Mover & Shaker of the Month Leigh Ann Larkin Ross Township resident Broadway actress Click here for article

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Spotlight on Schools | Business Spotlight: Massage by Christine

Total Learning Centers is now in the South Hills. After serving the South Hills community Karen Mackey, owner of Learning Resources is retiring. As friends and colleagues, Drs. Carol and Joe Utay offered to adopt Learning Resources in Brentwood into the Total Learning Centers family. The new facility is located at 3909 Clairton Blvd.

Ken Montrose, Greenbriar Treatment Center’s director of training and publications, presented Ethics in the Helping Professions to raise funds for Operation Troop Appreciation. The event was held at Greenbriar’s newly opened Wexford site, and raised over $1,500 to benefit troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A six-member board of directors has been appointed to head The Pittsburgh Promise. Board members are: Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Mark Roosevelt, Candi Castleberry-Singleton, Richard Reed, Franco Harris and Olga Welch.

Linda Harvey-Burkley, left, principal of Ardis Strategic Communication & Training, was named among the winners of the 2008 Best 50 Women in Business by Governor Edward G. Rendell.

Phipps Conservatory announced that executive director Richard V. Piacentini was named Travel & Tourism Advocate of the Year by VisitPittsburgh.

The Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC Board of Trustees and the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation Board of Trustees have named Roger A. Oxendale as the Foundation’s president.

David Skoner, MD, director and Deborah Gentile, MD, director of research, both in the Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in Allegheny General Hospital’s (AGH) Department of Pediatrics, are now seeing patients in an office in Seven Fields.

Oxford Athletic Club’s spring community outreach programs were successful. Donations poured in for Project Prom, Daffodil Days, Easter Bunny program and Hopeline. Thank you to those who donated.

Allegheny County chief executive Dan Onorato and Congressman Jason Altmire signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Army corps of Engineers for Phase I of the North Park Lake Ecosystem Restoration Project.

Allegheny County police officer William Palmer has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Thanks to a $5,600 grant from High-mark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Butler YMCA is proud to announce a new relationship building initiative for its School Age Child Care program.

The Butler Health System Foundation closed the 2007 Caring Angel Campaign. This year’s campaign raised $95,400.

Anna Wooten, M.D., joined the medical staff at Butler Memorial Hospital as a doctor specializing in plastic surgery. She joined Premier Plastic Surgery and Dr. Brian Heil.
The Back and Neck Center of Butler Memorial Hospital is now open, bringing more sophisticated medical care for neck and spinal surgery pain management and other neurological diseases to Butler County.

Jessica Puhak was hired as the new employee liaison in the human resources department at Butler Health System.

St. Barnabas Health System announced its Employees of the Month for March. They are: Karen Clark, Charles Cullen, Art Hughes and John Kickler.

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh announced that Ray Betler has been named chair of the board of Carnegie Science Center.

Susan Merkner, right, owner of Feng Shui Consulting & Design, has opened The Feng Shui School of Pittsburgh. Susan brings with her over 30 years of experience in art, design and real estate.

Carnegie Science Center inducted four robots into the Robot Hall of Fame® announced the Science Center as the new home of the Hall of Fame beginning in spring 2009.

Paul L. Gentile announced the release of his new travel memoir, Dolce Far Niente: Sweet Doing Nothing.

The Austrian Debutante Ball was held March 29, at Pittsburgh’s Grand Hall at the Priory. Eight debutantes and their escorts received community service hours for their participation in the ball, which raised funds for the Austrian Room at the University of Pittsburgh’s Nationality Rooms. In addition to promoting Austrian Culture, the ball supports scholarship funds for two undergraduate students from the University of Pittsburgh for further studies in Austria.

Four former debutantes and their escorts participated in the Court of Honor and were taught an authentic Austrian Dance called the Ländler taken from the movie The Sound of Music, while the debutantes and their escorts performed a polonaise followed by a performance to the Emperors Waltz.

Four sisters from Shaler (photo above) participated in the ball: Carolyn, Christina, Victoria and Elizabeth Shields.

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Mover & Shaker of the Month Leigh Ann Larkin Ross Township resident Broadway actress

By Paula Green Performing on Broadway is an actor’s dream. One local woman is now fulfilling this aspiration as she makes her Broadway debut. Leigh Ann Larkin of Ross Twp. is currently performing in the revival of Gypsy. Larkin portrays Dainty June, the apple of Mama Rose’s eye. She plays opposite veteran actress Patti LuPone. The show opened on March 27 at the James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street in New York City. It is directed by 89-year-old legendary director Arthur Laurents, who also wrote Gypsy. Larkin began acting when she was a child in local community theatre with the North Star Kids and the Pittsburgh Musical Theatre. Her family has been very supportive of her dramatic appearances. “Performing was something I wanted from the minute I set foot onstage. I knew that I was going to major in musical theatre, and I wanted to go to the best school I could get into,” Larkin said. She attended the University of Cincinnati’s famed College – Conservatory of Music. This school set the foundation for Larkin’s career path. “I would never be where I am today without the school because it was really competitive,” Larkin said. After her graduation in 2002, Larkin moved to Manhattan. She has worked as a full-time actress since then. She has appeared on television in two different soap operas All My Children and The Guiding Light. Some of Larkin’s theatre credits include a National Tour with Disney’s On the Record, Williamstown Theatre Festival – Where’s My Charley. Additionally, she has had lead roles in Jekyll and Hyde, The Secret Garden and a production of Guys and Dolls which went to China. Last May, Larkin had the pleasure of performing in front of the hometown crowd as she starred as Belle in Beauty and the Beast at the Byham Theatre in Pittsburgh. It was also during this time that she auditioned for Gypsy. “Performing on Broadway is a dream come true. I have worked my whole life to get here, and I absolutely love it,” Larkin said. Larkin is 1998 graduate of North Hills High School. Her given name is Wielgus; she changed it after her graduation. Her parents Ed and Marilyn Wielgus still reside in Ross Twp., along with their other two daughters, Lauren and Lindsay. “It is really exciting to see Leigh Ann perform on Broadway. We attended the premiere. It was a whole different world, and it was absolutely amazing. Working with such big name legends such as Patti LuPone and Arthur Laurents is definitely a plus for her. Hopefully this will lead to bigger and better things,” Ed Wielgus said. Northern Connection magazine congratulates Leigh Ann on her Broadway debut. We wish her the best of luck with her acting career, or in theatre lingo - “Break a Leg!” Back to top

Spotlight on Schools

The Rotary Gateway Teen Leadership Institute (RGTLI) accepted an offer from La Roche College for an annual $2,000 tuition scholarship for all high school students attending RGTLI this summer.

Two Community College of Allegheny County students were named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the classroom and the community. Those honored were: Michele Lowe and Neily Rosko.

Criminology students at Community College of Allegheny County (photo right) now have a $30,000 Leeds Trace Evidence Student Comparison Microscope, thanks to a grant through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act.

Pine-Richland High School junior, Caitlyn Malloy competed in the PIAA State Swimming Championships. She finished 10th in state in the 500 and 12th in the state in the 200.
Four Pine-Richland High School students have been named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship program. They include: Julie Behr, Sara Beth Deuschle, Brenna Jones and Nicholas Park.

The Pine-Richland High School faculty and staff raised $2,150 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

A team of Pine-Richland School District students competed in the Odyssey of the Mind State finals. The winners were: Michael Clouse, Isaac Egyed, Michael Matty, Tim Skillen, Sarah Clouse and John Matty.

Two Pine-Richland teachers are among the 101 honorees in the Teacher Recognition Program. Congratulations to Thomas Joyce and Donna Faux.

Pine-Richland sophomore Adam Janssen was chosen to participate in both the All-State Band & Orchestra programs.

The Girls Scouts – Trillium Council announced that Pine-Richland High School senior Michelle Calabrese is an honoree in its 2008 Women & Girls Distinction Awards program. She will be honored at an awards reception May 6.

Pine-Richland Middle School student Jenna Nelson won first place in Senator Jane Orie’s “There Ought to Be a Law” contest.

Two Pine-Richland students earned top awards at the YMCA Kids Indoor Triathlon. Winners were: Aiden and Jacob Reuter.

Two Fox Chapel Area High School students placed in the Pennsylvania High School Speech League (PHSSL) State Championship Tournament. They include: Amanda Jacobson and Katelyn Muenck.

The following Fox Chapel Area High School students placed in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Competition: Eric Bukovac, Elizabeth Conway and Andrew Karas. Additionally, Harrison Goldberg and Nathan Rosenstock were inducted into the National Business Honor Society.

Four Fox Chapel Area High School students won awards at the 7th Annual Cornell University Model United Nations (UN) Conference. The winners were: Cassady Rosenblum, Carolyn Fallert, Anirudh Malkani and Meade Klingensmith.

Hartwood Elementary School computer resource teacher Jeff Bonifate was named a winner of the 2008 Innovative Educator Award.

Site plans for the renovation and expansion of McIntyre Elementary School were approved by the Ross Township commissioners.

Seville Elementary School received a $2,000 Teach Award from Best Buy Co. Inc., to help integrate interactive technology into its curriculum.

Two North Hills Senior High School students, Katie O’Brien and Luke Plizga performed in the Pennsylvania All-State Orchestra and Band.

Eight North Hills Senior High School students performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Student Side-By-Side, Bayer Audience of the Future Program. The students that performed were: Emily Cochran, Katie O’Brien, Jessica Haberman, Michele Cooney, Luke Plizga, Eric Miller, Lauretta Werner and Emily Winkler.

The North Hills Senior High School technology education department received a $1,000 Public Education Leadership community Grant from the PPG Industries Foundation. The grant helps to support the school’s 2007-08 Build Your Dream Vehicle competition.

North Hills Junior High School student Matthew Esch earned an Affiliate Sponsor Award in the Pennsylvania Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

North Hills Senior High School world language students, photo right, earned several honors in the 2008 Slippery Rock University World Language Competition. They earned first place in level 3 German.

Seneca Valley High School JROTC Raider Battalion Rifle Team members competed in a state rifle competition. Team members included: Brian Shoaf, Scott Platt, Tim Neely, Tim Lutz and Sean Frederick.

The Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc., of Butler awarded Seneca Valley High School a $1,000 grant to establish career awareness activities for special education students at the school.

The Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh granted the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School with several pieces of equipment as part of their High School Equipment Grant Program.
The North Allegheny School Board has appointed two new assistant principals in their elementary schools. Amanda Mathieson is the new vice principal at Marshall Elementary and Rachel Fields is the new vice principal at McKnight Elementary.

The North Allegheny School District announced that the NASD Board of School Directors has named Guinevere Maximo to the position of supervisor of Special Education.

North Allegheny Senior High School student Andy Fishell was elected governor of the Pennsylvania Key Club District at the Key Club State Convention. Additionally, Barbara Schmid, librarian at North Allegheny Intermediate, was named the Pennsylvania Key Club Advisor of the Year.

Three North Allegheny School students were selected for the PMEA All-State Band Ensemble: Nick Amoscato, Brett Friethaler and Josh Waynick. Additionally, Anne Caruso, Andrew Ho, Clair Kang, Steven Kang, Jeffrey Lin, Mike Lorenzo, Taylor Praskach, Sean Radermacher, Hannah Snyder and Erin Smith were selected for the All-State Orchestra.

Carson Middle School eighth grader Joey Zou participated in the 2008 Pennsylvania Geographic Bee which was held at Shippensburg University.

The following Marshall Middle School students placed at the Technology Student Association (TSA) regional competition: Kara Morgan, Nadeera Sidique, Drew Chidester, Michael Helgerman, Sohail Sidique, Kevin Zhang, Matt Thompson and Patrick McClurg.

A team of Ingomar Middle School students won first place in the 2008 National Middle School Science Bowl regional competitions. Team members were: Joey Eisner, Beth Hartigan, Skanda Koppula, Cathy Li, and Jeremy McCandlish.
John Schaefers, a teacher at Ingomar Middle School, has been selected to participate in the STROM Project’s “Studies in Air Quality for Science Educators” this July.

With back-to-back state championships and nine consecutive WPIAL titles, Oakland Catholic High School dominated girls swimming and diving in Pennsylvania. Four local girls were members of the championship team: Julianna Brown, Jacqueline Schneider, Caroline Taccone (all from Franklin Park Boro) and Kristy Bowman (Hampton Township).

Providence Heights Alpha School’s chess team, left, again won a 1st Place School Trophy at the 2008 Pennsylvania State Scholastic Chess Championship. Team winners in the K-6 Open division consisted of: Mikey El-Kadi, Greg Kaniecki, Tyler Shick and Ian Tilton. In the K-3 Open division, Alpha placed second, with Danny Fujito, David Groetsch, Anthony Mauro and Joshuah Musher all receiving medals.

Other chess team members included: Arijay Mehta, Michael Niggemyer, Xander Paski and Aaron Tilton.

Fifteen St. Sebastian students won at the Forensics Finals. First place winners included: Rose Coppola, Joseph Bray, Cole Barkich, David Haddad, Madeline Adamczyk, Meghan Marchione, Amanda Misch, Emily Tiche and Caroline Waldschmidt. Second place honors went to: Candy Coppola, Trace McConnell, Luke Spicer, Emmett Cauley, Emma Doerfler and Deborah Costa.

The St. Sebastian boys’ varsity basketball team won the Pittsburgh Diocesan championship against St. Bede’s. The winning players were: Logan Dietz, Keenan Owens, Max Scheidlmeier, Nick Sennott, Mike Sieber, Tom Weeden, Alex Wright, Joe Bray, Collin Haag, Joe Marchione and David Urso. Coaches were: George Yokitis, Gary Urso and Jim Brungo.

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Business Spotlight: Massage by Christine

Everyone knows how relaxed and pampered a massage can make you feel, but under the skilled hands of a trained, professional massage therapist, you may also find pain relief and healing.

“I mostly focus on neuromuscular therapy,” said Christine Marie Adamek of Massage by Christine. Massage by Christine is one of the independent massage therapists at Raphael Affiliates, a team of massage therapists who support good health and healing through massage therapy. Located at 7820 Old Perry Highway in Ross Twp., Raphael Affiliates is named for the angel Raphael who is the angel of healing.

Massage by Christine aims to alleviate what ails you. “Through trigger point therapy, I have been able to help people suffering with frozen shoulder, pain after knee replacement surgery, sore backs and a host of other ailments,” Adamek said.

Trigger point therapy targets spots in the muscles that appear as tiny areas of tightness which often create tight bands or knots within the muscle fibers that can be tender and that can cause pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body through referred pain.

“Trigger point therapy relieves the tension and releases the metabolites within the muscle fibers and breaks down the trigger points,” Adamek said. “Many who come to me feel immediate relief with one treatment while others may need repeat treatments or periodic maintenance treatments.”

“My services differ from other massage therapists in that when a client comes in, we sit down and I listen to the client to assess in what area I need to focus,” Adamek said.

Massage by Christine treats a variety of clients from those suffering with pain or injuries to athletes to those who desire a little pampering. She also is versed in Swedish massage, reflexology, hot stone and aroma therapy.

With the arrival of spring, people become more active; consequently, that’s when an ache in the back is noticed after swinging the golf clubs or a knot in the shoulder asserts its presence after a day of gardening. Massage by Christine can help relieve those aches and pains and keep you active. A massage also makes a great gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Gift certificates are available. “Prices vary with treatment,” Adamek said, “but we take our time to tailor our massages to your needs and we’re very affordable.”

For more information, contact Massage by Christine at cdebar1@comcast.net. To schedule your appointment, call: 412-364-8570, ext. 4.

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