Mover & Shaker of the Month Ken Hoeltje Athletic Coordinator of Community College of Allegheny County National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame Inductee Click here for article

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William Cope Moyers, son of American journalist and “Lifetime Emmy-award winner” Bill Moyers, will be the keynote speaker at Gateway Rehabilitation Center’s 2007 Hope Has a Home Gala.  The event will take place Dec. 13

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sept. 20 for UPMC Passavant’s $100 million, seven-story expansion.  Those in attendance included: Governor Ed Rendell; Allegheny County chief executive, Dan Onorato, and representatives from UPMC: Elizabeth Concordia, Terri Petrick; Richard Hamilton, Ralph DeStefano and Scott Celin, M.D.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC psychiatrist Eva M. Szigethy, MD, PhD, is among a select group of researchers who have been chosen by the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to receive a prestigious New Innovator Award.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC’s Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program has been re-accredited by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation as a result of its demonstrated compliance with the statewide trauma care standards.

North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center announced the completion of its $600,000 Building Stronger Families Capital Campaign.  An additional $25,000 was realized by a Challenge Grant.

The Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded nearly $1.9 million in grants for 2007.  The majority of the dollars will fund local and regional breast cancer initiatives while $500,000 will be used by Komen National to fund research grants locally and across the country.

Celtic Healthcare, Inc. is proud to announce the opening of its new corporate headquarters in the Shoppes of Heritage Creek in Adams Township.

Celtic Healthcare, Inc. headquartered in Mars, was recently named as one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 2007.

Arnie Burchianti, CEO, right, of Celtic Healthcare, Inc. was recognized at the 21st Annual St. Barnabas CEO Leadership Conference with the 2007 Pacesetters Award as a finalist in the Emerging Company category.  Additionally, Celtic welcomed Marian Essey, RN, BSN, left, as vice president of Performance Improvement.

The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan, has awarded North Hills Community Outreach a challenge grant of $240,000 for the renovation and expansion of the Millvale Community Center, which was completed last November.

St. Catherine of Sweden Roman Catholic Church in Hampton Township celebrated the completion of their new Parish Center on Sept. 30.

St. Barnabas Health System announced its Employees of the Month for September: Janice Clark, Pat Mahoney, Kathleen Bakos-McElhinney, Teresa Motko and Belinda Wilker.

Out of Pittsburgh rides a new paperback with original stories and cartoons from a talented corps of writers and cartoonists who love to ride bikes.  The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom & Wandering is a celebration of the bicycle by people who love to ride.

CitiFinancial’s Beaver Falls and Beaver offices, located at 2580 Constitution Boulevard, Beaver Falls, and 1701 Third Street, Beaver, have secured a Citi Foundation grant through the Citi Foundation Local Contributions Program in the amount of $10,000 for Beaver County Habitat for Humanity’s Kreshon Family House Build Program.

Local financial professional, J. Victor Conrad, CPA, CFP®, ChFC, AIF® owner of Pinnacle Financial Strategies has been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation from the center for Fiduciary Studies.

Louis P. Stanasolovich, CFP™, CEO, president and founder of Legend Financial Advisors, Inc.® has been selected by Worth magazine in their October 2007 issue as one of the “Top 100 Wealth Advisors” in the country for the eleventh consecutive year.

Legend Financial Advisors, Inc.® announced that Christopher J. Kail, left, director of marketing and shareholder, was elected to the Greater Pittsburgh Unit of the American Cancer Society board of directors for a three-year term.  Additionally, Suzanne M. Kenyon, right, has joined Legend® as an administrative assistant to the firm’s CEO and president.

UPMC and Mercy Hospital announced that the Federal Trade Commission has closed its investigation into the merger of the hospitals, removing a significant hurdle for completing the transaction. 

The board of directors of the Blazing Star Choral Society hired guest conductor Jason Iannuzzi to prepare and direct the chorus for a fall performance of Messiah by G.F. Handel.  Iannuzzi was recommended by Robert Page, director emeritus of the Mendelsohn Choir of Pittsburgh.

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Mover & Shaker of the Month Ken Hoeltje Athletic Coordinator of Community College of Allegheny County National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame Inductee

By Paula Green Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) athletic director, Ken Hoeltje, is about to be bestowed with a very special honor from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).  On Nov. 3, Hoeltje will be inducted into their Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will take place at Hagerstown College in Hagerstown, Maryland. The NJCAA is comprised of 24 different regions in the United States.  Hoeltje is a member of the Region XX division, which encompasses western Pennsylvania, all of Maryland and a small portion of West Virginia. Hoeltje grew up in Ross Township, and he graduated from North Hills High School in 1969.  He attended CCAC where he majored in elementary education.  He then went on to study at Robert Morris College, where he earned a degree in sports management. After his graduation, Hoeltje went to work in the athletic department at CCAC.  He spent 17 seasons as the head coach of the women’s basketball team, from 1974 to 1986, then again from 1993 to 1998.  Under his leadership, the team had a record of 278 wins and 124 loses, which is 50th among all inactive coaches in the NJCAA.  In addition, his team won the Region XX Championship three times, and Hoeltje was named the Region XX Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year three times. “I have been fortunate that I have worked with a lot of really great kids over the years.  I usually get them at a time in their lives where they are vulnerable.  I try to help them and show them that athletics is one way to achieve a dream,” Hoeltje said. In addition to his women’s basketball coaching, Hoeltje has held other positions at CCAC.  For six season, he was the head coach of women’s cross country; for 12 seasons, women’s softball; for three seasons, women’s volleyball; and one season as men’s golf coach and one season as an assistant baseball coach. “I have encountered some very influential people who have helped me enhance my career.  They include: former athletic directors Neil Cohen, Susan Hofacre and men’s basketball coach, Bill Shay,” Hoeltje said. Hoeltje has also served as chairperson of the women’s Region XX basketball committee and participated on the men’s soccer and track and field committees.  He was also one of the original organizing members of the Region XX women’s division. He resides in Glenshaw with his wife, Barbara.  They are the parents of two sons—James and David, who is deceased. Northern Connection magazine congratulates him on his Hall of Fame honor and wishes him the best in Hagerstown. Back to top

Spotlight on Schools

Erin Brockovich headlined a group of speakers on environmental issues and other global concerns at the Fourth Annual Global Problems, Global Conference: Saving the Earth and Its People.  The conference was held at La Roche College on Oct. 26 and 27.

Charlotte Leibach, a seventh grade teacher at St. Teresa of Avila School in Ross Township, has been recognized as an honored member of the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry of Executives and Professionals.

A North Hills School District teacher is one of 1,000 nationwide and one of 25 in Pennsylvania to be honored during “A Day Made Better,” sponsored by OfficeMax.  As a result, Jill Hoerner, a first-grade teacher at Northway Elementary School, received nearly $1,200 in donated school supplies.

Forty-four North Hills Senior High School students earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement in the college-level Advanced Placement Program – an increase of 14 students over last year.

The North Hills Varsity Cheerleaders collected over 19 boxes of food, over 26 gallons of water and $220 for the North Hills Food Bank.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that four Pine-Richland High School students have been named semifinalists in its annual National Merit Scholarship Program.  The students include: Julie Behr, Sara Deuschle, Brenna Jones and Nicholas Park.

Dr. Bille Rondinelli, Pine-Richland assistant superintendent of secondary schools, has earned an “Alumni Citation” from Westminster College.  She is one of only five to receive the prestigious award

in 2007.

Seven Pine-Richland High School students have been named Commended students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  They are: Michelle Calabrese, Carolyn Deutsch, Travis Donnelly, Elizabeth George, Nithyapriya Ramalingam, Vincent Salpietro and Benjamin Whiting.

Pine-Richland School District students celebrated special people that tie the community and the generations together by hosting Grandparents/Grandfriends Day on October 11.

Pine-Richland School District earned two Awards of Excellence in the 38th Annual Educational Publications Contests sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

Pine-Richland High School named its 2007 Homecoming Queen, senior Valerie Vogt was crowned on Friday, Oct. 12.  Julie Banyas was named first runner-up and Gabrielle Conlon was named second runner-up.

The College Board announced that 64 students at Pine-Richland High School earned the designation of AP Scholar in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams.  Four students: Kelsey Ballance, Laura Keeley, Ashwin Shinde and Nicholas Sirera earned an additional National Scholar Award.

Susan Klopman, vice president of admissions and financial planning at Elon University, spoke to employees of the Pine-Richland School District.  Klopman visited Pine-Richland to share Elon’s story of transformation.

Highmark Foundation awarded Hance Elementary school $3,000 through its Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge Grant.  The grant will be used to implement Hance’s Pacesetters Program K-5.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, photo right, of the newly renovated North Hills Senior High School was held on Sept. 26.  The $26.5 million project began in the fall of 2005.  The high school renovation represents the completion of Phase 1.  Phase 2, which is currently underway, is the renovation and expansion of Highcliff and McIntyre Elementary Schools.

North Hills School District received two Awards of Excellence and an Honorable Mention from the 38th Annual Educational Publications Contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.  The awards went to: the North Hills’ 2006-07 Annual Report and the Arts Alive program.

North Hills Junior High welcomed new assistant principal Jonathan W. Peeblesto its L-Z office.

North Hills Junior High recently received a $1,989 Environmental Education Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to support the school’s recycling program.

Verizon Wireless has donated $1,000 to North Allegheny High School to benefit its student athletic program.  The donation was presented to Bob Bozzuto, photo right, athletic director at North Allegheny, on Sept. 28, during halftime of the school’s football game against Seneca Valley.

The North Allegheny School District announced that Aisha Moore has been selected as a Semifinalist in the 2008 National Achievement® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for Black American high school students.

The North Allegheny School District announced that the North Allegheny Senior High School has been recognized as being one of the nation’s “top 100 schools” in speech and debate activities by the National Forensic League.  NASH ranked 68 out of 2,700 schools nationwide.

Thirteen North Allegheny High School students were selected for the 2007 PMEA District 1 Honors Band and will perform in concert at the Carnegie Music Hall on Nov. 25.  They are:  Taylor Praskach, Alyssa Shaw, Josh Waynick, Matt Zellers, Clair Kang, Eliana Rabinowitz, Lauren Eisenreich, Patrick Matera, Brett Freithaler, Mike Lorenzo, Ian Preston, Julie Wu and Nick Amoscato.

The North Allegheny Rowers team captured a total of 11 medals – 4 Gold, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze – when they kicked off their fall racing season at the Kings Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in King of Prussia.  The team also won 5 medals – 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze – at the Men’s and Women’s High School Doubles event at the Head of the Ohio Regatta.

Fox Chapel Area High School senior Martha Vazquez was recognized as part of the College Board’s 2007-2008 National Hispanic Recognition Program.  Martha was named a Scholar in the program.

Nine Fox Chapel Area High School seniors have been designated as National Merit Semifinalists and 17 have been named Commended Students in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  The Semifinalists are: Stefanie Brown, Ankur Goyal, Amanda Jacobson, Morgan Kingsland, James Klingensmith, Andrew Lee, Juan Manfredi, Alexander Moser, and Alexandra Wiley.  The Commended Students are: Mikhail Attaar, Matthew Barbara, Lauren DeNinno, William Docimo, Miranda Fisher, Karen Gardner, Rebecca Goetz, Karl Gough, Danielle Gruen, Meghan Monahan, Gaurav Mookerjee, Jammie Mountz, Elizabeth O’Sell, Laura Richards, Hannah Rule, Luke Secosky, and Paul Weinstein.

A total of 80 Fox Chapel Area High School students and 2007 graduates have been named Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP examinations taken in May 2007.

The following Fox Chapel Area High School seniors attended the 2007 Pennsylvania Governor’s School of Excellence: Carolyn Payne, Mikhail Attaar, Kameron Budhram, Natalie Stewart, Ankur Goyal, Archana Ramgopal and Laura Richards.

Mary Beth Kostewicz, a fifth grade teacher at O’ Hara Elementary School in the Fox Chapel Area School District, has been selected for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Teachers & Educators™ 2006-2007.

The Fox Chapel Area High School Marching Band, performing its 2007 program, “Riffs in Rhythm: The Music of Carlos Santana,” earned two third place finishes in the AA division at two Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association competitions.  The Marching Foxes also won caption awards for High Music and High General Effect for their division at the Kiski Area High school competition and Norwin High School competition.

Four Fox Chapel Area School District publications received state awards in the 38th Annual Pennsylvania School Boards Association Educational Publications Contest.  The publications that received honors include: Reaching ALL Children at ALL Levels, Commitment to Excellence, the Community Newsletter, and the 2007-2008 Course Description Guide.

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