Mover & Shaker of the Month Alex Fisher Seventeen-year-old senior at Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University Chairperson of Face-Off Against Breast Cancer Event Click here for article

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Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC has been named one of the best pediatric hospitals in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in its newly redesigned “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” issue.  Children’s is ranked 13th among 113 of the country’s top pediatric hospitals.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation announced that the R. P. Simmons Family Foundation has made a pledge of $2 million over five years toward the capital campaign for the new Children’s Hospital of UPMC campus, scheduled to open in the spring of 2009.

Gateway Rehabilitation Center will honor its founder and medical director emeritus, Dr. Abraham Twerski, and celebrate his latest book, Happiness and the Human Spirit: The Spirituality of Becoming the Best You Can Be.  The event will take place 7 to 9 p.m., Oct. 23, at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel.  For more information, call (412) 766-8700 ext. 1234.

Dr. James Cosgrove	Dr. Judith Esman	Dr. Edward Reidy

Tri Rivers Surgical Associates welcomes James L. Cosgrove, M.D., Judith H. Esman, M.D., Edward D. Reidy, M.D., three board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists.  As a new division of Tri Rivers Surgical Associates, Drs. Cosgrove, Esman and Reidy have expanded their services to provide on-site X-ray and additional office locations for convenient care.  For more information, call toll free 1-866-874-7483.

Tri Rivers Surgical Associates is pleased to announce the addition of H. James Pfaeffle, M.D., Ph. D., right, a hand and upper extremity specialist, to its orthopedic surgery and physical medicine and rehabilitation practice.

For the first time, scientists at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC have discovered a unique population of adult stem cells derived from human muscle that could be used to treat muscle injuries and diseases such as heart attack and muscular dystrophy.  The Children’s Stem Cell Research Center team is led by Johnny Huard, PhD, and Bruno Peault, PhD.

Dr. Donald Ravasio, left, board certified orthopedic surgeon and member of Mercy Orthopedic Associates, recently conducted an educational program on arthritis, degenerative joint disease, joint replacement and the latest innovation available for women with arthritis of the knee: the Zimmer® Gender Solution™ Knee.

On Labor Day, Allegheny County chief executive, Dan Onorato, and Allegheny county council members renamed the South 10th Street Bridge in honor of Philip Murray, the first president of the Pittsburgh-based United Steelworkers of America.

In September, Tickets for Kids launched their I’m One in a Million Campaign, to celebrate having reached one million deserving children from the North Hills and across West Pennsylvania.  A yearlong celebration is underway with plans for additional festivities and events to mark this significant milestone.

The Miracle League of Southwestern PA™, a division of the Cranberry Township Athletic Association (CTAA), has reached an agreement with Cranberry Township to integrate a Miracle League field into the baseball complex that the township is developing in the new Graham Park.

Gary A. Storie, right, vice president and wealth advisor for NexTier Wealth Management in Wexford, recently became accredited to provide financial information and assistance to people in divorce.  He earned his certification through the Institute for Divorce Financial analysts and is a certified Divorce Financial Analyst.

Former chairman and CEO of U.S. Steel and chairman of Marathon Oil Company, Thomas Usher and his wife Sandy will receive the Third Annual Halo Award.  The presentation will take place on Oct. 2, at the Halo Award Dinner, which will be held at the Circuit Center.  It is sponsored by Angel’s Place.

Renowned interior designer Carleton Varney, right, president and owner of Dorothy Draper & Co., Inc., New York City, will be the keynote speaker at La Roche College’s Design Dialogue Series.  The event will take place 5:30 p.m., Oct. 17, at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center in the Strip District.

Attorney Wendy Denton Heleen spoke before a group of approximately 80 people as part of Rep. Randy Vulakovich’s free Older and Wiser Seminars.  The seminars, presented as a public service by Neighborhood Legal Services Association and co-sponsored by county Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services Consortium, targeted older adults, their families and their caregivers.

Legend Financial Advisors, Inc.® is pleased to announce that Louis P. Stanasolovich, CFP™, CEO, president and founder, was selected by Barron’s as one of “The Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors” in the country.

St. Barnabas Charities announced the following sponsors will play a key role in their Oct. 20th Fashion Gala event: James Austin Company, Diamond Design Jewelers of Wexford, ESB Bank, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, MIACO Media Inc., Pollak’s Candy and Reed & Witting Printing Company.

St. Barnabas Health System announced its Employees of the Month for August:  Michael Goehring, Roxanne Shay and Tracy Stern.

Habitat for Humanity dedicated their 33rd home.  The event took place Sept. 23 at 2008 5th Avenue in Beaver Falls.

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Mover & Shaker of the Month Alex Fisher Seventeen-year-old senior at Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University Chairperson of Face-Off Against Breast Cancer Event

By Paula Green Breast cancer is a disease that primarily affects thousands of women annually.  But men are not immune, for they, too, can develop this devastating illness.  A local teenager decided she wanted to do her part in helping to raise awareness and funds for research in combating this disease. Seventeen-year-old Alex Fisher recently chaired a fundraising event in which proceeds were donated to the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization that supports breast cancer research.  Face-Off Against Breast Cancer was held on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Vincentian Academy-Duquesne University, where Alex attends school as a senior. “I just really wanted to do something to help out in my community.  I know how devastating breast cancer can be.  Ninety percent of breast cancer cases occur with no family history of the disease.  And the cases of premenopausal women getting breast cancer are happening more often in younger girls,” Alex said. I got the idea for the fundraiser about a year ago.  Somebody put me in touch with Julie Faneca, who is very actively involved with Glimmer of Hope.  She put me in touch with Diana Napper, founder of the organization.  That’s when I came up with the idea for the Face-Off Against Breast Cancer Event,” Alex said. The fundraiser was an indoor floor hockey match for girls in grades 9-12.    Two matches were held, along with a Chinese auction, and a prize ceremony.  Each player was required to raise a minimum of $100, which went toward Glimmer of Hope.  “I wanted to make it personal, and I love hockey, so that’s why it was a face-off event.  I would like to thank my mother, Jan, who was a tremendous help to me.  I would also like to thank the local companies that supported the cause.  They include: Owl Cleaners (all seven locations), Fragasso Financial Advisors, Fifth Third Bank, Riley Homes and Howard Hanna Real Estate. In her spare time, Alex is actively involved at her school where she plays field hockey, is a member of the yearbook staff, art club and the National Honor Society.  She resides in Franklin Park with her parents Jeff and Jan. As for her future plans, Alex wants to attend college, preferably Carnegie Mellon University.  She would also like to continue to help out and support her community. Back to top

Spotlight on Schools

Eight local college-bound high school graduates were hired by North Hills Community Outreach as Youth Philanthropy Interns through a grant from The Heinz Endowments.  The interns received 57 proposals from nonprofit organizations in Allegheny County that serve at-risk youth.  A total of $50,000 was awarded to the following applicants: Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church, Camp Guyasuta, Community Human Services Corporation, Coraopolis Church of God, Crisis Center North, Earthen Vessels Outreach, Girls Hope of Pittsburgh, Good Samaritan Hospice, HEARTH, Network of Hope, Manchester Citizens Corporation, North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center, Providence Connections and Salvation Army Allegheny Valley Community Center.

A Ross Township resident has been awarded a full-tuition Leadership in Honors Scholarship for this year at the Community College of Allegheny County.  Michele Lowe was selected by college officials for the award, based on her application and involvement with the college Honors Program.

St. Ursula School unveiled the long awaited result of the “New Life for Our Library” campaign.  The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Sept. 30.

Two Fox Chapel Area School District teachers were part of a group of educators who were selected for a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program grant.  Fox Chapel Area High School social studies teacher Diana Sayre and O’Hara Elementary School gifted support teacher Dana Spadafora received a regional grant sponsored through the U.S. Department of Education.

Fox Chapel Area High School social studies teacher Victoria Robins was a contributor to a national teacher’s guide entitled AP World History Teacher’s Guide.

The Fox Chapel Area Board of School Directors hired Michael E. Rowe as principal of O’Hara Elementary School.  Rowe replaces Vince Delconte, Ed. D.

The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pa., honored Pine-Richland High School student Caitlin Haenig, photo left.  The ninth grader is the recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal in the 2007 Freedoms Foundation National Awards Program.

Six North Hills seniors were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program for their academic performance.  Kate O’Brien, Sean O’Brien and Matthew Scanlon earned semifinalist distinction for scoring in the top one percent of students completing the PSAT/NMSQT.®  In addition, Patrick Driscoll, Andrea Finizio and Elizabeth Parisi earned Letters of Commendation for achieving scores in the top four percent in the country.

North Allegheny High Schooland the Intermediate School have earned the Distinguished Unit Award with Merit for its Air Force Junior ROTC Program for the academic year 2006-2007.

Shivam Verma, a student at North Allegheny Intermediate High School, won first prize in the science competition at TeraGrid ’07.

The North Allegheny School District announced that the following teachers are being recognized in the 2006-2007 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers®: Terry Klein, Diana Rittman, Franz-Josef Wesner and Cindy Yingling. 

Janice Spohn, a reading teacher at Peebles Elementary School has been recognized in the 2007-2008 edition of Who’s Who in American Education®.

Suzanne Roy, a reading teacher at Marshall Middle School has been recognized in the 2007-2008 edition of Who’s Who Among American Women®.

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