Mover & Shaker of the Month   Michele and Robert Tedder   Click here for article

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James Boyle, MD, left, has assumed the responsibility for the newly created role of chief medical office for UPMC Passavant.  The role will include coordinating the efforts of the hospital’s physician advisors for quality, risk management and utilization management.

Gerard Vockley, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, has been appointed a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC’s chief of the division of Pediatric Neurosurgery Ian F. Pollack, MD, has received a grant from the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation for his pioneering work in the field of neuro-oncology.

Colombia’s minister of Social Protection, Diego Palacio Betancourt, presented Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC’s Heart Center chief of the division of Cardiac Intensive Care Ricardo A. Munoz, MD, FAAP, FCCM, with the Jorge Bejarano Civic Cross Medal.

Douglas F. Clough, M.D., Franklin Park resident and internist, has been installed as president-elect of the medical society.  He is in private practice and is on staff at Allegheny General Hospital and UPMC Passavant. 

Butler Memorial Hospital was named as one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania.  During the awards program, BMH was named as a large-size winner for the entire state of Pennsylvania.  This is the second year BMH received this recognition.

Butler Memorial Hospital has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® for cardiovascular care by Thomson Healthcare.

Felice Esposito, D.O.,and Frank Mino, M.D., were appointed to the medical staff at Butler Memorial Hospital and joined Lucien Diagnostic Imaging Inc., in Wexford as radiologists.

Edgar Sotomayor, M.D., has joined Butler Health System as a hematopathologist at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Kimberly Bouch, RN, was promoted to clinical supervisor of 5 North, the medical surgical unit for orthopedic and pediatric patients at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Butler Health System now offers an in-house hospitalist program for patients.  For more information, call (724) 285-0823.

Outpatient Services of Butler Memorial Hospital is now scheduling appointments for screening mammography at Outpatient Services of Butler Memorial Hospital in Petrolia.

The Butler County Historical Society announced that it has received a $5,000 Grassroots Grant from Community Connections, an initiative of Pittsburgh 250, administered by the Sprout Fund.

The Butler County Historical Society announced that the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has awarded the Society a $10,000 General Operating Support Grant which directly matches funding from the Butler County Commissioners.

25,207 residents at 290 long-term care facilities were given a reason to smile this holiday season thanks to PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS®.  The figure represents a new record for the campaign and exceeded its goal by 5 percent.

Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato and Public Works director Tom Donatelli received the American Public Works Association accreditation from APWA Region II director Edward Gottko.  Allegheny County is the first public works agency in Pennsylvania to earn APWA accreditation.

William Cope Moyers was the keynote speaker at the Gateway Rehabilitation’s Hope Has a Home Gala which was held on Dec. 11.  Moyers is the son of renowned journalist and former presidential advisor, Bill Moyers.

For the first time in its 10-year history, the Mars Planets Boys’ Junior Varsity team defeated the Pine-Richland Rams to win the St. Barnabas Medical Center Roundball Classic trophy.

U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-4) presented the Ross Township Police Department with a check for $399,500 in federal funding to purchase much-needed new technology that will improve communication between patrol cars and the police station.

The Cranberry Area Chamber of Commerce appointed four new board members to its roster for 2008: Mary Lou Barud, John Laslavic, Kelly Mahoney and Joe Weis.

NexTier Bank announced that Susan Krieger, left, has joined NexTier Bank as a business development officer.

JUST MATH owner, operator and instructor – Melanie A. Ryan, MSED attended the 11th meeting of President Bush’s National Mathematics Advisory Panel on Dec. 14-15 at the BWI Airport Marriott.

The Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association (PIPLA) announced its officers for 2007-2008.  Franklin Park resident, James G. Porcelli, patent attorney, The Webb Law Firm was elected PIPLA president.

Consolidated Communication announced that it has completed the purchase of North Pittsburgh Systems, Inc.  The transaction includes three companies: North Pittsburgh Telephone Co., Penn Telecom and Internet Service Provider Nauticom.

As of January, under the representation of Charles M. Means, Goehring, Rutter & Boehm now serves as solicitor of Kilbuck Township.

The Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce announced the election of its new board members: Denny Gsell, Peter Konczakowski, Ed Malinowski and Victor Yates.

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Mover & Shaker of the Month Michele and Robert Tedder

By Paula Green As we celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, it is a good time to reflect upon your own personal love story.  How did you meet your spouse?  Was it in a grocery store or perhaps at school?       Well, Michele and Robert Tedder of White Oak have a unique love story.  “We actually met at a funeral home,” Robert said.  “The viewing was for a mutual family friend that had passed away.  I was 15 at the time and Michele was 14.  We have been told that we used to play together when we were babies, and Michele used to like to give me her bottle.” In April, the Tedders will celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary.  They have three children – Robyn, 20; Ryan, 18; and Ross, 7. Michele is an IUP graduate.  She has a Masters in Nursing Education and is a nurse, BSN, RN.  Currently, she is a nursing instructor at St. Margaret Hospital in Aspinwall.  For ten years, she worked for STAR, a division of Western Psychiatric Institute.  She was a patient community outreach coordinator for a program called ROAD (Reaching Out to Adolescents with Depression).  Michele educated the African American community about mental health issues and provided counseling and medication management for African American youth with depression and other mental health diagnoses. She is also a published author; the title of her book is Don’t Let Grief Steal Your Joy.  She wrote it after the loss of her mother.  The story is a spiritual journey through the various stages of bereavement. Additionally, Michele writes for In His Glory, a community church newspaper.  We are proud to say that she is one of our core writers at Northern Connection magazine and has had numerous articles published in our Teen Scene section. Robert holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist.  He is the executive director for Reach Up Inc.  At one time, he worked as a treatment services supervisor at Family Resources and clinic coordinator at Western Psychiatric Institute.  He is also a minister at Union Baptist Church in Swissvale.  Robert is a site coordinator for Twogether Pittsburgh, and a marriage coach for Marriage Works Healthy Marriage Initiative sponsored by CUBM (Center for Urban Biblical Ministries of the Reformed Presbyterian Seminary.) Robert and Michele are also the founders of Household Ministries.  It is a marital outreach program.  They conduct marriage retreats and seminars throughout the Pittsburgh region. We are happy to announce that this devoted couple will now share their marriage and family counseling experience with our loyal readers.  This year, Northern Connection magazine will be launching a marriage/family column written by Michele and Robert Tedder.  Stay tuned for this uplifting and enlightening addition to our magazine.  It is sure to be welcomed feature. Back to top

Spotlight on Schools

Providence Heights Alpha School’s Chess Team won the First Place School Trophy at the 9th Annual Catholic Schools Chess Championship.  It is the second year in a row that Alpha’s team has claimed the School Trophy.  Ben Sullivan won a 1st place unrated ribbon; Josh Musher won a 4th place trophy; Nathan Smith won a 4th place trophy; Ian Tilton won a 2nd place trophy; Troy McChesney took home a 1st place trophy; Greg Kaniecki won a 4th place ribbon; Tyler Shick won a 2nd place trophy; and Mikey El Kadi received a 1st place trophy.  Principal Rochelle Holly said, “We are very proud of our young scholars, not only for their winning achievements, but also for their dedication throughout the year.  Instructor John Surlow has been teaching chess at Alpha for over 10 years and provides a great opportunity for students to use analytical thinking and creative problem solving in a positive, competitive environment.”

The University of Pittsburgh’s Asian Studies Center and Global Studies Program announced the winners of the inaugural Chu Financial Management Corporation’s “Asia and the World” essay contest.  North Allegheny High School senior Yilu Zhang won first place, Central Catholic High school senior Frank Cullo took second place honors, and third place went to Winchester Thurston junior Katherine Vidt.

Four Fox Chapel Area High School students won awards at the international Harvard Model United Nations (UN) Conference.  Samuel Bernstein and Meade Klingensmith won second place awards and Srivastava Kodavatiganti and Philip McGrath won honorable mention awards.

The following Fox Chapel Area High School students were named winners at the “council” level of judging in the 2007-2008 National PTA Reflections Contest.  The winners were: Catherine Tarantine, Jessica Tarantine, Colleen Welsh, Aris Panteles, Marlo Wilhere, Molly Joyce, Philip McGrath, and Praveen Tummalapalli.

Five Fox Chapel Area High School students placed at the North Catholic Forensic Tournament.  Those taking home honors included: Molly Ford, Amanda Jacobson, Thomas Johnson, Akansh Murthy and Liann Sun.

Fox Chapel Area High School students held their annual telethon Dec. 21, and raised $14,912.  This year the telethon raised money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Eight Fox Chapel Area High School students won first place awards at the Greater Pittsburgh Student Voices Fourth Annual Civics Fair.  Julia Hazlet, Kevin Pflumm and Douglas Weisband won first place in the community project category.  Elizabeth Barrington, Suzannah Cannon, Rebecca Dick, MaryKate Ranii and Forrest Vinson took first place honors in the voting rights history category.

Fox Chapel High School students held their Ninth Annual Young Playwrights Festival on Jan. 16.  The following students had original plays performed: Beau Buccilli, Mike Cravotta, Marcus Fike, Casey Welsby, Elizabeth McCarty, Chris Cugini, Laura Faust, Chris Milan, Alexa Schwartz, Bill Smolter and Katie Walters.

Several Fox Chapel Area High School students competed in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Regional Leadership Competition and many qualified for the state competition.  First place regional winners included: Roman Harlovic, John Hermes, Daniel Mitchell, Divya Varindani, Eric Bukovac, Peter Burke, Elizabeth Conway, Harrison Goldberg, Matthew Kann, Jamie Kanselbaum, Andrew Karas and Dale Peterson.

Four Fox Chapel Area High School students performed with the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 1 Orchestra.  The students who performed were: Stephanie Bonaroti, Christina Chia-nelli, Paul Golubic and Daniel Smith.

A team of Dorseyville Middle School seventh grade students placed first in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Science Bowl competition.  The first place team members were:  Jad Hilal, James Leslie, Karthik Narayanan, and Nathaniel Olbrich.

Hartwood Elementary School third grade students have made a quilt which will be on display as part of Pittsburgh’s 250th birthday celebration.

The North Allegheny Board of School Directors has been selected by the Pennsylvania State Arts Alliance to be the state nominee in the annual Kennedy Center Alliance for the Arts and National School Boards Association Arts Education Award Program.

Twenty-five North Allegheny School District students qualified to compete at the State FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) Leadership Convention.  The students are: Jay Sehgal, Derek Wagner, Liz Kazeva, Matt Fadok, Alex Lehew, Matt Locke, Kurt Beatty, Jon Timcheck, Andrew Briskey, Ebe Yucel, Jon Clendaniel, Dan Ochs, Aarthi Ramesh, Vaidehi Tata, Harry Song,  Kevan Hoffman, Sam Dunlop, Brian Spearman,  Eric Balaban, John Willard, Jake Smith, Andrew Christie, Tyler Jones, Jen Doyle and Mark Silvester.

North Allegheny High School marketing students competed at the District 2 DECA Career Development Conference.  NA secured ten first place awards.  Those students that received first place awards include: Margo Bentzel, Greg Londino, Maura Romano, Lauren Smith, Sam Musser, Lisa Czerniewski, Amber Snyder,, Melanie Versaw, Alex Slivka, Brian Austin, Geoff Greco, Jeff Finke, Michelle Barnes and Kristen Dafner.

Pine-Richland High School students presented the Lighthouse Foundation with $2,255 following their “empty bowls” sale. 

Sophomore Geoff King, left, a pianist from Wexford, was among only five winners in the Pittsburgh-area in the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra contest.  He performed with the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra at the winner’s concert on Jan. 26 at Upper St. Clair High School Theater.

Five Pine-Richland School District students will participate in the PMEA District 1 Jr. High choral festival which will be held Apr. 4 & 5.  They are:  Matt Ceuvorst, Andy Deutsch, Sierra Hayes, Jessica Barrett and Joni Mulvaney.

The Pine-Richland School District is pleased to announce that 91 of their educators have been nominated for the Teacher Excellence Center’s award program.

Paintings from Austrian painter Gustav Klimt are on display at Pine-Richland Middle School through Feb. 8.

The Mattress Factory announced that Wexford Elementary School was chosen to receive funding to participate in the museum’s Artist School Partnership program, an initiative funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Forty North Hills School District teachers are among the 3,000 nominations received for the annual Teacher Excellence center Teacher Recognition Program.  The Teacher Excellence Center will announce the top 100 honorees on Feb. 27.

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Business Spotlight: Kitty Litter We Deliver

By Janice Lane Palko

Have you ever had to hoist an enormous bag of kitty litter into your shopping cart, having it take up much of the space, then wrestle with it so the sales clerk can scan the UPC label, then transport it to the car and sling into your vehicle? Have you ever done it with an aching back? Or with children in tow? Or when your joints were aching from arthritis?

If you have, then you can understand how Charles Dinovitz felt. Not long ago, he found himself in the grocery story with his two small children trying to watch them and manage large bags of kitty litter that he needed for the family’s two cats. “It was just terrible,” Dinovitz said, “and I knew there had to be a better way.” Thanks to Dinovitz there now is a better way, and it’s called Kitty Litter We Deliver.

Dinovitz went home and did some research and came up with a convenient, affordable solution. This past January Dinovitz launched, Kitty Litter We Deliver, the best way to eliminate the hassle of purchasing cat litter for your pet. The service delivers 40 lb. bags of premium, clumping cat litter to your door.

“I compared approximately 20 different brands of cat litter for quality and price and found one that is as good as the name brands on the market, but we can save our customers money by buying it in bulk,” Dinovitz said. They offer scented, unscented and non-tracking types of kitty litter.

Delivery is free and clients can order as many 40 lb. bags as needed for the month, which will be dropped off at your door. They expect to be in the North Hills area every two weeks. Already 68 clients have signed up for the service, including several kennels.

For information about this revolutionary idea or to sign up for the service, visit the website at www.KittyLitterWeDeliver.com or call 412-429-0548. They accept credit and debit cards, making Kitty Litter We Deliver the most convenient, affordable solution to the annoying chore of purchasing cat litter.

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