most places and the city is just a 15-minute T ride away. The involvement of Mt. Lebanon chil- dren in theater arts, choral societies, dance and a host of other demanding and enriching programs can only be beneficial to them and to the future of culture. Additionally Mt. Lebanon, as well as other Pittsburgh communities like Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Oakland and Edgewood, provide for a diversity of income, race, background, education, val- ues, tastes and aspirations for children to experience. Living with neighbors whose religion, politics and attitudes differ from one’s own can only be enriching. We live in a global community, and those of us who have been sheltered from those who are unlike ourselves will be ill-equipped to face the world as grownups. Several years ago, Thomas Hylton, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book describ- ing an ideal community, spoke at our library. As a child, he had lived in Mt. Lebanon with his widowed mother. His memories of the advantages available to everyone—sports, the library, parks, excel- lent schools, public transportation and the experience of vertical diversification, safety, classmates with goals—reminded me then and now how important civilization is to rearing our young. In Mt. Lebanon and other similarly diverse and multifaceted communities, I believe we are recognizing and accepting the challenge. BARBARA LOGAN WARD 1 COMMISSIONER Dossier • Spouse: Robert • Children: Barbara, Director of Budget & Finance for the Brooklyn Library; Anne, physician; James, attorney practicing in Baltimore, Md. • Resident: 23 years • Education: University of Michigan, B.A. English; University of Toledo, M.A. English • Former president of the trustees of the Mt. Lebanon Library; former president of Friends of the Library; member of the Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy, Outreach South, Audubon Society, League of Women Voters, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, The Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center, Phipps Conservatory and Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Chartiers Creek River Conservation Planning Project Steering committee If you have any questions on this topic or any other municipal matter, please contact your ward commissioner. Letters to the editor also are wel- come and may be excerpted in Mt. Lebanon magazine, 710 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228; e-mail: lebomag@mtlebanon.org; fax: 412-343-7841. Seniorliving 2005 Silver Linings Senior Relocation Services ASSISTING WITH ALL YOUR RELOCATION NEEDS, INCLUDING • Supervision and cooordination of moving, estate sale, and/or auction services • Professional packing of belongings with inventory of boxes • Unpacking and complete setup of new home, including connecting electronic devices and making beds • Home closure services, including cleanout 412.278.1810 412.983.4986 www.mtlebanon.org 25 Seniorliving 26 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 www.mtlebanon.org 27 Seniorliving 2005 “Your Comfort... 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And the care and concern you can expect from four generations of family experience. Slater Funeral Service offers: • services for all faiths • pre-planning arrangements • personalized traditional services 412.563.2800 Serving the communities of: Scott Twp. • Mt. Lebanon Green Tree • Carnegie • cremation HELPING HANDS SERVICES Known for our reasonable rates and yet friendly, quality Home Health Care Nurses’ Aides • Companions RNs and LPNs Live-in Service, 1-7 days STATE LICENSED, BONDED, AND INSURED PROFESSIONAL SCREENED HELP 412-561-7909 412-561-7201 FAX 412-561-4530 1003 Castle Shannon Blvd. e-mail: helpinghands@nb.net www.mtlebanon.org 33 BY ANNE CAFFEE RESEARCH BY NEAL BROWN PHOTOS BY RENEE ROSENSTEEL Downsizing a lifetime's possessions can be made smoother with another pair of eyes. Organizing professional Jill Carmack, right, helps client Maryjane Lohman tackle the most difficult decisions— what to keep and what to toss—as she transitions from the her home to a retirement community. Movin’ on LETTING GO OF A LIFETIME—MADE EASIER iar for her clients in their new places. She goes so far as to take pho- tos of the insides of kitchen cabinets and closets so she can dupli- cate their arrangement; if the coffee mug is in the left lower cup- board, that’s where it will be in the new kitchen—everything in its old, familiar place, right down to the slippers next to their favorite armchair. “Each job is unique and different,” she says. Her charge, any- where from $900 to $4,000, includes helping decide what to pitch, give away and save, packing and moving. The hardest thing for anyone, says Carmack, is trying to select the most meaningful objects from a lifetime’s accumulation. Her client Dr. William Nasri would agree. Nasri and his wife who lived in their Green Tree home for 40 years, moved to a three- bedroom apartment last year. Carmack spent a week with the Nasris downsizing, wrapping and packing with an assistant, taking photos to duplicate the arrangements of their old home, and final- ly, supervising on moving day. Having a professional like Carmack at the helm took the pain out of the moving process, says Nasri. “It made our lives so much easier.” he says. “She even did the little things, like reconnect the computer and assemble a piece of furni- ture.” MAKING IT HOME Carmack says she derives great satisfaction in being part of After helping her grandparents through a difficult, time-con- seniors’ lives as they make the transition. “I’m in their intimate suming relocation, Jill Carmack, Bower Hill Road, knew that oth- spaces, and I get to hear their stories, and see their photographs. I ers could benefit from her experience, so she created a relocation am delighted that they share their lives with me.” service for seniors. Her company, Silver Linings Senior Relocation SERVICE FOR SENIORS Services, works with senior homeowners who have decided to Not surprisingly, Allegheny County, which has edged out Dade move to smaller quarters—generally from family homes to apart- ments or townhouses—through downsizing, packing and prepa- County, Fla., as having the largest senior population, has realtors ration, the move itself and the set-up in a new place of residence. who are ahead of the pack in marketing comprehensive moving She doesn’t do tag sales, but she’ll refer her clients, if that’s what they services for people moving to retirement communities. Some have need. “Moving is such a huge, difficult job in itself,” she says. “And earned a special designation—through continuing education courses—as senior real estate specialists, who provide comprehen- it’s even more so for seniors.” The most important way Carmack’s service differs from that of a sive services specific to seniors. Suzanne Gruneberg, a Prudential personal organizer is how she works to re-create the dear and famil- senior specialist and a Mt. Lebanon resident, steers her older clients t’s never easy to say goodbye to a beloved home and neigh- borhood where you made close friends, enjoyed parties and potlucks, and watched your children grow into adults. But if you’re a senior who has finally made the decision to move from your family home to a smaller, more manage- able place, you’re in good company. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1.5 million people relocate to senior hous- ing every year. Having to downsize a family home and move at the same time can be stressful and fraught with emotional turmoil, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to start early, develop a plan and, most important, get help. The good news is that there’s a wealth of assis- tance ready when you are. Even if close relatives and adult children live out of state, no one has to—or should—go through the process alone. Here are a few people who make it their business to assist seniors in the downsizing and moving process, words from someone who has made a smooth transition, and a few tips for guidance. Though few look forward to the process, once they settle into their new homes, many say they wish they’d made the move sooner. I 34 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Clearing out a house- hold can be daunting for anyone. But for a senior, it's the first step toward a better quality of life in more manage- able surroundings . toward the resources that they’ll need— elder care attorneys, tag sale managers, help with yard work, downsizing and cleaning. “It’s a very hands-on process,” says Gruneberg. Gruneberg, who helped her parents relo- cate after 45 years in the same home, sug- gests starting the sorting and downsizing process as soon as possible after the decision to move is made. “One of the hardest things, for the ‘sandwich generation’ (baby boomers sandwiched between raising chil- dren and caring for their aging parents) is slowing down and taking the time to get a parent through the process,” she says. Gruneberg’s experience persuaded her and tips for downsizing evelop a plan and start downsizing well D before you have to move. If family mem- bers can’t help, a personal organizer can help provide an objective eye. “With a neu- tral, third party helping, the process moves along faster because there’s no emotion attached,” says Carmack. Start with personal papers and photographs, which often take the most time to get through. When divesting yourself of life's excesses, Get some help from your children or an organiz- leave it to house sale pros like Karen er on deciding what to pitch or keep. McCrory, (right) of Estate Sale Transitions to Have a floor plan of your new place to work advertise and merchandise your household. with. Remember that walls are not elastic—that Sales take place in the home over one or six-foot breakfront won’t fit in a space with four- two days, and they dispose of the leftovers foot walls. afterward. Cost is between 30 and 40 per- Carry a notebook; go from room to room in your cent of the gross sale. house, and jot down what you absolutely can’t live without. “Start with the must-haves; every- thing else is negotiable,” suggests Carmack. Begin with rooms that have fewer emotional attachments like the attic or basement. Create three boxes: one for things to keep; one for things to give away to family or friends; one for donations. Give clothing away if you haven’t worn it for two or three years. Simplify! How many linens and Tupperware bowls do you really need? Identify keepsakes, memorabilia and furniture you think children and other family members might want to have, and set a deadline for them to come over and select. Cherish the old, but think about the value of let- ting go, of letting new things come into this new phase of your life. 36 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 between home and independent or assist- ed-living situations. Margie Wilson, director of Seniors Information and Referral Service (SIRS), works at Asbury Heights to help seniors make their move with success and a mini- mum of stress. She provides prospective residents with important contact information—personal organizers, estate sale professionals, elder care attorneys or realtors—who can help them make a successful transition. “Our goal is to help that person feel at home at Asbury in whatever way we can,” says Wilson. The marketing coordinators of most retirement communities give semi- nars two or three times a year on the sub- ject of senior relocation. Asbury Height’s twice-yearly seminar for prospective resi- dents features experts speaking on “Moving Made Easier.” her husband, Terry, to take a hard look at the excess in their lives. “We thought we would save all of the kitchen stuff for the kids,” she says. “But that’s a mistake. They’re not going to use my muffin tins and cookie sheets.” After Gruneberg’s mother had chosen things she didn’t need anymore and wanted to pass on, the grandkids got together and selected things they wanted to keep. “It made my mom feel really good to know that there were things from the family that GETTING ORGANIZED would be passed to the next generation,” Personal organizer Jill Revitsky, an Atlanta Gruneberg says. “It made the process less Drive resident and owner of Discover wrenching for her.” Organizing, says that helping seniors orga- BEFORE THE MOVE nize and downsize accounts for about 30 Many retirement communities employ percent of her business. move-in coordinators, who provide soon- Clients who are still able to live indepen- to-be residents with the contacts and help dently usually want to move from the fam- they need to make a successful transition ily home to a smaller home, she says. Grace Hoellein has made a happy transi- tion. Today, she serves as a “special Sometimes, an out-of-town family mem- ber contacts her. “I just got a call from a man in Washington, D.C., whose mother is moving from Pittsburgh,” she says. “They usually contact me by searching for the nearest organizer by ZIP code.” Other times, she is referred by a realtor. “A good agent will set up a team of professionals to get the job done, and that’s when I get a call.” Revitsky knows how difficult parting with the possessions of a lifetime can be. “A lot of seniors and people struggle with letting go personal items,” she says. “They see these items as proof of events in their life and fear that once the item is gone, then the memory will be forgotten.” She suggests taking photos of the item to pre- serve that memory. Another suggestion: “Set a date or deadline to have everything out. It creates a goal to work toward or there would be too much dwelling on decisions.” HOME AT LAST At 92, Mildred Jordan is an avid crafter of Santa Claus-themed ceramic ware and an active member of the Woman’s Club, of Mt. Lebanon. She lived in a two-story house on North Meadowcroft Avenue for more than 50 years, where she and her husband, who died in 1995, raised their son and daughter. But Mildred knew it was time to move when knee problems made climbing stairs too difficult. When an apartment at Vanadium Woods Village—a retirement community in Scott Township she had seen and liked— opened up, she had to move quickly. Her son and daughter-in-law moved in to help organize and cull the belongings of her entire household. Then, she hired Estate Transition Services to organize a one-day sale of the things she wanted to leave behind. Estate sale companies. generally take 30 to 40 percent of the gross sales, says Karen McCrory, owner of Estate Sale Transitions, but what that buys is some- one to handle all of the advertising, dis- playing, moving and merchandizing. The whole process from home to new apart- ment took Jordan about three weeks. “It’s not necessarily the ordeal people think it is,” says McCrory. “It can be over and done with very quickly.” In sorting through a lifetime of belong- ings, be ruthless, but not too ruthless, sug- gests Jordan, and keep a small reserve of your most treasured objects. “Don’t divest yourself of all the things that give you plea- sure,” she says. “They will help make your new place a home.” ambassador” at Asbury Heights, giving tours and helping people who want to sam- ple Asbury life for a weekend, settle into the community’s fully furnished “Be Our Guest” apartment. making a new home ne thing to remember as you settle O into your new home is that “there are plenty of people who have gone through the same process,” says Bonnie Sopko, director of sales and marketing at the Devonshire of Mt. Lebanon on McNeilly Road. Sopko and other professionals share these tips for making a new home. Get your favorite pictures on the walls and your mementoes on display as soon as you can. You’ll feel more at home. Clutter and boxes can breed stress. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. They’ve likely been through the same process you have, and know how stressful it can be. Get involved in your new community; there are bound to be activities and outings that will interest you, and that’s a great way to get to know fellow residents. Most communities have newsletters that list upcoming social events, outings, speakers and classes. www.mtlebanon.org 37 BY LOTA MITCHELL PHOTOS BY RENEE ROSENSTEEL THE LIBRARY GOES TO THE DOGS! 38 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 A CONFEDERACY OF CRITTERS AT THE LIBRARY Y Every summer, the library plays host to anywhere from 50 to 80 dogs, cats, frogs, gerbils, bunnies and the occasional earthworm. es, Mt. Lebanon Library certainly does go to the dogs at its yearly summer Pet Show. And also to the cats. And to a menagerie of critters, too. Critters? Well, let’s see—last year that included leopard gekkos, birds, hamsters, bunnies, frogs, toads, turtles, gerbils, gold- fish, guinea pigs, and even earthworms. What’s a library have to do with holding a pet show? “It’s a wonderful way to high- light book collections on pets, do creative programming, and bring new users to the library,” says Library Director Cynthia Richey. Small one-page handouts for readers in grades one and two are titled “Books to Bark About: Stories to Share with your Dog” and “Books to Purr About: Stories to Share with your Cat.” Back in 1987 when she became head of Children’s Services, Richey started the tra- dition of the annual pet show. There has been a show every year since except during the time when the library was under con- struction, making the 2004 Pet Show No. 20. This year’s show is 7 P . M ., Wednesday, July 20. Rain is always a concern, since most of the show is held outside. The dogs, divid- ed into three groups by size, are located on the side and front of the library, the cats in the courtyard, and the menagerie in the downstairs meeting room. Should it rain, the cats can be easily moved inside; the critters are already there. The dogs are more of a problem. There is a time-hon- ored tradition of bringing an umbrella so it won’t rain. Fortunately, most years the weather has cooperated. The dozen judges, wearing wide red shoulder sashes—a new touch last year— visit all the pets, give out some dog and kitty treats, interview the owners, and then award the prizes. Most of the judges were from the library staff, like Julie Mareino, who was one of the cat judges, but the staff’s family members got pressed into service, too. Both dog lovers, Ruth Collura and her husband Larry volun- www.mtlebanon.org 39 Everybody wins a prize: at left, Veronica Radin and Bubbles the goldfish (“Quietest”). Top, Rocky the leopard gekko, owned by Shannon, Kelsey and Colin Stewart (“Most Spotted”). Bottom, the Viggiano triplets, Sam, Tara and Alyse, with Tolouse the cat (“Highest IQ” for saying hello), Popcorn the poodle (“Curliest”) and Winnie the cat (“Most Considerate” for taking turns sleeping in her owners’ beds) and Dimitri and Christian Orfanopolous. Right, Lucy Pearce with Hermy the earthworm (part of a three-earthworm team that won “Friendliest” for following the Pearce family home. Editor’s note: The entire magazine staff fell irre- trievably for Lucy. We call her “Worm Girl” and love her for her passion. teered. Caleb Foss, 14, whose mom works at the library, thought it sounded like fun. And that is exactly what it is: fun! Judy Sutton from the children’s library who has been coordinator in the past, says, “It’s a simple program that brings people togeth- er. Everyone goes around and looks at other people’s animals. The sense of com- munity is very important. The library is a community center, and the pet show fos- ters that sense.” Typically, 50 to 80 pets are entered, accompanied by two or three times that number of people. Children bring their pets—and their brothers and sisters, par- ents, uncles and aunts, and grandparents. One year, a local nursing home brought a 40 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 busload of residents. Everyone is enthusias- tic, Sutton says. Every pet, regardless of size, shape, age, hair or lack of it, gets an award—a certifi- cate with a gold seal awarding them best in show for what’s special about them. Judges get a list of categories ahead of time to help them out, but they can also make them up. Interviewing the owners gives them ideas, as does the pets’ behavior and appearance. Dogs took awards home like “Fluffiest,” “Friendliest,” “Most Handsome,” “Curli- est Tail,” “Happiest.” Several dogs arrived wearing scarves and even a figured shirt, so there was “Best Dressed.” Cat categories included “Most Beautiful Eyes,” “Most Affectionate” and “Best Senior Citizen” (Felix, aged 22). The menagerie provided fertile ground for category ideas. There was “Most Exotic” (a beta fish); “Most Talented” (Max the hamster who does tricks); “Biggest Family” (Smoky and Snowflake, gerbils with six babies); “Most Intelligent” (guinea pig Checkers, who won a checkers game by pushing the winning piece into place), and “Most Verbal” (Birdie the cockatoo who talks and may be trilingual!). Sutton says that there are always more dogs than anything else. Preregistered into weight groups, they seem to enjoy the show as much as their humans, with lots of tail wagging and amazingly little bark- ing. Ben and Mike Robb’s T-Bone, a From top: Alyse and Sam Viggiano do some last-minute lobbying with judge Tom Muldowney. Middle: Jonathan and Samantha Amadio show why Milton the labradoodle, in his Batman scarf, was the clear favorite for “Most Stylish.” Checkers the gerbil (with owner Emily Faber) won “Most Intelligent” for his eponymous ability to play checkers. Above: Judges Ruth and Larry Collura are charged with the critical task of coming up with enough categories to make everyone a winner. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever from Canada, and Yogi, Indiana Boydan’s pooch formally designated as “mutt,” had a terrific time playing together—and amusing the onlookers. T-Bone was an unusual breed, as was Samantha and Jonathan Amadio’s Milton, a 7-week-old labradoodle puppy quite stylish in a Batman scarf. Benjamin, Lily and Eli Smith brought Keester, a Keeshond, a mid-sized furball so fuzzy he looked like he had stuck his paw in an electrical outlet. Keeshonds, the Dutch national dog named for a revolutionary, were once used as alert dogs on canal boats. Predictably, Keester won “Hairiest.” The cats, carefully transported in carriers or wrapped in blankets, are somewhat less enthusiastic than the canine crowd. But most dealt with their anxieties and adapt- ed, soon reclining in true feline regal dig- nity, surveying the scene before them while their owners chatted with other kitty owners. Doreen Hurley, the 2004 Pet Show coordinator, sums it up when she says, “It reminds me in a way of an old-fashioned fair. It’s not suave or slick; it’s non-com- petitive—just simple and low key, a real community event. Folks just get together and enjoy each other’s children and pets. I love the way people respond to it!” www.mtlebanon.org 41 BY M.A. JACKSON AND MERLE JANTZ PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER ROLINSON It’s used and doesn’t fit very well, but for nine weeks every citizen in the fire academy has their very own firefighting gear. Playing with FIRE ALL THE FUN WITHOUT ANY OF THE DANGER J In 2001, Merle and I enrolled in the Mt. Lebanon Citizens Police Academy. Fingerprinting, crime solving, drug-sniffing dogs—it was a blast. So naturally we jumped at the chance to take the nine-week Mt. Lebanon Citizens Fire Academy. This is our story. [Editor’s note: The next fire academy begins in September. Call 412- 343-3402 for information.] JANTZ: One of the reasons the fire department does this is to gener- ate interest in becoming a volunteer. When we took the police acade- my I thought it might be cool to be volunteer cops. I kind of am, you know, unofficially. I will trail the patrol cars for a few hours at a time, so if they need backup, I’m right there. ACKSON: CLASS 1 WELCOME, HISTORY AND DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW JACKSON: I have to admit, I came into this class with a bit of a “been there, done that” attitude—I had, after all, already entered a burning building back in 2002 to write a story about what hap- pens during a live burn drill. JANTZ: I’m ready to be all cynical and dysfunctional, just like the firefighters in “Rescue Me.” Actually, cynical and dysfunctional isn’t much of a stretch for me, so I guess the only difference would be the fighting fires stuff. JACKSON: I had so much to learn. Former chief Steve Walther presented a history of the department (such as Mt. Lebanon’s first fire truck being purchased in 1917). Lots of interesting facts and figures and a statement by Walther that would ring in my ears over the next few weeks: “You’ve got to be a little nuts to fight fires.” JANTZ: In his introduction, the first thing Platoon Chief Kevin Maehling does is point out the emergency exits. After that, in his intro- 42 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 duction, Firefighter Chris Switala passes out release forms and next-of- kin notifications. So these guys are either really really cautious or really really crazy. I guess we’ll find out. We get a hint a few min- utes later, as Switala is assuring us that all the breaking windows and busting through walls they do in a day’s work “isn’t just for the fun of destruction.” Walther, with a fire axe tie clip, cheerily informs us that every city in America has burned down at least once, including Pittsburgh in 1846. Fire departments are older than the U.S., Walther says, as he paints a picture of Ben Franklin as an early extortionist. If you would pay a fee to the fire department, you would get a mark on your house, and they would come put out any fire. If your house caught fire and you didn’t have the fire mark, most of the time the fire department would just show up and make sure the fire didn’t spread to adjoining houses. There were more and more serious fires “as cities grew, and peo- ple being what they are…” Walther continues, and I am starting to see a theme in his words, one of a genial contempt for anyone who is not a firefighter. The much bigger theme, and one we would see all through the course, is one of a bunch of people who just simply love what they do. “There have only been five chiefs here in 86 years, so it must be a pretty good job,” Walther con- cludes. JACKSON: Current Fire Chief Steve Darcangelo provides an overview of the department and the many tasks firefighters handle that don’t have to do with flames—education, con- taining hazardous waste spills, building inspections and more. In all, our class has about 20 participants including 88-year- old Mitzi, who took the police academy with us. God bless her—she’s peppy and more ready to go than I am. All I can This ain’t no garden hose. Water gushes out of this five-inch hose at 100 gallons per minute. It takes three to four people to control it, and in order to stay upright, the operator needs to be braced from behind by another firefighter. It’s chaos as the class of neophytes tries to get on their uniforms. Real firefighters can don their gear—from boots to helmets—in under a minute. It took some of the students that long to button their jackets. think about is taking a nap when I get home. CLASS 2 STATION TOUR, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION JACKSON: One of my classmates arrives with bandages all over her hands. When questioned, she admits to burning herself. Looks like someone’s been “practicing” her burgeoning firefighting skills at home. Tonight is a tour of the station house and its equipment. As we wander down one hall, a firefighter trudges by with 50 pounds of hose on his shoulder. Turns out these guys do that for fun—and to stay in good condition. In fact, every firefighter must work out one hour per shift. I’m impressed. Exercise at the magazine consists of getting up every 20 minutes to see if my editor has put out more chocolates. JANTZ: Switala tells us that about 30 fire- fighters a year die from heart attacks, so you can see where staying in shape can become an essential job skill. To get hired, and then every year subsequently, you have to pass an agility test, which consists of running up six floors car- rying a 50-pound hose pack, advancing the hose 75 feet, hoisting the hose pack up 40 feet using a rope, driving a 165-pound steel beam five feet with a nine-pound sledge, dragging 75 pounds of hose 75 feet and then dragging a 160-pound dummy 100 feet. In 75 pounds of turnout gear. JACKSON: After the tour, the class is out- fitted in gear—boots, pants, coat, hood, helmet and gloves. Although none of the gear is fireproof, the clothing’s inner shell acts as a steam barrier allowing firefighters to endure temperatures up to 225 degrees. No one can find a good fit. We all look like ticks about to burst, but the gear is ours for the rest of the class. We get classy black trashbags to store our turnout gear. A real firefighter or volunteer would also receive a radio and flashlight, bringing the total cost for their gear to about $3,450 (self-con- tained breathing apparatus, which we’ll get to later, runs another $3,000). Gear lasts about six years and when worn with the air tank, equipment can weigh 75 pounds 44 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 more (that’s not including the gear they that two feet of soil weighs 700 pounds and have to carry, such as axes and hoses). I’m will crush you like a gnat if it falls on you. ready for another nap. Over at hazardous materials, firefighter Switala pulls out “Andromeda Strain”-type CLASS 3 plastic suits and enumerates some of the AUTO EXTRICATION, “tens of thousands” of chemicals that are TECHNICAL RESCUE, HAZ MAT transported along our streets and highways JACKSON: Tonight’s class is conducted daily. Some of these are so toxic, the cleanup in four segments. First up is vehicle rescue. crews must don three pairs of gloves to han- Rodger Ricciuti—whose Fu Manchu mus- dle them. (Here’s an image: new firefighters, tache mesmerizes me (what is it with fire- dressed in haz mat suits, play with Legos to fighters and mustaches?)—shows us pic- improve dexterity.) Next up: confined space tures of cars in trees and dangling over rescue where Joe Thuransky shows us the ravines. Then there are the descriptions of very specialized equipment used for Baby crashes that sent legs through dashboard Jessica-type rescues. air-conditioning vents. Now every time I JANTZ: Before the practical part, we had a look at my car I see a two-door death trap. lecture that showed, as is one of the recurring At the trench rescue station, Firefighter themes of this entire class, just how criminally Steve Lane calmly (if a bit gleefully) explains stupid people can be. The primary example was of some 19-year-old South Hills kid who had too much to drink and flipped Daddy’s Pathfinder over, taking two other cars and a few light poles with him. Somehow he ended up with his head on the steering wheel and his feet above the headrest, and the vehicle was on its roof. The firemen spent three hours bring- ing him out, then they towed all three cars to a junkyard, where one of them later caught fire in the middle of the night, trashing the entire junkyard and killing a Bridgeville fire- fighter. The kid walked away with scarcely a bruise. I’m starting to see where all this con- tempt for everyone who’s not a firefighter comes from. JACKSON: Then comes the most fun we’ve had yet: the wholesale demolition of a car. Sure the vehicle, an old gold Chrysler New Yorker, has seen better days (and therefore isn’t as much fun to rip up as a Mercedes that parked too close to my car in the parking garage). We knock out the tempered and laminated glass windows and windshield, cut off the roof and pry off the doors with abandon. We bumble around, bouncing off each other, but with- in 45 minutes to an hour we have done all the damage we can possibly do. I feel pret- ty proud until firefighter Steve Lane con- fides that “real” firefighters would have done the same job in about 10 minutes. Unfortunately, I was not quick So you’ve fallen down a hole and can’t get enough to volunteer to bust out the windows, out. Or maybe you crawled up a tree and but still had lots of fun pulling off one of the can’t get down. Don’t worry, the fire depart- doors and biting through the steering wheel (it’s ment has all sorts of cool gadgets for extri- really a lot easier using the hydraulic cutters. I cation. Above, firefighter Joe Thuransky can’t believe how much time I’ve been wasting (second from left) demonstrates the tripod sawing steering wheels off the old-fashioned with three-clasp harness for high and low way). angle rescues. We were speculating on how much fun it would be to show up at someone’s house with CLASS 5 all these tools, swing into action and right after ENGINE COMPANY OPS, FIRE the homeowner came screaming out the door SCIENCE, SCBA, EXTINGUISHERS we could say “Oh wait, guys, this is 319 JACKSON: First up—self-contained Greenhurst! I think the call was to 391. Sorry, breathing apparatus (SCBA). Here we learn man. Hey, we gotta run, we have an emer- to put on a facemask so that our faces are gency to get to.” vacuum-packed, keeping fresh air from the air tank in and smoke and noxious fumes CLASS 4 out. I opt out of wearing the 20-pound air CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION tank as I hurt my back a few days earlier JACKSON: I was CPR certified just a few moving tombstones (don’t ask), but once months earlier. Since I don’t enjoy making my classmates have their gear, masks and out with plastic dummies, I stayed home. tanks on, it sounds like open auditions for JANTZ: Since coming to work here, I have Darth Vader. An air tank lasts about 15 had approximately 5,050 hours of CPR minutes under full exertion. instruction, as have the rest of the staff. Not JANTZ: Standard equipment for each fire- sure why this is, but we are Jack-ready for some fighter is a motion detector that gives off an lifesaving around here. When we go out to eat, alarm if he is immobile for more than 30 sec- we scan the room like hawks, just waiting for onds. If we had those up here, the entire day someone to make the universal sign for chok- would sound like the beginning of that one Pink Floyd song with all the alarm clock bells. ing so we can swing into action. JANTZ: www.mtlebanon.org 45 In the academy, you’ll learn practical skills such as the proper way of handling a fire extinguisher, above, as well as skills you may never use again (unless they nab you as a volunteer) like how to advance 50 pounds of hose line so it doesn’t get tangled, right. JACKSON: Next station: fire science. By tracing the heat damage and “reading” the smoke, a firefighter can usually detect a fire’s origin. JANTZ: Fire burns up and out, in a V pat- tern. Understanding how fire ignites and spreads has really helped my barbecue science. JACKSON: Back into the gear for the out- side hose line station where we learn the proper way of removing hoses from the truck and how to handle them. The water comes out with such force, the lead person actually needs someone to stand behind them as a brace. Last station is fire extinguishers. Get the pressure in your extinguisher checked every five years and give it a good shake monthly. We head outside again to practice extin- guishing a real, although carefully con- tained, fire. This is as close as you’ll get to actual flames during the entire class. buildings and 200 child car seats. There’s an overview of famous fires such as the 1942 one at Cocoanut Grove and 9/11. In 2003, 3,380 people died in fires in the U.S., with cooking being the leading cause of home fires. JANTZ: The gist of the class was that our homes are just great big fat time bombs and total immolation is not a question of if, but of when. JACKSON: The U.S. has the worst fire record in the world, but fire departments around the country are committed to changing those statistics. “We may be the only people in the world trying to put our- selves out of business,” says Wilson. The CLASS 6 class ends with a video that shows how well FIRE PREVENTION, sprinkler systems work—a faux hotel room EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT is torched, but the flames are quickly JACKSON: I love (now retired) Platoon quelled with the sprinklers. In my opinion Chief Grant Wilson, I really do. He’s a the horrific green shag carpets and nylon sweetie, but this was probably the least excit- bedspread deserved to be snuffed. ing class in the entire academy. Not to say it CLASS 7 wasn’t educational, but it just didn’t have the TRUCK COMPANY OPS oomph of the other classes. Maybe that’s JACKSON: Merle and I are the first to go because the thrill of the “fighting” a real fire last week is still reverberating through us. up, up, up in the tower ladder demonstra- Tonight, we sit in a classroom and learn tion. I’m glad I went first—I don’t suffer about the fire department’s educational acrophobia, but after my ride I watch the efforts, including the K-8 school classes and bucket going 95 feet in the air (while sway- home safety surveys. In 2003, Mt. Lebanon ing in the breeze) with Jackie and Harry, Fire Department responded to 1,800 emer- and I get a little nauseous. Keep your eyes gency calls and more than 2,000 non-emer- on the horizon and you’ll be fine—besides gency calls, conducted 450 public educa- the view is too spectacular to miss. tion activities and inspected more than 500 Ground ladders are my least favorite sta- 46 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 tion. Ladders and I don’t get along. If we were real volunteers we’d have to take a 32- hour class on ground ladders. Yep, 32 hours. Ladders are the first way to rescue people, and two firefighters can set up an extension ladder in 20 seconds or less. We learn how to correctly set up the ladder— but not in 20 seconds—climb it, do the sta- bilizing leg lock (not easy in big rubber boots) and how to carry out unconscious people. JANTZ: Rode around in a 95-foot ladder truck then climbed what seemed to be a 1,320-foot ground ladder and very bravely kept all the pee on the inside where it belongs. My fear of heights has been with me my whole life, except for my three years in the army, where it was replaced by a fear of sergeants who kept making me jump off things that really didn’t need jumped off of. The stabiliz- ing leg lock helped a lot, though. This was the first Christmas I was able to put the wreath up on the garage without reciting the 23rd Psalm. JACKSON: In the thermal imaging cam- era segment, we learn about these little hand-held marvels that allow firefighters to “see” in the dark. The $13,000 cameras pick up infrared heat waves that not only allow them to locate people but find fires in walls and attics. Thermal imaging cameras are one of the most important fire technol- ogy advances of the last decade. JANTZ: Playing with the thermal imaging camera was one of the most fun things of the whole course. You go into a smoke-filled build- If you knew how much hazardous material was being transported along our roads every day, you might never travel again. Firefighter Chris Switala discusses the chemical suits that firefighters wear when cleaning up a spill. To earn hazardous waste technician certification, a firefighter must take 28 hours of classes. All of Mt. Lebanon’s career firefighters are certified. ing and you can see. It’s like having a super- power. JACKSON: Search and rescue gives us a taste of what we’ll face at the upcoming fire academy. After a demonstration of how firefighters search a house for unconscious people (one maintains contact with a wall, while another firefighters links his or her leg onto the guide and sweeps the room with his arm or a tool). Then they turn out the lights so we can replicate the procedure and “rescue” a dummy that weighs what has to be about 2,000 pounds. Doing this in full gear with an air mask and tank will give you a whole new respect for firefighters. I would have let the dummy burn. JANTZ: It was pitch-black in there, plus with all the equipment on I kind of grayed out for a little bit, so I’m not entirely sure how the dummy ended up hauling me out, but again, thank you, my lifelike rubber friend. CLASS 8 NORTH PARK FIRE ACADEMY JACKSON: We meet at the fire station at 9 A . M . and are taken by bus to the North Park Fire Academy. Mitzi joins us if only to watch. What a trouper. The city of Pittsburgh has its own train- ing facility while every other firefighter in Allegheny County trains at North Park. Several Mt. Lebanon firefighters are also instructors here. When we arrive, we watch some actual firefighters from various departments training with real fires. I think I’m ready to jump in and help, but the only smoke I’ll be dealing with today is the the- atrical, nontoxic kind. We split into four rotations—Rehab/ Command, where we stand around in case backup is needed and look for safety haz- ards; search and rescue where we enter the “burning” building, climb a flight of stairs and, using the thermal imaging camera, look for that darn dummy who keeps get- ting himself into these messes and then expects us to bail him out; ladder opera- tions where we rescue the dummy (whose head keeps popping off—which is just too bad for him as we haven’t had the EMT academy yet) from a second-floor window; and attack, where we rush into the smoking building with a hose line and spray the walls. JANTZ: Kevin Maehling tells us that the previous year’s fire academy, decked out in their Mt. Lebanon turnout gear, looked so comical stumbling around, dropping ladders and smacking into each other that he had to make a point of going over to the real fire- fighters from other departments who were training that day and telling them, “You know what, this isn’t really our A Team.” We, of course, all looked like total pros. JACKSON: Carrying 50 pounds of hose on my shoulders in ill-fitting rubber boots, wheezing through an air mask is an inter- esting endeavor, but not something I ever want to try again. Fortunately there are oth- ers who feel differently—in fact, one of our classmates has begun the process of becom- ing a real volunteer. Way to go, Dave. I went home and took a nap. CLASS 9 GRADUATION JACKSON: Good eats, a slide show of our class in action and the presentation of diplomas and class pictures. The teachers were terrific and the class informative, but it was the most exhausting “fun” I’ve ever had. JANTZ: A tough, dirty, dangerous, absolute- ly necessary job, and however much credit these guys get, it’s about a fifteenth of what they deserve. The first night of class I was wonder- ing if these guys were really really crazy or real- ly really cautious. After nine weeks, I can see that they need to be both—one to get them inside the building and one to get them back out again. www.mtlebanon.org 47 VÉÄÉÜ |Ç à{x f{twx ZtÜwxÇ BY JANICE SEIGLE ometimes a shade garden comes at you slowly like mine did. When you work the same garden over decades, change is inevitable. Trees on hillsides bor- dering my garden continued to mature, their canopies imperceptibly spreading like waistlines tend to do until one day there were only scant areas touched by sunlight. Vivid annuals, perennials and shrubs come into prolific bloom only if and when they receive a minimum of four to six hours of daily sun. They ceased to perform in my garden. S Shade for me has become a fact of life, as it has for so many Mt. Lebanon gardens and gardeners. But shade does not have to pre- clude color. Shade gardening opens the curtain on a stage where only certain performers are at home, but where the color show can remain vibrant and varied. My earliest experiments in shade began with Pulmonaria “Mrs. Moon,” which grows in mounds with profuse, saturated blue flow- ers that pop from pink buds in early spring. When mostly every- thing is barely breaking dormancy, it flourishes in sites sheltered by shadows of the house or evergreens. Silver blotches on clumps of dark green and broad, strap-like leaves create interest after flowers fade and trees leaf out in May. I’ve learned to value and 48 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 of the species with a more slender profile. rely on foliage as a worthy color contributor in the shade garden, as in dusty silvers of Japanese painted fern or Lamium ‘White Nancy.’ Warmer lime yellows of golden sage or hosta ‘August Moon’ radiate light, and I have often used them to illumine dark spaces. In fact, all warm or light colors, whether from foliage or blooms, seem closer and larger while the cooler, darker laven- ders, purples and blues tend to look smaller and farther away. Careful placement of light and dark foliage can actually manip- Above, Foxglove. Counter-clockwise from facing page: ulate the perception of the gar- Hosta hybrid, Foxglove and Ferns; Pulmonaria; Epede- den’s size and depth. mium; Hardy Geraniums and Columbine Meadow Rue. Flowering plants can be used the same way. Fuzzy blooms that lack sharp definition give the impression of more depth than actually exists, especially in a gloomy area or against a back- ground of evergreens or deep shadows. Here, the effect of smoky lavender tufts of meadow rue (Thalictrum aquilegifolium) is like a distant, vague mist arising from columbine-like foliage. Feathery, cloud-like flower sprays of goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) do the same. Both, at five feet or more, draw the eye to the back of a shady border and bloom in the fall. For color at intermediate height, the foxgloves are among my favorites. Biennial for the most part, they present clumps or rosettes of leaves the first year. In the second, tall stalks present cascading bells with dotted or speckled inner throats. Blooming from the bot- tom upwards, their flowers in rose, lavender, white or yellow last for weeks. There are a few true perennials among the species, Digitalis mertonensis, a strawberry pink, and D. ambigua, a yellow member Hardy geranium or Cranesbill appreciates morning sun and sits nicely at the feet of Digitalis in my garden. Ranging in color from pale lavenders and rose to deep blue, their loose, mounding form comple- ments the upright habit of foxgloves. Such contrasts in shape are necessary for successful pairings in part shade or sun. Crocosmia in scarlet hues can stand in for more intense color. For more substantial structural forms, I resort to a number of ornamental shrubs that require low light: Oregon grape holly for a change every season, from shiny blue green evergreen leaves in summer to bronze in winter and finally yellow flowers that announce spring. And every garden should have a Viburnum burkwoodii that perfumes the air in early May. It is espe- cially enticing with a skirt of Epimedium grandiflorum at its feet with its spurred spring flowers and deli- cate foliage that float on wiry thin stems throughout the summer. Although often overused in foundation plantings, yew tolerates deep shade and creates a rich, dark backdrop for dramatic fore- ground plants. I’ll always appreciate the bold colors that only a sun-drenched garden provides, but shade is a welcome reality. With a few basic principles and knowledge of plants that grow well in the shade, possibilities for a colorful garden abound. Janice Seigle is a master gardener. www.mtlebanon.org 49 BY MT. LEBANON MAGAZINE STAFF What’s so special about Mt. Lebanon? I t’s no secret that most of us love the fact that Mt. Lebanon is more of a town than a suburb—a place where we can stroll safely to business districts and enjoy a variety of restaurants and special- ty stores, a town with well-kept parks and playgrounds, distinc- you find the foreign and independent film titles you crave? At tive neighborhoods and friendly neighbors. Specifically? We’ve come up with ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT on McFarland Road, you’ll get the a far-from-complete list of things to love about Mt. Lebanon (and there may personal treatment from owner Mike Freeman, who is excellent at making suggestions. Here you’ll find classics and hard-to-get movies. Mike gets calls from Monroeville and the North Hills from people looking for certain titles. All this, and the place is down-home charming in a non-chain way—and they’ll wel- come your dog with a treat. If you’re not going to the MT. LEBANON FARMER’S MARKET, you’re missing something special. It’s not just the best place to go for fresh (and organic) produce at good prices, it’s also a nice tra- dition, and you’ll run into neighbors and friends. Kids love the homemade root beer, adults the spicy mango salsa. Many Mt. Lebanon families declare Wednesdays Middle Eastern dinner night, serving the spinach pies, hummus and baba ghanoush sold here weekly. 4 to dusk, Wednesdays June through October at United Lutheran Church, Washington and Cochran roads. Paws for a minute (sorry) and ask your dog his/her favorite spot in town. Bet romping in BIRD PARK is it. Located off Cedar Boulevard (there’s also parking on Beadling Road), there’s plenty of wooded trails, lush in the summer, spectacular in the autumn and well, muddy other times. Enhancing the experience is the people you meet there. If you go regularly, you get to know them and their furry companions. Then the fun really starts: dog meet dog. “Hey Clio, there’s Henry!” Life is good. Don’t forget your leash—at least when the dog catcher surfaces! be a few you haven’t heard about). E-mail us your favorite things and we’ll do a follow up in a future issue. acaffee@mtlebanon.org. at 292 Beverly Road is one of Mt. Lebanon’s best-kept secrets—and for a good reason. You can’t get your car in for service unless you’re already a customer, which tells you a lot. But if you did, Jim Biery is the kindest and most hon- est mechanic in the world—we hear. Since 1949, when Jim’s dad, Jack, opened it, they have treated (the right kind of) cus- tomers right. Now a two-man shop servicing mostly imports, the guys are so busy, they aren’t looking for new customers, although we hear that if you have a snooty upperclass import, and you know somebody, they just might make room. Still, be prepared to wait. If you can’t make it past the appointment secretary at Beverly Service, MT. LEBANON AUTO, at Cochran and Cedar, is a car care place for the rest of us. They may lack snob appeal, but if all you’re looking for is a crew of good, solid mechanics, try Mt. Lebanon Auto. They’ll even work on such pedestrian fare as Dodge Shadows and (shudder!) Chevy Cavaliers. Now that the Denis Theater is closed, where in Mt. Lebanon can BEVERLY SERVICE What would be the point of buying an expensive import if it had to mingle with commoners at the shop? Mt. Lebanon offers auto service for every- one, as long as they know their place. 50 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Cedar Lake is a place where you’ll find all your ducks in a row. Mornings at Lakemont and Larchdale, come early and watch the parade. In October for a few wonderful days the trees in the LOWER SOUTHEAST CORNER OF TWIN HILLS PARK light up a bril- liant gold creating a surreal, magical glow in this quiet section of the woods. Be still and take it all in. If you’re quiet, and very lucky, you might spot the little red fox skittering by. Twin Hills is a sweet, underused spot that nearby residents cherish. Their dogs love it even more. Grab a cup of coffee and drive over to the corner of Lakemont and Larchdale in Cedarhurst Manor any morning between 7:30 and 8 for the DUCK WALK . Five fat, beautiful white ducks parade across the street from Cedar Lake to—who knows— some sort of appointment. There’s also a wild turkey walk across Mt. Lebanon Boulevard—but the birds aren’t quite so pre- dictable. It’s a catch as catch can exhibition, but when the turkeys walk, traffic stops. How well do you know the community you call home? Get to know it a bit better at a HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MOUNT LEBANON PROGRAM . Offered five times a year every other month from September through May, program topics have run the gamut from local stained glass windows and the communi- ty’s golf courses to the archaeology of Woodville Plantation and the history of the North Side. Reenactors have introduced audi- ences to George Westinghouse, an 18th-century fur trader and a Huron Indian. The lectures are free, and there are always good cookies. A stroll down Washington Road proves Mt. Lebanon’s uptown is a vibrant business district offering much for many. As the mix of stores gets bigger and better, it’s hard to mention everything we love. Of course, there’s the FAÇADE OF MT. LEBANON FLORAL , the FRIENDLY SERVICE AT RANIA’S, the cool WINDOW DIS- PLAYS AT ZIPPER BLUES and the FORTUNE COOKIES AT SESAME INN (We know someone whose fortune read, “You are the greatest person in the world;” she has it framed in her bath- room.) We also just love that the SALOON NEVER CHANGES and MOLLY BRANNIGAN’S is here. And we relish the UPSCALE FEEL THAT PEPPERBERRY’S, WALKER RUGS, AND HANDWORKS GIVES THE STREET . But what do we really love? A bargain. In the vicinity of the renovated municipal building (which we love because we have the whole third floor to ourselves) bargains abound. True to its name, you really can find a great gift—and a bargain at GIFTED , where prices are discounted—from Limoges china that department stores don’t even carry and colorful and creative ceramic pieces to personalized baby shower gifts. If you’ve got an eye for design, you can practically steal the fabric at TEXTILE STUDIOS. And MAJESTIC NAILS is the place for an affordable, emergency manicure; you can “walk-in.” In the good value category is CC’S, a retro grill blast from the past that serves up a killer CHICKEN DUMPLING SOUP . And speaking of soup, the DIVINE SOUPS AT THE GRILL , in the basement of the Executive Building, is just one good reason to have breakfast or lunch at this little café, which serves good ole basic American fare (burgers, cheese steaks, chef’s salad). On Fridays, The Grill hosts a large table of retired gents who come to gossip and dine. For a yummy dessert, stop in POTOMAC BAKERY for its SIGNATURE MOIST, DECADENT BROWNIES. Topped with a little chocolate frosting, they can pass for home- made. Across the street Rollier’s boasts one of the most helpful and informed staffs around (so much better than at those box stores) Nice places to walk your dog and timeless architecture are two of the things high on any- body’s list of what makes a town special. Mt. Lebanon has an abundance of greenspace and leafy streets. Don’t forget your scooper! www.mtlebanon.org 51 Read “The Secret Garden” in an actual (almost) secret garden in the courtyard outside Mt. Lebanon Library. and they always have great coupons (in this magazine). But what we love is ROLLIER’S CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS featur- ing holiday decorations you won’t find anywhere else. Something else you won’t find just anywhere are the great PAJAMAS AT ZZZ’S . Made of high-quality flannel and Calida cotton/knit, they make us wish it was socially acceptable to wear pjs to work. If you buy those jammies for a gift, you’ll need a card and some wrapping paper. MORE THAN WORDS’ FUNNY, SNARKY CARDS AND WRAPPING PAPER that goes from silly to sophisticated is the best around and the shop’s owner is good at helping you find just the right one. For the more tradition- al on your card list, try the GREAT CARDS WITH SMALL PRICES AT YOU’RE INVITED. For anyone who can thread a needle, the BUTTONS AT THE FABRIC PLACE on Washington Road are a dream come true. Hunt through the wall of buttons—in every size, color and texture imaginable—for a match to the button you meant to sew on and then lost or for some glitzy buttons that will make a bargain buy look expensive (or change the look of a good piece you’ve grown tired of). And the service is great—the staff will take as much time to help you find a single button as Saks will take helping you select a $10,000 fur coat. One of the best places to find a bargain on Washington Road is FAMILY HEIRLOOMS , a resale shop run by Family Hospice and Palliative Care. Set up like a house, you can wander through the living room for end tables and knick-knacks and the kitchen for utensils and appliances. There’s clothing, books, antiques and fun items galore and all proceeds benefit hospice patients. When you leave with your purchases, turn left and take a look at the GATEHOUSE TO MT. LEBANON CEME- TERY . It’s in terrible disrepair, but the juxtaposition of the old Victorian house against the new public safety building is spec- tacular. This is one historic house we have to save! Once the shopping is complete, nothing beats a dinner on the BACK PATIO AT IL PIZZAIOLO with its shade trees and flowers. While there, we recommend the bean dip served on their antipasto misto. Seasoned with garlic, a bit of Romano cheese and salt and pepper, this simple but delectable dip draws them far and wide. The new wine bar in the little cottage beside the patio is a must for all oenophiles. We love THE LIBRARY for a million reasons, but the two biggest may be the least known. First is the good selection of CDS, TAPES, DVDS AND VIDEOS that can be checked out for a week at no charge. The second is the LOVELY LITTLE COURTYARD . From the library parking lot, all you see is a chain link fence, but there’s a secret garden a through the children’s library’s story room or a door around the corner from the checkout desk. A peaceful place to enjoy a book, magazine or newspaper on a balmy day. At times it seems that Starbucks shops are taking over the coun- try; fortunately MT. LEBANON COFFEE SHOPS are almost all privately owned and unique. Plus, there seems to be one in almost every neighborhood. At Aldo Coffee Company you can enjoy copies of the New York Times, Village Voice, and newpa- pers from England, Germany and Italy plus Tango Nights once a month (or so). The Coffee Den hosts open mic nights the sec- ond and fourth Friday of each month that jump with talented performers and enthusiastic audi- ence, most of them Mt. Lebanon High We love the Mt. Lebanon Cemetery gate- house (but we wish the owners would paint it!) and the community’s many coffee houses. School Students. And book clubs should note Coffee Den offers It might not make your boat float but some TEENS PLAY CARD a back room with leather sofa and chairs prime for good discus- GAMES ON WASHINGTON ROAD’S ROOFTOP PARKING sions and owner Stu Chaban allows you to bring in “other” GARAGES . They say that what it lacks in amenities, it makes up drinks. Mojoe’s, a cozy corner spot in Sunset Hills, not only has in scenery and being alternatively cool in a different, look-what- coffee, it has ice cream and entertainment. Some say the coffee at we’re-doing kind of way. Only in Mt. Lebanon. Beverly Road’s Coffee Tree Roasters is the best in town; others say Mt. Lebanon’s neighborhoods are great places to stroll—and the it’s Uptown’s or Blue Horse. We’ll let you be the judge of that. Osage/Valleyview loop in Virginia Manor is probably the best of Walk the tree-lined streets and take note of the WONDERFUL those walks. But if you want to get off the street and don’t want ARCHITECTURE this community boasts: the art deco details in the hassle of dealing with the sports teams at the stadium, have the municipal building, the slate roofs in all their varied forms, we got the place for you. Take a BIKE RIDE, WALK, STROLL OR JOG THOUGH MT. LEBANON CEME- the dormer windows, the boffo brick, the TERY . Tree-lined, quiet, the roads gently stunning stone, the welcoming worches curve around through the 65 acres in a (sorry, porches) and archways. And the place where you’ll never have to worry churches, especially St. Bernard’s. about traffic. Mt. Lebanon police officers May we suggest a walk at twilight, when have already found this is a great place for the glow of lamplight beckons, casting a a workout. Austin Avenue has a lush warm glow? Mt. Lebanon’s beauty isn’t canopy of tall, stately trees and a glorious all visual, though. Whether it’s the deep, leaf show in spring and fall. Homes here mournful knell at St. Bernard’s or the are on the small side, (though many have melodic carillon at Southminster, THE additions) but quaint and brimming BELLS OF MT. LEBANON add a beauty with charm, and the neighborhood has at to the town that goes beyond scenic. least one great amenity: a woodsy path to Pittsburgh’s hilly terrain is a sled rider’s A walk in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery is always the entrance of Mt. Lebanon Park. dream come true. Those seeking the best good exercise and a peaceful experience. Lost your favorite spot for watching July 4 ride in Mt. Lebanon go SLEDDING AT fireworks because the trees on the hillside grew so tall they block SPALDING CIRCLE , the second best place in the community to hit the slopes (the best place is a forbidden secret; hint: leave your your view? Take a blanket, a beach chair and a cooler to driver at home). Kids of all ages come here with their saucers and MARKHAM FIELD . Great for babies and dogs (yes, we know dogs aren’t allowed on school property) who might startle at the bigger tubes in tow. booms. Better yet, kiss up to the D’Alos and the Shields at the cor- We mentioned Il Pizzaiolo’s wonderful courtyard, but there’s ner of Main Entrance and get invited to their America’s birthday another hidden spot for al fresco dining we like as well— THE bash. It looks like DECK AT LOCANTE’S on Castle Shannon Boulevard. Bring fun! your own wine to pair with the many fresh pastas and variety of sauces offered here. Salud! Pizza without cheese? Sounds weird, but Italian-born Frank Caruso of Caruso’s on Washington Road says that’s the “original” pizza. He recommends it with hot peppers and anchovies. You might want to tell him to go easy on the peppers! www.mtlebanon.org 53 BY LARRY SLATER PHOTOS BY ERIN ARNOLD THE VIRGINIA GENTLEMAN AND THE WHISKEY REBELS EXPERTS SAY THAT THE BEST WAY TO LEARN HOW TO RESTORE AND PRESERVE MT. LEBANON’S OLDER HOUSES IS BY VISIT- ING WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA’S HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS AND SEEING HOW THE HOUSES LOOKED AND WERE USED IN THEIR PERIOD. THIS IS THE FOURTH IN OUR SERIES. eneral John Neville, a Virginia gentleman planter and soldier, as well as a friend, business and surveying asso- ciate of George Washington, built two houses in the Mt. Lebanon/Chartiers Valley area. The first and surviving house is Woodville Plantation along current Route 50. The second, Bower Hill (hence Bower Hill Road), was torched during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1792-1794. General Neville began Woodville Plantation with a log house in 1775 just as the Revolutionary War was beginning. Neville served as a general in the Continental Army with his son, Presley. Colonel Presley Neville served on the staff G 54 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Top: Volunteer docent Julianna Haag shows members of a school tour the partially exposed original log core of Neville House. Center: Collier Township is closer to Colonial Williamsburg than you thought! Three mem- bers of Neville House Associates—Julianna Haag, Eleanore Fatigati and Barbara Meharey—enjoy tea in the parlor while violin- ist Larry Weiss serenades. Three of the four wear period dress. An 18th-century child’s pull-toy stands before replica wallpaper. Scraps of the origi- nal paper were found during restoration and re-created in rolls to cover the walls. 54 lebanon july/august 2005 54 mt. mt. lebanon • • july/august 2005 Historic Houses Docent Meghan Reed of Mt. Lebanon demonstrates colo- nial quilt making in a guest room. Woodville Plantation as it stands today. General Neville’s heirs added the wraparound porch in the mid 19th century. Ric Evans of Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, better known to us as the Marquis de Lafayette. Both the general and his son were captured by British forces and held until 1781. It was at this time that Woodville Plantation was enlarged, faced with clapboard and elegantly furnished—a small Western Pennsylvania replica of the houses of Tidewater Virginia. As the young federal government’s collector of the new whiskey tax for this area in the 1790s, General Neville lost his newer home, Bower Hill, to the torches and anger of area farmer dis- tillers, who launched the Whiskey Rebellion against the hated federal tax. Ironically, according to at least one member of Neville House Associates, the general owned a 500-gallon still himself, the largest in the area at that time. The house, originally the center of a 387-acre working planta- tion (basically a large farm), remained in collateral branches of the Neville family until the death of Mary Renshaw Fawcett in 1973. Altogether, General Neville owned roughly 10,000 noncontiguous acres in this area. To preserve this lone physical reminder of an 18th- century Northern Virginia plantation in Western Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) pur- chased the property in 1976. Unfortunately, none of the original furniture remained in the house at the time PHLF acquired it, says Sewickley-based interior designer Anne Genter, who was instru- mental in furnishing Woodville with period pieces, including fab- rics and wall coverings. Ironically, the loss of Neville’s Bower Hill estate was a boon, at least to Genter and the other historians and restorationists who worked on Woodville. The general’s inventory of his Bower Hill loses, which he sent to President Washington for reimbursement, listed specific pieces of furniture (a tall case clock, a dining table with matching chairs), carpeting and wall paper. It was a place to start. Genter is a longtime member of both the board of trustees of PHLF and of the National Society of Colonial Dames. For Woodville, she took pains to find late 18th- and early 19th-cen- tury antique furniture similar to that owned by General Neville and had reproduction wallpaper and carpeting made (from orig- inals remnants uncovered during restoration) by the finest pro- ducers of 18th-century replicas. Genter suggests that if you want to restore your own home, you should visit as many house museums as possible and read as much as you can on the architecture, furnishings and customs relevant to the period of your house. She also suggests using Pennsylvania furniture, especially if your house is 100 years old or more. A century ago, most furniture used in local houses would have been made locally, although wealthy homeowners may have purchased some show pieces (clocks, tables, ornamental pieces) in Philadelphia and shipped them to Western Pennsylvania. If you have the time and resources, analyzing the original paint in your home is an option; many period paints have been reproduced and are now available. Another stickler for detail is Neville House Associates board member Rob Windhorst, a sales executive for Manhattan-based F. Schumacher & Co. His firm makes and sells through interior designers authentic reproductions of 18th- and 19th-century draperies and fabrics. Companies that faithfully reproduce peri- od fabrics offer styles from 18th century to Victorian to Arts and Crafts to the Jazz Age, he says. Windhorst is also a serious student of historic farming and gar- dening techniques. He notes that for most of Mt. Lebanon’s older homes, the appropriate garden would be a small decorative one, a style that gained popularity in the 1920s as early suburbs start- ed or grew. He suggests that it is important to decide how authen- tic you want any garden attached to your property to be, based on the period and your own aesthetics. Genter’s contributions to the preservation and restoration at Woodville Plantation as it was in General Neville’s day also include paint, flooring and window treatments. She had exacting reproductions of floor cloths made for certain rooms. Floor cloths, a precursor of linoleum, were covered with designs and patterns and laid down like throw rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting in high-traffic rooms. She also obtained for Woodville Plantation’s dining room the same color of faux colonial green paint that originally graced the dining room at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon. Neville House Associates historian (and past president) Retta Campbell also has contributed to a proper restoration of the house. The organization invited Edward Chappell, at the time the director of the archaeological research department of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, to perform detailed studies of the house and grounds on several occasions. Neville Associates also won a $6,000 grant to hire Maine-based preservationist John Leeke, says Campbell, and Leeke created the www.mtlebanon.org 55 Fancy food work. The manor’s original kitchen, with its walk-in fireplace, is used again to pre- pare a holiday feast. first preservation blueprint of the house— a sort of architectural blueprint combined with a list of expert suggestions to preserve the property. Private period homes also can commission such a plan, bearing in mind the cost. Local carpenter Ron Raehn currently helps build authentic reproductions of outbuildings for the Woodville property. He recommends seeking out shops that deal in reproduction hardware for home or building restoration. Richard Smith, an interior designer, muralist and chairman of the operations committee for Woodville Plantation, makes several important points for people who are restoring or preserving a house. Chief among these are: furnish as close to the period during which the house origi- nally thrived; avoid the overly fussy “deco- rator look” of what an historic period was romantically believed to look like; and keep in mind the simplicity and practical- ity of certain house types. Although it might not work for the average modern homeowner, chief among the rooms to keep in top 18th/early 19th century oper- ating order at Woodville Plantation is the original kitchen with its massive brick and wood fireplace. Revolutionary War-era homes don’t abound in Mt. Lebanon, but residents who want to restore or preserve their early 20th century bungalows or Foursquares —or to furnish their Colonial and Tudor revivals appropriately—can learn much from these rare survivors in Western Pennsylvania. The notions of careful work by skilled professionals, research, getting to know a house and its history and seek- ing top-drawer reproductions where orig- inals aren’t available are important for any- one who wants to maintain the integrity of a home’s architecture. 56 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 the search for authentic materials There are many places where you can find authentic reproductions or original materials for preserving and restoring a home in the appropriate period. While we can only give you a sam- pling here, this is a good place to start. P i t t s b u r g h H i s t o r y a n d L a n d m a r k s F o u n d a t i o n : “The Old House Fair Buyers Guide” offers a contact list of 90 vendors who have participated in the annual House Fair. Some are: Community Design Center of Pittsburgh, 945 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh 15222, 412-391-4144; Gerald’s Forge, 11834 Joan Drive, Pittsburgh 15235, 412-721-4704; Gilding Atelier of Pennsylvania, 2928 Beechwood Blvd., Pittsburgh 15217, 412-521-2263; Prism Stained Glass, 5234 Butler St., Pittsburgh 15201, 412-781-8828. PHLF’s chief programs officer is Cathy McCollom. 412-471-5808, cathy@phlf.org W e s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a C r a f t s m e n ’ s G u i l d : A free referral service to expert craftsmen engaged in a wide range of crafts from architectural plastering and art glass to gilding and slate roofing. You can visit the Guild’s Web site at www.westpenncraftguild.com or call 412-784-8015. C o n s t r u c t i o n J u n c t i o n : A 30,000-square-foot warehouse of building materials, including scarce, out-of-production materials. Visit in person at the corner of Lexington Avenue and Meade in Point Breeze or online at www.constructionjunction.com or call 412-243- 5025. H a b i t a t H a r d w a r e : A large supply of both modern and period reproduction hardware items. Located at 519 Locust Place, Sewickley 15143. www.habitathardware.com or 412-741- 9412. N a t i o n a l T r u s t f o r H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n : This Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit lists in its Preservation Magazine myriad craftspeople and dealers in reproduction or historic building and interior materials. The Trust online also has numerous tips for restoring and preserving homes. www.nationaltrust.org For authentic reproductions of period and antique fabrics, try Pepperberry’s Ltd., 651 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, 412 344-4115; and Jaro Interiors, 3734 Poplar Avenue, Castle Shannon, 412-561-5454. Both represent several exacting manufacturers of reproduc- tion draperies and fabrics. around ♦ O N E S 2 town D I S C O V E R C H R I S T I A N S C I E N C E W A T C H “We have nothing to fear when love is at the helm of thought, but everything to enjoy on earth and in heaven.” Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy Mt. Lebanon Junior Women’s’ Club raised $39,000 for Gwen’s Girls at its eighth annual fund- raising gala. Founded in 2002 by retired Pittsburgh Police commander Gwendolyn Elliot, Gwen’s Girl’s mission is to empower at-risk girls through gender specific programs, educa- tion and experiences. From left, Gwen’s Girl’s board member Susan Elliot, Deputy Director Lynn Knezevich, Director of Development Lonnie Silver, Executive Director Gwendolyn Elliot, and women’s club board members Sue Byrne, Kathy Teresi, Deb Doyle and Tarpey O’Rourke. F I R S T C H U R C H O F C H R I S T , S C I E N T I S T 1 1 0 0 W A S H I N G T O N R O A D • 4 1 2 - 5 6 1 - 1 1 2 5 ermont Avenue resident Amy Barron received the Grove City College 2005 Senior Woman of the year award. She also was chosen as this year’s commencement speaker, becoming only the fourth student in Grove City history to be chosen as com- mencement speaker. V alerie Westcott, Florida Avenue, is a finalist for the Pennsylvania Depart- ment of Education’s Teacher of the Year Award. Westcott, an instructor of Visual Arts at the Pittsburgh Classical Academy in Sheraden, has been a Pittsburgh Public School teacher for 25 years…The Amer- ican Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has elected Dr. Leo McCafferty, Cochran Road, to its board of directors. McCafferty has previously been named as one of America’s outstanding doctors and served as chair of the Allegheny County Medical Society’s Communications Committee. V immy Mullen, Valleyview Road, received the Keystone State Games Athletic Award of Honor for his perform- ance at last summer’s games. Mullen, a high school All-American, will play la- crosse at Dartmouth. J wo Mt. Lebanon High School athletes were honored at the Downtown YMCA’s Scholar Athlete Banquet. Field hockey player Sarah Cummings and bas- ketball star Geoff Kessler were among more than 100 area athletes honored for their accomplishments in sports, leader- ship and volunteer work…Rachelle VanBuskirk, a 1998 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, is working as a teacher at Tendercare in Green Tree. Rachelle graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with an associate’s degree in child development and a B.S. in social sci- ences. Her sister Kristen VanBuskirk, a 2000 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, has been hired as development technolo- gist at Nova Chemical in Beaver. Kristen graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in chemical engineering Rachelle and Kristen are daughters of Carla and Peter VanBuskirk, Magnolia Place. T he boys’ locker room at Mt. Lebanon High School plays a supporting role in one of this summer’s Washington Wild Things commercials. Dave Hughes, Carnegie Drive, and John Rice, Arden Coffey Contracting ROOFING & CHIMNEYS Slate • Tile • Shakes Tinning • Spouting Flashing • Box Gutter Repair We can recreate workmanship and styles from any Architectural Era FREE ESTIMATES FULLY INSURED T O N E S 2 W A T C H 412.341.1127 p.59 www.mtlebanon.org 57 A R O U N D T O W N ♦ B L U E D E V I L AT H L E T E S ob McCartney, a senior outside hitter on the Mt. Lebanon boys’ volleyball team, helped lead the past year’s team to the WPIAL tournament where they lost to top-ranked Norwin. He also led the team in service aces and digs this season. But while volleyball is one of his favorite sports to play, his first love is football. McCartney has grown up around foot- ball—he may even have a future in the NFL. Yet he never played for the Mt. Lebanon High School team and has no plans in college. His father, Bob, is the vi- deo coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steel- ers, so Rob has been helping out at the Steelers training camp in Latrobe for years. His goal is not to play football, but to one day become a general manager for an NFL team, hopefully the Steelers. He’s already on his way to that goal, thanks to acute knowledge of football he’s gleaned from his time with the Steelers. McCartney has started his own NFL scouting business. On draft day in April, he was in the Steelers’ “war room” on draft day aiding the selection process for head coach Bill Cowher, director of football operations Kevin Colbert, and owner Dan Rooney. McCartney’s expertise is evident on his Web site, RobScouting.com, which offers stats and rates every draftable player looking to enter the NFL. The site has had more than three million hits in the last two years, and McCartney says his that his mock-draft picks were more on target than ESPN’s draft day expert Mel Kiper, Jr. He’ll enter the University of South Carolina this fall, where he plans to major in sports management. Any plans to help out new Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier? Of course. “Hopefully I can get in with the new staff and learn the ropes,” McCartney says. R (Above, left) Midfielder and WPIAL champion Anne Murray forges new popularity for girls’ lacrosse in Mt. Lebanon. (At right) Rob McCartney digs scouting college football players for the NFL and already spikes the competition. arrying her books from class to class, chatting and joking with friends, Anne Murray seemed like a typical Mt. Lebanon High School student. But when she donned her No. 17 lacrosse jersey, Murray becames extraordinary. Some people think that the recent grad is the best lacrosse player in the team’s history. Girls lacrosse is a relatively new sport to Mt. Lebanon. The first team was fielded in 1992, and until the 2003-2004 school year girls lacrosse was not recognized as an officially funded varsity sport at Mt. Lebanon. Instead, the Blue Devil girls played at the club level in the Western Pennsylvania Schoolgirls Lacrosse Asso- ciation (WPSLA). For the first few years, success was an uphill battle, as Mt. Lebanon’s team faced players from schools with well-established programs where girls are veteran player by high school. Then In 2002 when Murray was just a freshman, the Blue Devils won their first WPSLA title, ending a five-year streak of championships by Sewickley Academy. They repeated in 2003, sug- gesting that Mt. Lebanon’s girls lacrosse program was coming into its own. Today, there’s no question the Lebo pro- C 58 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 gram is tops; In 2004, with Murray as cap- tain, the Blue Devils won their first WPIAL championship, and they did it again this past May. Midfielder Murray led the team with four goals, all scored in the first half, beating Peters Township 15-4 to capture their fourth- straight area championship. With a record of 17-2 and a national ranking of 31st after the WPIAL win, Murray and the Blue Devils headed to the Midwestern Schoolgirls Lacrosse Assoc- iation championships in Cleveland, where they beat Sewickley Academy 11-4 to cap- ture the title. Murray has been honing her lacrosse skills since sixth grade, but lacrosse is not her only sport. When she was not on the field, she was on the ice playing hockey, which she has played since sixth grade. She has played for the Amateur Penguins Tier One hockey team. Athletics took up much of Murray’s extracurricular time; still she graduated with a 4.3 grade point average—a winning combination that will send her to Princeton—which has one of the top women’s lacrosse teams in the country— this fall. — NEAL BROWN O N E S 2 W A T C H VOLVO—A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WHERE PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, STABILITY, AND COMFORT ARE CONCERNED. Mt. Lebanon High School locker room stood in for the Washington Wild Things showers in a ▼ commercial for the Frontier League team. p. 57 Road, teamed up to develop two new tel- evision commercials for the minor league baseball team. Hughes and Rice came up with the idea of using a locker room shower as the setting for their commercial and found the high school’s boys’ locker room facility to be a convenient choice. The commercials’ theme plays on ways that the team keeps ticket prices low, including skimping on hot water in the showers. Hughes is a partner and art director with advertising agency Garrison Hughes. Rice is a commercial film director and part of Lumiere Films. WE PROUDLY PRESENT THE WORLD’S FIRST V8 VOLVO 311 HORSEPOWER 8-CYLINDER ENGINE. CALL FOR DETAILS. Bill Gray VOLVO 2770 West Liberty Avenue Visit us 24/7 at billgrayvolvo.com or call 412.343.1111 dam Soloff, Shady Drive East, won first place in the doctoral student cat- egory of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health student research competition. Soloff won for his research examining the relationship between influenza outbreaks and rapid response vaccination to contain the spread of disease. Soloff also received the Rosenkranz Award, given for a project that makes the most significant contribution to public health. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in infectious diseases and microbiology. A ayfair Drive resident Bruce Rudoy is a new shareholder in the law firm of Tucker Arensberg. Rudoy, an attorney in the firm’s business and finance depart- ment, concentrates his practice in the areas of business transactions, general corporate law, estate and trust planning and administration law. M O N E S 2 W A T C H p.67 www.mtlebanon.org 59 L I B R A R Y Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s “The Bag Went Where?” program asks patrons to carry a library tote bag with them when they travel, snap a picture and then send it back to be posted on the library’s Web site (www.mtlebanonlibrary.org). Above, Mt. Lebanon Library director, Cynthia Richey in Florence, Italy. That’s Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s theme for August, but you can use the library 12 months a year to plan a getaway. “Our collection is better than Borders,” says Library Director Cynthia Richey. And there are those helpful librarians on hand to help you find the right book, atlas or Web site. The library’s V ACATION F UN L IST for families features lists of books, travel games, books on tape and CDs that will make the drive a bit more bearable. While on vacation, send a card to the POSTCARD WALL in the children’s library that features a map pinpointing where the card came from. Patrons can get a plastic bag emblazoned with the library’s logo for “T HE B AG W ENT W HERE ?” program. Send a photo of you holding the bag in Bhutan or Baltimore and see it on the library’s Web site when you get home. Request a TRAVEL BAG a few days before leaving, and librarians will put together books, puzzles, and tapes that will keep the kids busy in the back seat. You can request the bag’s theme be based on your destination or your child’s interests. G RANDPARENT B AGS are a godsend to those expecting a visit from a grandchild. If you can’t fit a vacation into your busy schedule, check out the library’s A RMCHAIR T RAVEL B OOK L IST , filled with suggestions to make it seem like you’ve hit the open road even though you’ve never left your back yard. VACATION DESTINATION 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 60 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 SINGLES NIGHT Recently a single met someone at a singles event whose proudest achievement was having read only one book in his entire life. You probably won’t get the chance to meet this guy at the library’s singles night. Singles 21 and older who are interested in meeting someone who’s read more than one book should stop by the library from 6 to 9 P . M ., Friday, July 22, for refreshments, book discussions, music and activities. Whether love blooms or not, you’re guaranteed to meet a few new friends. BOOK SALE BONANZA The Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Library romance and cook- book mini book sale in May brought in $1,250. In all, the four mini sales this spring garnered $5,500, which will be used toward the library’s collection and improvements to the facility. The big sale—Twice Sold Tales—kicks off with the Books and Bubbly Gala Presale party, 6 to 8 P . M ., Friday, Oct. 14. Admission is $25 and ticket holders will get first chance at the books as well as champagne and tasty treats provided by the library’s foreign language clubs. The sale runs 9 A . M ., Saturday, Oct. 15 until 2 P . M ., Saturday, Oct. 22. The final day is bag day, where a bag full of books goes for $5. The library is accepting dona- tions—books, CDs, DVDs, books on tape, albums, videos, magazines and games. You can drop them off in the library’s first floor foyer. Receipts for tax purposes are available at the main desk. If you would like to vol- unteer with set up, call book sale co-chairs Anne Kemerer at 412-344-1020 or e-mail Sandy Golomb at sandy3dognight@ aol.com. E v e r y t h i n g t o M a k e Y o u r H o u s e a H o m e LIBRARY DATABASES t. Lebanon Public Library sub- scribes to hundreds of databases through the EINetwork—all accessible on home computers with a library card. Over the next few months, we’re spotlighting the library’s databases in an effort to make your life a little easier. M ENCYLOPEDIAS orld Book Online, which has links to both the American and International editions, provides some really awesome fea- tures not possible in a book—360-degree views of buildings and landmarks such as the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the United States Capitol Building, and sounds covering everything from a Fijian war chant to the March 12, 1933, fireside chat with FDR. You can also watch videos such as the backstroke or basic ballet movements, view tables from NASCAR champions to national historic sites and search maps from around the world. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia contains 25,000 articles on a broad range of topics—everything you’d get in a big, heavy book version—including images and biographies. EBSCO Animals contains in-depth, full-text records from the Encyclopedia of Animals. Hundreds of species are listed with descriptions about their natures, habitats, life spans and feeding habits. SIRS Discoverer (listed under the “diction- ary” category) with its informative database of full-text articles is a great way for children of all ages to conduct research, read stories, learn about important people, places and events and find fun projects to do. Articles fall under one or more of 15 categories: animals, arts, countries, cultures, drugs and alcohol, environment, health and human body, histo- ry and government, just for fun, notable peo- ple, personal growth, science, social issues, sports and technology. This database also includes a dictionary, a world almanac and an encyclopedia. W 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) www.mtlebanon.org 61 F O C U S Gene Puskar I N It’s the platters that matter to record collector and disc jockey Kenny Crawford, co-host of WDUQ’s popular Saturday night radio show, “Rhythm Sweet and Hot,” heard on 46 stations in the U. S. and Australia. Crawford, who has hosted the show for 25 years, has a collection of more than 10,000 LPs, CDs and 45s, as well as 500 rare V-disks—pressed during World War II and sent overseas to GIs. A retired Northwest Airlines employee, Crawford founded the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors. RHYTHM SWEET AND HOT n a rainy Saturday morning in June 1935, a gangly 10-year-old named Kenny Crawford, dressed in knickers, pawed through the record bins at the big G. C. Murphy store on Fifth Avenue, Downtown. Murphy’s had a good-sized record department in the base- ment, so there was a lot of looking to do, plus some listening on the phonograph provided for customers, before Crawford bought his first ever record—“There’s a Little Picture Playhouse in My Heart,” by Guy Lombardo. Crawford turned 80 this year, and he still has that first record— along with thousands of other 78 rpm discs. His collection of 1930s and ‘40s jazz and big-band music is arguably the best in the country. In fact, Crawford is the guy record companies go to when they want to release a compilation of that era. If a perform- ance isn’t found in the record company’s vaults, Crawford proba- bly has it. He’s done this for Columbia, RCA, and other major O 62 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 labels and still loans out a disc now and then for CD reissues. You could say Crawford started collecting records at age 2. His dad and grandfather were both record collectors, and his father would bring him records when he came back from business trips. Even as a toddler, Crawford was a fan of the bands, so he learned to put records on the hand-cranked Victrola. To keep them straight, he made tiny coded marks on the labels, which of course, he couldn’t read yet. He remembers his parents calling in neighbors and telling him to play say, Leo Reisman’s “Body and Soul.” He would find the record, climb up on a chair, crank up the phonograph and play the requested song, amazing the audience. If you have thousands of records how do you store them? Crawford has custom-made wooden box shelves that stack and hold the records vertically, as they should be stored. When he moved from a house to an apartment, things got a little “clut- tered,” so he now has a garage-sized storage space to house most of the collection. The collection once numbered more than 25,000 78s, but a few years back he sold come up, the stage would rise up and the off all but about 10,000. “I kept the best band would be there, swingin’ away for ones,” he admits with a smile. Over the half an hour to 40 minutes. People would years, Crawford has added 3,000 LPs, 300 go down in the morning, pay 15 cents and sit there all day for enjoyment. All the great CDs and 300 45s. There are also more than a thousand bands played Pittsburgh.” Crawford takes great pleasure in sharing transcriptions—probably the largest col- his music. For 25 years, he and his radio lection in the world. These are giant “records”—16 inches in diameter—made partner Mike Plaskett have been present- only for radio stations. Much of this music ing “Rhythm Sweet and Hot” from 9 P . M . to is unavailable in any other recorded form. midnight every Saturday on WDUQ, 90.5 To play them, Crawford has an RCA broad- FM. Listen, and you’ll get some idea of cast transcription turntable. It’s about the Crawford’s encyclopedic knowledge of size of an apartment refrigerator, and as 1930s and 40s big bands and jazz. Want to originally supplied to radio stations by know when Tommy Dorsey added a string RCA, is tastefully decorated with Art Deco- section, or when Frank Sinatra joined the band? Crawford style trim. can tell you. Each Even rarer than week he tapes a the transcriptions few of the rarer 78s are the V-disks in at home, and pro- Crawford’s collec- rawford is the guy ducer Dale Abra- tion. V-disks were ham weaves them pressed during record companies go to when into the show. World War II and they want to release a compilation of “Rhythm Sweet sent directly over- and Hot” has be- seas to the troops; 1930s and ‘40s jazz and big-band music. come something of none were sold a worldwide phe- c o m m e r c i a l l y. If a performance isn’t found nomenon. It’s cur- Some V-disks were in the record company’s vaults, rently heard on 46 copies of commer- stations in the U.S. cial records, but Crawford probably has it. and Australia, with many were live per- more being added formances not oth- periodically. Via the erwise released. Internet, the show Only 903 titles were has its fans all over the world. Crawford made, and Crawford’s collection includes more than 500 of those. V-disks “are really and Plaskett, who have been together on collectors items. They didn’t press that the show from the beginning, have a warm many, and with the GI’s they got really beat camaraderie. They share esoteric facts up.” He says. “Mine are in excellent condi- about the rare performances but they don’t let talk get in the way of playing lots of tion, all of the good stuff.” At 80, Crawford stands over 6 feet tall, music. Crawford never made a job out of lean and erect, with a shock of iron gray records. He founded the International hair. His usually serious face lights up when he talks about the music. He doesn’t col- Association of Jazz Record Collectors and lect records as objects to be squirreled still keeps in touch with its far-flung mem- away; he listens to the music every day, as bership, but he was never a record dealer. he has all his life. He remembers “going to For most of his working life, Crawford the show” at the Stanley Theatre (now the worked in operations for Northwest Airlines Benedum Center: you can still see the sign in Pittsburgh. The airline connection al- “Stanley Photoplays” on the Penn Avenue lowed him to travel all over the country to side of the building) as early as 1938: “In meet with other collectors and to hear the those days they’d start off with the news- great bands. “It’s been a great hobby,” he reel, then the previews, a short or two, and says. “I’ve had a happy life.” — FRANK KELLY the main feature. Then the lights would C FAMILY DAIRY FARM • CREAMERY EATERY • COUNTRY STORE ROUTE 136, EIGHTY-FOUR, PA 724.228.3339 www.springhousemarket.com • Our Own Milk (no additives) • Delicious Pies—made from scratch • Country Home Cooking • Family Recipe Goodies • Homemade Salads • Fall Pumpkin Patch, Bonfire, Hayrides “Let Us Share Our Farm With You” www.mtlebanon.org 63 F O C U S O N P E O P L E An Atypical Life hen Chris Cunningham was in grade school he and three pals baked a cake for a friend's birthday. Although the slightly lop- sided cake—frosted with canned icing—was moist and tasty, no one imagined that that Duncan Hines cake mix would launch Cunningham on a culinary career that would take him around the world and return him to Pittsburgh to open his own restaurant. Cunningham grew up on Fruithurst Drive where his parents, Pat and Jack, still live. After graduating from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1985, he studied culinary science at Johnson & Wales University in South Carolina. But as much as he liked cooking— in junior high his cake-baking reputation had spread, and he even sold some to his teach- ers—things weren't clicking. He returned to Pittsburgh, where he earned a degree in legal studies at Pitt and worked briefly teaching in the university's English and computer lab. But the culinary world was beckoning again. “I had decided years before that if I was going to return [to cooking], I was going to study in Paris,” he says. So three months before his classes began at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Cunningham moved in with a family in the Loire Valley to immerse himself in the French language. “All the classes [at Le Cordon Bleu] are taught in French,” Cunningham says. “They say you don't need to speak French to attend, but it certainly helps.” After graduating, Cunningham returned to the states to work for a year and a half at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. That led to a job as private chef for Benjamin Ladner, the president of American University. He cooked and served meals for the Ladner family, as well as for the special events and fund-raisers the university president hosted. In that role, it was not uncommon to see senators, politi- cians and world leaders. Two memorable occasions were serving the mayors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, who came to the states for the opening of the Enola Gay exhi- bition at the National Air and Space Museum and Jordan’s King Hussein and Queen Noir who were visiting a daughter attending the university. “You're on stage. You're representing the 64 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Christopher Rolinson W Just like the sign says, life is good for Chris Cunningham. As a private chef, Cunningham has had the opportunity to cook for Jordan’s King Hussein—whom he calls “a very nice man.” Now working as private chef for a Fox Chapel family, Cunningham recently opened Atypical Cafe in Carnegie. The lunch-only diner also offers catering. university,” Cunningham says of those high- friends and business associates. Cunning- profile moments. But that's what he loves ham spent three and a half years feeding up about being a private chef—the contact with to 10 people (including a crew of five) break- fast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Days, which those he's cooking for. After meals, Cunningham would come out ran from 6 A . M . to midnight, included cooking, to answer questions about the food and crew duties and, since Cunningham was the ingredients. “I like to be a part of what's taking only certified scuba diver on board, leading place. I like explaining the foods and seeing diving expeditions. Trips lasted a week to two people enjoy the meals,” Cunningham says. weeks, and he'd have just enough time to “[As a private chef] I'm part of the whole event restock the kitchen before they'd set sail and can tailor it to again. Because there exactly what the are no Giant Eagles people like.” in the middle of the After two years ocean, he'd fill six to with American Uni- eight shopping carts versity, Cunningham with $5,000 or more unningham, who was trained took a job at a worth of groceries for at the Cordon Bleu, has worked for Maryland Inn, lasting each trip and hope just long enough to he hadn’t forgotten a university, a sorority house, an inn discover that he anything. Surpris- wasn't meant to be a ingly, while guests and on a private yacht. restaurant chef. “The enjoyed fresh lobster hours were too long, picnics, Cunning- and it wasn't person- ham munched on al enough,” he says. Lucky Charms and Cooking for the sorority girls of Alpha Phi at other cereals. “When you're around food all the University of Maryland wasn't a good fit the time, you don't really want to eat. I just either. “I'm not sure how long I was there, but wanted something I could eat quickly that it wasn't very long,” he says with a laugh. would give me some energy.” Then Summer Love called. A yacht owned When Summer Love was drydocked for a by Morgan O'Brien, founder of Nextel, major overhaul, Cunningham found himself Summer Love made weekly trips up and without a job. But he didn't leave empty hand- down the eastern seaboard from Annapolis to ed—by then he had met Debra, the woman the Virgin Islands carrying O'Brien's family, he would marry (“It didn't hurt to have a C A R O U N D T O W N ♦ yacht,” he says of the wooing process). After a few private sector jobs, Cunningham saw an ad in the Washington Post for a private chef position in Pittsburgh. The Fox Chapel couple who’d run the ad interviewed people from around the country, but Cunningham landed the job. “A lot of times it's how you fit …it's personality,” he says of the private chef business. He's become so familiar with the ins and outs of the business, that he’s writing a book— “Chef's Choice: Alternative Careers in the Culinary Arts”—about culinary jobs beyond restaurant cooking, how to prepare for them and what to expect. For the last six years, Cunningham, who now lives on Dan Drive, has worked late afternoons and evenings preparing meals for the Fox Chapel couple. Needless to say he doesn't eat many meals with Debra, a clinical coordinator for special education children at Duquesne University, and their three-year-old son Nathaniel (“Boo”). “Then I decided my life wasn't busy enough,” he says. Last December, Cunningham opened Atypical Café at 235 E. Main Street in Carnegie. This small, lunch- only restaurant and catering business is where he works mornings and early after- noons before heading to his other job in Fox Chapel. At Atypical Café, diners can get an array of soups (two or three are offered daily—the white bean pesto soup is outstanding), salads and sandwiches. Cunningham hopes to begin importing desserts from Italy soon. The place is tiny; there are no tables, but diners can belly up to the counter on one of six stools and get a bird's eye view of the chef at work. It would be a great place for cooking classes, and Cunningham is already working out the logistics of such an endeavor. Atypical Café also offers catering—“Silver Service Delivered.” Order sandwiches, hors d' oeuvres, fruit, salmon and other items, and they will be delivered to your house on a silver platter that you can keep. Cunningham will customize foods for events—such as black and gold caviar for a Steelers game. Lopsided Duncan Hines cakes, however, are not on the menu.— M.A. JACKSON Stop Painting Forever! • Looks like paint—Lasts like Siding • 3-step epoxy process with Matte, Gloss and Clear finishes • Covers and waterproofs any paintable surface with over 2,000 colors: aluminum, wood, brick, stone, concrete, cedar and logs! • Free Color Consultations with our in-house designer • 15-Year no questions asked warranty—Backed by PCS! • Tested for 12 years on commercial roofs around the world! • Increases resale and home value up to 25% • Tough enough to spray on roof shingles! • Fully Transferable Warranty! 888-454-3023 permanentcoatingsolutionsofPA.com Call now for your FREE In-Home Estimate Copyright © 2005 by Permanent Coating Solutions, LLC www.mtlebanon.org 65 around ♦ town Gene Puskar R E C R E A T I O N Catch the falling prices of Kennywood tickets with the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department. Coast over to the Rec Center where all-day tickets are only $20 and can be used on any weekday in July and August ($9 surcharge at the park on weekends). If Kennywood’s not your thing, discounted tickets are also available for Sandcastle, Idlewild, the Pittsburgh Zoo, Hershey Park, Cedar Point and Geauga Lake. Stop in Monday through ® Friday 8:30 A . M . to 5 P . M . or call 412-343-3409 for info. THOSE REC DEPARTMENT T-SHIRTS YOU’VE SEEN IN AND AROUND MT. LEBANON PARK WERE DESIGNED BY PINEWOOD DRIVE RESIDENT LISA GUZZINO, GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND OWNER OF G- Whiz Studios (www.gwhizdesign.com). Guzzino, who donated her design services to the Rec Department, is from Buffalo, N.Y. She specializes in logos, print and packaging design, Web site design, and previously worked for commercial offset printing and packaging firms in New York and Colorado. She received her BFA in graphic design from the University of Buffalo. THAT’S THE TICKET It’s summer: Have you had your Potato Patch fries and Thunderbolt ride? Kennywood Park is a summer tradi- tion—and there’s no better place to pick up your ticket than Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, where all-day tickets cost $20 66 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 (regular gate price is $28.95) and they accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and debit cards. Ticket sales help support Rec Department programs and facilities, too. If you didn’t make it to Mt. Lebanon’s Kennywood school picnic day in June, you can still use your Funday ticket any week- day in July and August (on weekends, there’s a $9 surcharge at the gate). Children 2 and under ride free; seniors 55 or older pay $14.95 with ID. Kennywood Park opens at 10:30 A . M . and the rides start at 11. The park stays open until 10 P . M ., but that can vary depending on attendance and weather. The Rec Department also sells dis- counted tickets to other summer desti- nations, such as Sandcastle, Idlewild, the Pittsburgh Zoo, Hershey Park, Cedar Point and Geauga Lake—all sum- mer long. For price information, call the Rec Department at 412-343-3409. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 A . M . to 5 P . M . 2 W A T C H Photo courtesy of Harry Coleman O N E S Diane J. Karnavas, DMD, LLC 2887 West Liberty Avenue Dormont, PA 15216 (Across from PNC) 4 1 2 . 5 3 1 . 3 3 3 3 • S p e c i a l i z i n g i n O r t h o d o n t i c s • O f f e r i n g I n v i s a l i g n • C o m p l i m e n t a r y c o n s u l t a t i o n Member American Association of Orthodontists Above, left: Since we wrote about piano prodigy Jimmy Liu 10 years ago, Liu, who came here from China at age 6, has earned many honors. He will attend Indiana University, Bloomington’s prestigious School of Music this fall. Kathi Kropf will be honored for her years of volunteer work for Family Hospice and Palliative Care ▼ at the 2005 Toast To Life Gala, Saturday, Aug. 20. Above, Kathi with husband Jim and son Danny. p. 59 en years ago, we profiled a young piano prodigy by the name of Jun Yi “Jimmy” Liu. Just 8 at that time, Liu had moved to Mt. Lebanon from China two years prior and had since been learning the piano with instructor Harry Coleman of Green Tree. Since then, Liu graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School and will be attending Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington this fall. He was accepted into IU's prestigious School of Music, which Coleman considers to be one of the top three music schools in the country. In the local scene, Liu has been busy bal- ancing his school life as well as juggling a heavy piano schedule with numerous recitals and competitions all while squeezing in time to practice every once in a while. Liu can often be seen stroking the keys at Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park. Studying with Coleman for the past 12 years has also helped Liu garner plenty of honors and accolades, such as his invitation to per- form in a winners' recital from the Henry Clay Frick Music Scholarship Competition where his performance included a selection from Beethoven's Sonata Opus 57. Other honors include winning the Pittsburgh Piano Teachers Association Primary Elementary Competitions, the T Duquesne University Young Artist Competition, the 1999 Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association Junior High School State Competition, and the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra Concerto Competition. amily Hospice and Palliative Care will honor Kathi Kropf, Dupont Circle, for her 15 years of volunteer service and countless hours of fundraising, event planning and chairing events at its 2005 Toast To Life Gala. The event will take place at the Carnegie Music Hall foyer, 6:30 P . M ., Saturday, Aug. 20. A silent auction will be held throughout the evening and music will be provided by The Clare Ascani Trio, a jazz quartet. Tickets are $150 per person at 412-572-8813. F he Devil’s Advocate, Mt. Lebanon High School’s student newspaper, won first place overall among regional student newspapers in the Point Park University/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette high school jour- nalism contest. Individual winners were Aaron Martin and Elsa Buss for their news story on locker room thefts, Michael Barasch for his feature story on drummer George Nicholas, and Brendan Shorts for his sports story on volleyball player Juliana Traut. T www.mtlebanon.org 67 around ♦ S U R F I P town C I T Y t’s fun to surf the Web and see what other cities are doing. it bulls, once banned in CINCINNATI, OHIO, are now permitted but are con- sidered “vicious dogs” and must be regis- tered with the Cincinnati Police Depart- ment. To receive a permit, the owner must produce a photocopy of a $50,000 mini- mum liability policy. If housed outside, they must be strictly confined with a barri- er that a child’s hand cannot penetrate, and a danger sign (symbols and word) must be posted. Off the premises, a pit bull must be muzzled and on a leash no more than three feet long. In a car or truck, the dog must be crated in an impenetrable barrier. No one may own more than one pit bull…The “Historic Downtown” section of the COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., Web site offers virtual tours of the main sections of town and a downloadable walking tour brochure. The page also links visitors to the Colorado Historical Society and the National Register of Historic Places…And we thought we had problems in Mt. Lebanon with deer? In KAMLOOPS, B.C., the British Columbia Conservation Foundation has launched a Bear Aware campaign. The idea? Most of us like wildlife, but no one wants a bear in the back yard. They’re trying to find the right balance—apparently some people allow bears to get too close, inviting trouble, while others report every bear they see. The main point of the campaign is to entreat people not to feed bears. Once bears begin foraging for food among peo- ple, they inevitably become threatening to someone. So, unfortunately, as they say, “A fed bear becomes a dead bear.”…In SANTA PAULA, CALIF., the city manager is a blogger. Although citizens can’t respond, as is typical with blogs, Manager Wally Bobkiewicz does a short blog after every public meeting, so that people won’t have to wait for newspapers or television to let them know what actions council took. 68 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 STUFF WE LIKE product/organization food Who knows a great place to chow better than hardworking Mt. Lebanon police and fire- fighters? They’ve been big fans of Mexi-Casa Restaurant on West Liberty Avenue in Dormont since they opened last year, so we at the magazine took a cue—and fell in love with the muy bueno grilled vegetable burrito—one of many on the menu, but our favorite. Pair it with their excellent homemade salsa and chips for a lunch that satisfies. Great tortilla soup, ribs and wings, too. The restau- rant is expanding and will soon feature a bar—we can’t wait to try the margaritas. book Buy a beautiful beaded item and keep an African girl in school. BEADS for Education, a nonprof- it organization headquartered in New Jersey, sells stunning bead- ed work by Maasai women and then returns all profits to support the women’s business or spon- sor their daughters’ education. Log on to www.beadsforeducation.org to check out the colorful key- chains and cuff bracelets, Deco- style evening bags, baskets, necklaces and dog collars. It always feels good to help some- one while you shop. You can also contact BEADS for Education at 609-823-3615. “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly” by Anthony Bourdain is an eye-opening (sometimes stomach-rolling) trip behind a restaurant’s kitchen doors. Chef Bourdain tells tales of drugs, sex, drinking and behavior that would make Tony Soprano blush. While revealing the seamy side of the restaurant business, Bourdain, the executive chef of New York’s celebrated Les Halles, pauses long enough to give the reader tips on what not to order when dining out and how to equip your kitchen so you too can cook like a four-star chef. thing to do Get some friends together and drive out Route 19 South for a Little Lake Theater play. This summer features “Twigs” (July 7-9, 14-17, 21-23), “Moon Over Buffalo” (July 28-30, Aug. 4-7, 11-14) and “Arsenic and Old Lace” (Aug. 18-20, 25-28 and Sept. 1-4). Or take the kids for “Charlotte’s Web” (through July 16), “Really Rosie” (July 20-Aug. 6) and “The Plant that Ate My Dirty Socks” (Aug. 10-27). Now in its 56th season, Little Lake was the place where Charles Grodin and Barbara Feldon got their starts. For show times and prices, call 724-745-6300. www.mtlebanon.org 69 mt. lebanon s e r v i c e TRANSFER HOME MOVIES & VIDEOS TO DVD! Protect your memories at affordable rates. Call 412-341-4272 and ask for Per Argentine. for your home CERAMIC TILE INSTALLATION Floors & Walls. Quality work since 1977. TIM O’LEARY 412-731-0440. POINTING MORTAR REPAIR-INSURED Now is the best time to repair cracks and breakout. Mortar matching and neatness are my trademark. 10% Spring discount. 412-563-6128. 11 COSTLY HOME INSPECTION PITFALLS FREE REPORT reveals what you need to know before you list your home for sale. Free Recorded Message. 1-866-311-0618 x4011. 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Lebanon, PA 15234 SALE • TRADE • REPAIR • CLEANING • APPRAISAL 2335 Washington Road (2 miles south of Waterdam Plaza) Canonsburg, Pennsylvania 15317 724.916.0100 www.donsappliance.com • Add a switch, outlet, circuit CARPET • VINYL • CERAMIC • HARDWOOD WALLPAPER • WINDOW TREATMENTS Antique & Decorative Persian & Oriental Rugs Sales, Service and Installation • Install ceiling fans 412.531.4443 WOVEN RUG GALLERY d i r e c t o r y PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL Electrolysis by Marion, “The Hair Exterminator.” Celebrating 20 years of service! 300 Cedar Blvd. 412-344-7123. MK COMPUTER SERVICES In-home Computer Service. Set-up, Training, Consulting, Repair, Trouble shooting, Data recovery. 412-512-6228. 1130 Castle Shannon Blvd. at Rt. 88 www.martinautogalleryinc.com R.M.C. RENTAL ENTERPRISES Architect Tents • Tables • Chairs Moonwalks • Chocolate Fountains 724-225-7703 600 Jefferson Avenue Washington, PA 15301 Quality Service Guaranteed! Residential/Office Cleaning PA U L B A R B I E R I Residential Only LANDSCAPING & GARDENING FRANK M. HIGHBERGER 412-341-5028 • Landscape Design and Installation • Mulching, Fertilization, Pruning and Other Landscape Maintenance • Spring and Fall Cleanup • Water Fountains • New Lawns 412.343.8882 Fully Insured & Bonded Free Estimates 307 Kenmont Avenue Mt. Lebanon, PA 15216 412.344.4320 A Palette of Parties instruction • Birthday • Wedding • Graduation • Holiday • Business Parties •Tropical, Western & many party themes DO-RE-ME & YOU!™ Educational musical CDs, books, toys, and games for children newborn to 12 years. Created by Kindermusik ® . Contact Elaine Kimber, 412-344-3674 or ekimber@adelphia.net. We handle small details through entire event production! Creative Party Planning for All Ages • 412.445.1618 As seen on HGTV and KDKA-TV Lynn M. Smith INTERIOR ARTISTRY BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO ANY ROOM B E D & B R E A K FA S T Whispering Winds S TABLES & R ETREAT Let nature surround you! 22 SCENIC ACRES AND GENTLE HORSES 724.547.2550 Only 45 minutes from Pgh. • Indoor Pool Outdoor Labyrinth • www.wwsr.biz FREE one hour consultation www.interior-artistry.com 412.344.1796 landscape GEORGE GIRTY LANDSCAPE DESIGN George Girty, Landscape Architect. Design, build, maintain. Transforming visions and ideas into beautiful private worlds. 412-835-3245. www.girtyland.com DONNAN LANDSCAPE Landscaping, Lawn Renovations, Deck Cleaning and Sealing. Quality since 1979. www.donnan.com 724-941-7530. VOCAL LESSONS Technique/Performance. Rock/Pop/Country/Jazz/Contemporary. All Ages/Levels. 412-531-5408. Leave Message. MUSIC COMPOSITION LESSONS FOR STUDENTS—using MIDI notation soft- ware. Instructor, Leslie Purcell Upchurch (daugh- ter of Jack Purcell and sister of Rick Purcell), is an award winning teacher of composition. Her young students have won acclaim and had pieces performed live by professional musicians. Ms. Upchurch will be in teaching in Pittsburgh this summer. Call 802-558-6469 for more information. MATH TUTORING Middle-school; High school; SATs; Praxis. Many converted math-haters. Certified, experienced. Monica Stein 412-327-1343/412-344-4372 SWIMMING Individualized training. All ages and skill levels. Private or small groups. Certified aquatic instructor. Masters Swimmer. swimpro@adelphia.net 412-835-6616 The Thomas Studio of Performing Arts L A N D S C A PE A RC H I T E C T U R A L S E RV I C E S , I N C . from Hourly Consultation to Complete Contract Administration Landscape Architects phone: (412) 243-7214 fax: (412) 242-5232 A F I N E S A L O N 412.833.4549 SPECIAL—FREE HAND POLISH CHANGE WITH PEDICURE 1665 WASHINGTON ROAD • SUITE 6 • MT. LEBANON (Underneath Molyneaux Carpet) www.thecrowningtouchsalon.com Mark McKenzie Master of Science in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning ...since 1967 ballet pointe tap jazz lyrical gymnastics modern hip hop ages 2 thru adult Call to register! 412.257.2000 www.thomasdance.com 1900 Painters Run Rd. Pgh, PA 15241 www.mtlebanon.org 71 mt. lebanon Kingdom Kids Nursery School now registering 3 to 5-year olds 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR • Visit: www.kkns.org 412-531-6227 EXT. 103 A DISTINCTLY CHRISTIAN NURSERY SCHOOL IN MT. LEBANON s e r v i c e CLIENTS WANTED d i r e c t o r y help wanted My name is jeff Riley. I am a certified personal fitness trainer. I have spent the last 30 years researching fitnEss and nutrition. I am looking for people who want to benefit from my expertise in order to make sweeping changes in their appearance and health. If you are serious about achieving your goals, call me for a complimentary consultation. 412.531.5178 health & fitness CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST SPECIALIZING IN REGRESSION www.svenkill.com 412-448-1032 pets TAILWAGGERS PET SITTING, LLC Pet Sitting/Dog Walking/Pooper Scooper services. Exclusively serving Mt. Lebanon! Bonded/Insured. 412-343-3433. JK DOG TRAINING The personal trainer for you and your dog. Private sessions, Manners, Obedience, Behavior Problems. 412-512-3278. PAMPERED PAWS PET SITTERS Personalized in-home care for your pets. Insured. Bonded. 412-488-PAWS(7297). BANBURY’S PET SERVICE Working long hours? Going on vacation? We’ll give your pets personalized care in the comfort of home. Bonded. Insured. 412-851-9782. HATHA YOGA MEDITATION CLASSES WORKSHOPS MASSAGE THERAPY 412.344.7434 300 Beverly Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216 www.PITTSBURGHYOGACENTERS.COM 72 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 THE PET SITTER Loving Care For Your Pet In Your Home While You Are Away. 412-818-7549. WAGS & WHISKERS OF MT. LEBANON Bonded. Insured. 412-344-3575. Profes- sional home visits for all of your pets. auditions THE ART OF SKRIPKA Auditions open. We are looking for young, passionate and professional level musicians for a new and vibrant chamber orchestra. Led by an experienced Russian conductor who expresses music in fresh artistic new ways, this is a rich opportunity for serious musicians aged 14–25 who appreciate the art of the unique and want to perform. Auditions for violin, viola, cello, bass and piano, July 30 & 31, August 27 & 28. To schedule your time, call 724-941-2992. for sale CONDO FOR SALE 2 BR Roselawn Mt. Lebanon. Garage and Large Storage. 412-741-7664 marthabakerrn@aol.com We are YOUR neighborhood SHIPPING center! • • • • • • • • • 412.343.8500 Hometown Mail Center 461 Cochran Road Mt. Lebanon Visit us online at www.hometownmailcenter.com • BENJAMIN MOORE PRODUCTS • UNFINISHED FURNITURE • PORTER PAINTS • METALLIC PAINTS 3339 Washington Road McMurray 15317 Furniture, Antiques, Art, Computers, etc. Estate Shipping Domestic & International High Value Coverage Available Custom Packaging & Crating Copy Center (B/W & Color) Packaging & Moving Supplies Convention Service Free Local Pick-up & Estimates ACE PAINTS $2 OFF Your Next Ground or Air Shipment Expires 9-30- 05 Not valid with any $5 OFF any purchase over $30 $10 OFF any purchase over $75 Sikkens Products excluded. Limit 1 coupon per sale. Cannot be combined with any other offer/discount. Expires 8/31/05 294 Beverly Road Mt. Lebanon 15216 412-531-2029 w w w.mtlebanon.org 73 library C A L E BABY TIME MEDIEVAL MATINEE FOR TEENS 2 P . M ., T UESDAYS IN J ULY MOTHER GOOSE STORYTIME A R Check out our featured books, cookbooks, videos, Web sites and more. TEENS Stories and songs for children 6 months to 2 years, with an adult. D •THEMES OF THE MONTH• JULY—THE ‘60s AUGUST—VACATION DESTINATION STORYTIMES 10 A . M . AND 11 A . M ., W EDNESDAYS IN J ULY N Teen Summer Reading Club’s film series. TEEN SUMMER READING CLUB KIDS & FAMILIES 16 C ASTLE S HANNON B LVD . CRAFT SATURDAY! F RIDAY & S ATURDAY 9 A . M .-5 P . M . 9 A . M .-4:30 P . M ., S ATURDAYS , J ULY 2 AND A UG . 6 C LOSED S UNDAYS M AY 29-S EPT . 4 For families CHILDREN’S LIBRARY: 412-531-1913 TERRIFIC TS 2 P . M . OR 7 P . M ., T HURSDAYS IN J ULY AND A UGUST 10 A . M . AND 11 A . M . M ONDAYS IN J ULY Stories and songs for children ages 2 to 3½-and-a-half, accompanied by an adult. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME 1:30 P . M ., T UESDAYS AND T HURSDAYS IN J ULY Programs include book discussions, creating an origami chess set, illumi- nated manuscripts and workshops. Programs for kids in grades 1-6. A dif- ferent program each week. The Tuesday program repeats Thursday. MOCK JOUST AND MEDIEVAL FEAST FUN WITH SPANISH HOURS: M ONDAY -T HURSDAY 9 A . M .-9 P . M . LIBRARY: 412-531-1912 FAX: 412-531-1161 www.mtlebanonlibrary.org 1:30 P . M ., W ED ., J ULY 6, 13, 20, 27 SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE 10:30 A . M ., T UESDAYS IN J ULY M ID A UGUST — TIMES AND DATES TBA Stories and songs for ages 3½ to 6. Fun, food and mock jousts. Kids in grades 1-3 are invited to brush up their Spanish. CONCERTS IN THE COURTYARD FAMILY FUN NIGHT SECOND SUMMER OF THE SISTERHOOD JEANS DECORATING MUSIC FUN FOR EVERYONE! 7 P . M ., T HURSDAYS , A UGUST 11, 18, 25 11 A . M ., T UESDAY , A UG . 23 7 P . M ., W EDNESDAY , J ULY 6 Bring a brown bag lunch and a pair of jeans to decorate. We'll discuss the sec- ond Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novel by Ann Brashares. For families. presented by usic educa- tor Mark Weakland. 7 P . M ., W EDNESDAY A UG . 3 Bring the family for an evening of campfire stories and other surprises. FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPANISH CONVERSATION BOOK DISCUSSION 7 P . M ., W EDNESDAY , J ULY 6, 20, A UG . 3, 17 Practice your Spanish in an informal setting. ESL TUTOR TRAINING 5-9 P . M ., M ONDAY A UG . 15 & 22 AND W EDNESDAY A UG . 17 & 24 Training session for English as Second Language (ESL) tutors. PALS 1 P . M ., F RIDAY J ULY 15 AND A UG . 19 Book club for seniors. July: “When Smoke Ran Like Water” by Devra Davis. August: “A Thousand Days in Venice” by Marlena de Blasi. EVENING MOVIES 7 P . M ., M ONDAY J ULY 18 AND A UG . 15 MOVIES FOR SENIORS July: "December 6: A Novel" by Martin Cruz Smith. August: "Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. 2 P . M ., S ATURDAY J ULY 9 AND A UG . 13 July: “The World of Henry Orient.” August: “Sleuth” HOME MOVIE DAY 2005 9:15 A . M .-4:45 P . M ., S ATURDAY A UGUST 13 Bring your movies to the library and we’ll show them. Sponsored by Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Film archivists will be on hand to discuss how to properly store film. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS 6:30 P . M ., T HURSDAY , J ULY 7, 14 Book battles for 4th grade teams begin at 6:30; for 5th and 6th grade teams, 7:45. Spectators are welcome! MAGIC SHOW Come enjoy beautiful music in the- courtyard. SUMMER READING CLUBS LAST DAY!! 9 A . M .-4:30 P . M ., S ATURDAY A UG . 6 This is the last day for the Summer Reading Clubs. All materials must be turned in by 5 P . M . 7 P . M ., A UG . 16 "Doc" Dixon will work his magic for the whole family. ADULTS FOLKSONG SHARING 6:30 P . M ., W EDNESDAY J ULY 20 AND A UG . 17 Come sing, or just listen. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MYSTERY READERS 7:30 A . M ., T HURSDAYS J ULY 21 AND A UG . 18 7 P . M ., T UESDAY J ULY 19 AND A UG . 16 The public is invited to attend. July: “A Season for the Dead” by David Hewson. August: “Don't Look Back” by Karin Fossum. ELDERHOSTEL CONVERSATION SALON 10 A . M ., M ONDAYS , J ULY 11 AND A UG . 1 Join friends and neighbors in talking about current events and issues. Pet Show 7 P . M ., W EDNESDAY J ULY 20 Bring all pets to this years nighttime extravaganza! Every pet wins an award! Participants must pre-register. This listing funded by the Friends of Mt. Lebanon Public Library. 74 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 In other respects, The Living Room has aged gracefully, recalling the era of white- glove service with its 1950s stainless steel or mahogany ceilings and walls, Italian sconces over the bench seating, mirror-walled alcove with trellis overlay, chunky crystal chandelier and white table cloths. Some people ask if we still have a dress code. We don’t. The vintage ambience encourages parties, and now and then we’re asked to rent space. A radio program used the alcove to tape an interview, and a production company filmed a commercial, transforming the place first into a wedding chapel, then a reception hall. Joyce’s son, a college student, and aspiring state trooper, became an extra. The restaurant came with a white baby grand. I fantasize, “Al, can’t you just see me sit- ting on the piano in a long, slinky gown, microphone in hand crooning old love songs to a hushed crowd?” Al stares at me. “No.” Hello reality. SUMMER We’ve inherited a group of regulars. Some have bar stools they feel are reserved for them. It’s a kind of “Cheers” atmosphere where everyone knows your name. Weekends, all ages come to hear the bands and dance. It’s amazing how many bodies fit on the tiny par- quet area. In a lull between sets, Joyce appears, hands on hips; bus boy in tow with broom and dustpan. “All right,” she calls out, “who’s been throwing salt on the dance floor again?”A slippery floor is an accident waiting to happen, but no one admits the “assault.” The original Living Room, we are remind- ed, had a somewhat racy reputation remem- bered to this day, and my brothers’ southern Mediterranean looks seem to be reawakening an urban legend; a Soprano Syndrome. My son’s school friend and wife come for dinner, but leave before ordering. They tell him they thought they’d seen “the mob.” We investigate. He e-mails them: “That was just my Uncle Johnny!” He assures them there are no guns, knives, nude dancing women, after-hours card games, or mobsters at his family’s restaurant. He sends them a gift certificate to “try us again.” The Living Room…Again’s atmosphere remains romantic, accentuated by Annabelle’s candles, Joyce’s fresh flowers, Al’s live music and Annabelle and Johnny’s antiques. A man reserves a certain table for two, requesting a red rose at one place setting. He’d proposed there 25 years before and is surpris- ing his wife again. Then, another man gets down on one knee and proposes to his sweet- heart, who accepts. We poured champagne to the applause of other guests. Smiles all around. July and August are slow months for the dining room. People are vacationing or bar- becuing in their yards. It’s discouraging. FALL Must be Murphy’s Law. Every time special friends come to the restaurant, something bad happens! One gets pure vinegar on her salad instead of our homemade raspberry vinaigrette; another’s prime rib isn’t hot enough, and the third chooses a table under a ceiling speaker and the music is too loud for conversation. An old friend recently retired from the restaurant business, puts it all in perspective. Vicki says, “When you have to depend on undependable factors: the weather, suppliers, staff—even customers—it’s impossible to please all of the people all of the time.” I understand the difficulties now from “the other side.” I clean up after myself in the ladies room; I leave bigger tips; I don’t com- plain if the food or service is not perfectly to my liking. WINTER Our Halloween and New Year’s Eve parties are capacity-crowd successes. Family, guests, even staff enjoyed themselves. It’s encouraging. Since we’ve been seeing each other more frequently, I’ve learned things about my younger siblings I wasn’t aware of—for exam- ple, how organized, sensible, creative, reliable and competent they are. And, I believe we’ve grown closer. Our mother died when we were too young to talk about it. Recently, we seem more able to express what it meant for each of us to lose her so early, and how much we miss our dad. If nothing else, this breakthrough in commu- nication will have been worth all the work and worry. Al, as president of the corporation, presents a financial report: The lounge is doing great; the dining room not so great. “We have to get more people on a daily basis,” he says, “not just for music or special occasions. We need better advertising.” As usual, we begin talking loudly all at once. Johnny offers: “Try us—you’ll come back.” Annabelle: “Visit us and live a little.” Then, someone says, “‘Casual Dining in an Elegant Setting.’” The chatter stops as the pente tekna con- sider the motto. For once, we’re in complete agreement. Mom and Dad would be pleased if they could see us working together in the service of the family. I believe they do. w w w.mtlebanon.org 75 BY ALICE DEMETRIUS STOCK A TRIP TO ALICE’S RESTAURANT O n April 1, 2004, my brothers and sisters and ety of handyman jobs; two other nieces become party I—Allen, Annabelle, John, Joyce and Alice— planners; my son, a certified wine specialist, develops the opened The Living Room…Again restau- wine list—still a work in progress—and my daughter rant. We noted it was April Fools Day and becomes the Prayer Team leader. “Don’t pray just for us,” I suggest, “pray for everyone hoped that wouldn’t be “prophetic.” We were taking a big risk, but how do you not help a trying to develop an honest business.” Here’s a recap of our first year. brother satisfy a long-held dream? Two months earlier, Al had called a family SPRING meeting to reveal he’d thought for 30 years of owning The At the last minute, our new chef telephones. He’s been Living Room, built in 1958. It had changed hands a in an accident and won’t be opening for us. We start inter- number of times—the name at least once—and was views again. It’s not an auspicious beginning. again for sale. Al saw his dream within his grasp, but he One morning, I leave the restaurant without setting the needed our help. alarm properly. The police “There’s no guarantee we’ll arrive after I’ve driven off, and make it,” he warned. “It’s a Johnny is called to explain. tough business; most fail, but Later, he makes me walk it’s something we can all do he Living Room has aged gracefully, through the procedure with together, and if it is successful, him step by step. How embar- recalling the era of white-glove service. everyone benefits.” rassing. Al organized us as the Pente It doesn’t take long to realize we need a second freezer, a Tekna Corp., in honor of our late parents. Demetrius is better heating/cooling system and a new dishwashing our family name. In Greek, pente tekna means “five kids.” machine—expenses we didn’t want to incur so soon. I find his name choice touching and amusing. Not long after, the compressor in the walk-in cooler Other family members invested money and/or volun- breaks—overnight on a weekend. Next morning, all the teer expertise. A niece and her husband, both lawyers, salads and soft vegetables are frozen and we can’t imme- handle the legal aspects; a brother-in-law, retired from the diately get a repairman. It’s frustrating. insurance business, checks policies and completes a vari- T The Demetrius family gather in their restaurant. From left are: John, Annabelle Christopher Rolinson Demetrius Sollon, Joyce Demetrius Kail, Alice and Allen. 7 6 mt. lebanon • july/august 2005 Laura Simon Bill Smith Mary Ann Wellener John Adair Terry Baldacci Noel Bliman Today’s Agents, Tomorrow’s technology, Always great service! Carol Ausefski John Conti Bonnie Byrnes Lois Goodrich John Geisler Sandy Hanson Heather Harrison Heather Har- Tom Harshman Ethel Levine Joyce Lewis Michael Hornick Sue Kelso Sydnie Jones Julie Leslie Jane Krauth Angela Mize Don & Arlene Murray Anita Crago Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. 1539 Washington Road • Mt. 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