< Previous%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced In 1964, Robert Inches and his wife, Faye, opened up a small business selling flowers in Moon Township. As time passed, the couple expanded into trees and residential landscaping. Then, in the 1970s, their youngest son, Randy, joined his parents in the business and expanded it further into a garden center. Today, Inches Nursery - which is still located in Moon Township - is a full-service garden center and nursery that also offers landscaping and hardscaping supplies and services, including patios and retaining walls. The business is located at the corner of Flaugherty Run Road and Stoops Ferry Road. This spring marks the business’ 57th of helping locals dress up their yards and remodel their outside living areas. It’s been quite a journey for Randy, who now runs the business with his son, Ryan, daughter, Katie, and Inches’ garden center manager, Sharon Pegher. Inches’ long-time landscape architect Bill Merow, meanwhile, has become the mastermind behind all of Inches’ residential and commercial landscape designs. Merow works diligently with clients to make sure every detail is perfect, down to each and every plant he chooses. From homes, to schools, to retail stores and hospitals, his and Inches’ work can be seen throughout western Pennsylvania, including at Rivers Casino. Unlike at the box store, customers visiting Inches can get personalized, expert input on a wide variety of landscaping, hardscaping and gardening supplies. The business is a regional distributor for R. I. Lampus hardscaping products and offers a wide variety of plants and trees. Many of its trees are grown from seedlings at the family’s farm in Independence Township. Inches Nursery celebrating 57 years STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED TOP: Inches Nursery has been in the area since 1964. ABOVE: Among the nursery’s offerings are flowering magnolia trees. Inches Nursery also sells (above) flowering dogwood trees and potted annuals and perennials; (below) native redbud trees and birches; and perennial columbine. Inches’ tree nursery (bottom) offers many tree varieties for different landscapes. “We pride ourselves on being able to provide quality and diversity with our inventory, whether they are home grown or locally sourced from neighboring nurseries and growers,” says Ryan. Pegher, meanwhile, is available to provide advice for any landscape application. “Sharon is a walking encyclopedia of plants, trees and flowers,” says Ryan. “She is well-versed in our extensive collection of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and trees.” At the garden center, customers can find unique gifts and décor for any outside oasis, including stone statuaries, wind spinners, solar lights, fountains and birdbaths. Inches also has a section for lawn maintenance and care, and sells bulk materials such as mulch and topsoil. Delivery is available to many surrounding areas. Inches has been fortunate to have grown the way it has over the years and the business is grateful to the community that has spurred that growth. As everyone who runs Inches also lives in the area, the business has found a number of ways to give back to the community. Each year, the business sponsors a number of Moon Township youth leagues, such as the Moon Area Soccer Association and Moon Area Baseball League. It also participates in school fundraisers and staff appreciation endeavors for teachers. In downtown Coraopolis, Inches designed, supplied and installed the landscaping for the war memorial outside Keith-Holmes VFW Post 402. Inches also hosts several customer appreciation events at its garden center throughout the year that benefit local charities. Check www.inchesnursery.com for future events. “We have a strong belief in community, as most of us are raising our families here, also,” says Ryan. “It’s important to be able to give back and we are involved in the township in many ways. We are proud and honored to have remained a staple in the area and look forward to seeing the community again this year!” For more, visit www.inchesnursery.com, call (724) 457-7236, or visit them at 1005 Stoops Ferry Road in Moon Township. 10 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021 In 2026, the U.S. will celebrate its semiquincentennial, or 250-year anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. In honor of that milestone, Congress passed the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission Act in 2016. That legislation established a commission tasked with organizing the commemoration and festivities in the lead-up to the big celebration. It also identified four historically significant cities: Boston, Charleston, New York City and Philadelphia. Two years later, in 2018, Pennsylvania established its own commission called America250PA. Like the federal legislation, this act also established its own commission. This one, though, was tasked with engaging people across the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since then, the commission has added representative members from across the state and has been working to engage local organizations, legislators and others in the commemorative effort. It currently has the support of every living past governor of Pennsylvania and Gov. Tom Wolf. Commissioners from this area include Andy Masich, president and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center; Kiya Tomlin, local entrepreneur and wife of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin; Jim DePoe of IBEW Local 29; and Judge Brandon Neuman. In late April, commission members met in the area and visited places such as the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, the University of Pittsburgh Oakland campus and others. Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America250PA, says the group has been working with those organizations and others to devise ways to honor the places, people, industries and historic events that have played a significant role in shaping the area. In the process, America250PA intends to share those achievements with the rest of the state by driving visitors to this region and others. “We want to make sure we’re listening and including every Pennsylvanian,” says Coleman. “We want to know what’s important in their communities, whether it was 50 years ago or five years ago. We want to make sense of what makes Pennsylvania proud. So we’re really excited to learn what Pennsylvanians want to see from this celebration.” The commission is also adding a number of interactive components to the effort. Coleman says they’re exploring ways to develop an interactive digital map, possibly through a mobile app. They’ve also partnered with Pennsylvania health systems to market a physical component, one where individuals will be encouraged to log either 250 miles by foot or 2,500 miles by bike. For instance, a visit to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, the Whiskey Rebellion Trail or an area park could involve a hike that would count toward the challenge. “The road to 2026 is a way for America250PA to help create a healthier Pennsylvania by 2026,” she says. Coleman says that the commission is also working with the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia to expand their curriculum and to bring that curriculum to a Pittsburgh-area school this fall. As well, America250PA is planning to place bells as markers at significant locations around the state. Cabot Oil and Gas is sponsoring the first of a handful of semiquincentennial bronze bells that will be placed at seven locations. One temporary fiberglass bell will also be placed in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties closer to July 4, 2026. Coleman likens the fiberglass bells to similar sculptural efforts that have taken place at various cities over the years, such as the Cows of Chicago and Hearts of Seattle. The commission is currently fielding design ideas from Pennsylvania artists to make each of the bells unique. Details are available at their website under the “Celebrate” tab. The url is listed at the end of this article. George Stark, director of outreach for Cabot Oil and Gas, says that the idea behind the effort isn’t just a one-day or one-week celebration, but a multi-year effort that will give Pennsylvanians an opportunity to explore and learn about their state. “Everyone has to realize you don’t just celebrate it then,” says Stark, referring to July 4, 2026. “It’s also everything you do leading up to it.” Watch for updates regarding America250PA in future editions of Allegheny West Magazine. For more about America250PA, visit www.america250pa.org. America250PA coming to area STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 11CAround Your Town Around Your Town In the summer of 2020, many stages were left empty and fans of live music were forced to stay indoors due to the spread of COVID-19. As a result, musicians weren’t able to bring people together for a live concert experience. This summer, however, local communities are seeing a return to concerts and coming together over a shared love of music, food and fun. With warm weather arriving and restrictions lifting across the commonwealth, boroughs and townships are once again inviting communities outdoors for concerts and festivals. With space to distance, the format is one that organizers have found to be successful. “Outside events are what seemed to work best when planning for this season,” said Jane Tallon, activities coordinator for the Township of Robinson. “Not knowing what restrictions would be in place, we found this would be the best way to provide social distancing.” Planning has taken a dramatic turn since last summer, when many events were either cancelled, broadcast on Zoom or took on a drive-through format. “Parents had to adapt to so much, with Santa Claus drive-bys and Easter Bunny drive-bys going through the neighborhood,” said Tallon. Planning for festivals and concerts is increasingly easier for local communities due to the increased number of vaccinations in western Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, over 65% of Allegheny County has at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, one of the highest in the state. With a higher number of people able to unmask and gather, it is becoming easier to plan for concerts and similar events this summer and beyond. “People are ready to get out,” said Cara Mason, who organizes the Second Saturdays concert series in Coraopolis. “We are happy to have this beautiful weather to be able to be outside. People can still socially distance themselves if they want, but we are looking forward to giving people an opportunity to get together.” With less risk of spreading the coronavirus, park organizers are also noticing that audiences are feeling more comfortable with socializing and joining the fun. “We are excited for the bigger crowds and that people are starting to feel more comfortable being outside,” said Andrew Bott, assistant director of parks and recreation for Moon Park. “We have also seen a major uptake in people coming to the park, whether that be for events or just using some of our facilities around the park.” For musicians, the return to normal also marks a long awaited return to the stage. A former resident of Coraopolis, Byron Nash was able to bring his guitar playing back to the borough during Second Saturdays and give audiences a taste of the live music they were craving during the pandemic. “The best part about [playing live] is having the kids come up after you’re done playing and seeing the older people enjoy the music as much as someone younger,” said Nash. For Ashley Marina of Kennedy Township, who was featured on Season 15 of “America’s Got Talent” before the pandemic began, a recent performance she gave at Robinson’s Burkett Park provided her with a chance to bring her skills back to the stage. “It’s actually really cool because I haven’t been able to play for an open audience for awhile,” said Ashley. “This is one of the first performances I’ve been able to do since everything opened back up.” That energy is something that David Goettman, singer and guitarist for Bleach Fuzz, enjoyed capturing at a recent performance during the Moon Rocks Saturday Nights concert series. While the pandemic opened opportunities for him to do Local musicians help bring communities back together after COVID-19 STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARRET ROBERTS People gather at Burkett Park in Robinson Township to listen to a free concert by Ashley Marina on June 19. David Goettman (left), singer and guitarist for Bleach Fuzz, performs in Moon Park while Byron Nash (right) performs in downtown Coraopolis during Second Saturdays. NOW HIRING! Oces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees! 12 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021some more songwriting, the band was longing for the audience feedback again. “It’s great to be back playing in front of a live audience again,” said Goettman. “There’s nothing like the energy that comes from a live performance.” As the pandemic was raging last year, many musicians were working on their craft during their time indoors and found new ways to play and improve their styles. For many, this took the form of songwriting and solo performances. “Just because you can’t play at concerts doesn’t mean that the music stops,” said Nash. “It’s about an artist making sure they are versatile, that they can do anything anytime, anywhere, no matter what happens.” “I spent a lot of time trying to write songs while in the pandemic,” said Ashley. “We were all finding things that we wanted to do because there wasn’t a lot to do when we were stuck in our houses all the time. So, I spent most of that time songwriting.” In addition to practice, the pandemic also brought a bigger appreciation of the energy that venues can provide. As indoor concerts are slowly starting to open again across the nation, it’s something artists are excited to experience again. “Our hope for the future is that we’ll get back in the full swing of playing live shows regularly,” said Goettman. “We’re hoping that the establishments that hire live bands will be able to get back at it.” With the need for masks disappearing, artists are also excited to go from being virtual icons to seeing fans’ faces again. “I was emotional. It was like ‘Oh my god, these are people!’ Getting to perform for them is such an honor,” said Nash. “It definitely took some adjusting while on stage.” Whether community events or concerts, the future looks more social, with less distancing, as things continue in 2021. For upcoming local concerts this summer, visit www.moonparks.org, townshipofrobinson.com and coraopolisfoundation.org. A mobile version of local live music listings taking place around the area is also available on the AWMag Events App at awmagazine.com. Check the live music heading in the Summer Fun Guide section. Ashley Marina performs at Burkett Park (above) while concert-goers gather to hear Bleach Fuzz in Moon Park (below). July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 13CAround Your Town Around Your Town Moon Area High School alumnus Dennis McMahon experienced combat four times during the 20 years that he was in the Army, after serving in both Operation Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His most difficult assignment, however, came well before that, when he was just 23 years old and volunteered to be a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. “Only about 20% of the guards who go there make it,” he says, referring to soldiers who volunteer for the post. “Physically, mentally, you have to be fit. You’re learning how to be out there in front of people. The discipline, the honor, it’s hard to describe. I still get chills when I go there, thinking I did that.” This year marks the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was established in 1921 to honor American soldiers lost in Europe during World War I. In honor of the anniversary, The Society of the Honor Guard, which is made up of former sentinels and their family members, are making efforts to raise awareness of the tomb. In this area, the Rome Exchange Club of Georgia is planning to display a replica of the tomb at the Butler Farm Show from Aug. 9-11. The club is touring across the U.S. with the replica at events that will be attended by society members who will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the tomb’s history. “When they go places, they try to get as many tomb guards there as possible,” says McMahon. In this area alone, he says there are over a half dozen former sentinels. “Once you’re a tomb guard, you’re always a tomb guard,” he says. “Only a few a year get awarded. It’s the second least awarded badge in the military.” He says society members also visit VFW posts, schools, American Legion posts and other organizations to talk about the memorial and their service. McMahon joined the Army right out of high school in 1983 and, during the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1984, was selected to serve in a prominent position during the ceremonies. He says he thinks he got picked because he was tall. He then volunteered to become a tomb sentinel in 1987 and underwent three months of training. “During those months you’re doing nothing but training,” he says. “You’re learning the routine of the sentinels, how to shine shoes, prepare your uniform and learning the background of Arlington. Once you’re efficient enough, you get to go and walk in the morning when no one’s out there. After four or five months of that, you’ll get a regular rotation.” Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is considered a sacred duty and those who perform it follow an exacting and physically demanding routine. Sentinels guard the tomb 24 hours per day and each watch consists of three sentinels who relieve each other either one hour or every half hour, depending on the season, McMahon says. While guarding, sentinels march 21 steps south along a black mat laid across the ground. They then face east toward the tomb for 21 seconds. After that, they turn, face north, change their weapon to the outside shoulder and wait 21 seconds. They march 21 steps down the mat, then turn and face east for 21 seconds. Finally, they face south, change weapons to the outside shoulder and wait another 21 seconds. Sentinels repeat this process until relieved. The number 21 is significant because it corresponds with the highest military honor awarded. Sentinels also do not wear insignias so as not to outrank the soldiers interred at the monument. Local veteran among rarified group of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sentinels raising awareness on centennial Dennis McMahon (also pictured at right) was a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the late 1980s. STORY BY DOUG HUGHEY PHOTOS SUBMITTED 14 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town Three fallen service members are currently interred at the tomb from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. A soldier who served in Vietnam was also interred there until his remains were identified through DNA testing in 1998 and he was moved to a family gravesite. McMahon says sentinels follow a three-day routine. After working one full 24-hour day, they get the following day off to recover. They then get a second day off, but that day is usually dedicated to training, he says. The following day they return to duty. Despite their stoic appearance, tomb sentinels are not just there for show. McMahon says they will confront intruders or those being disrespectful. No one is allowed inside the chains surrounding the mat, and sentinels will intercept anyone who attempts to approach the monument. It is a military guard post. McMahon, though, says that “the weird things don’t happen very often.” He can recall only one time when he witnessed a sentinel having to physically confront someone. He says he’d just been relieved when the sentinel on duty had to stop a man who wanted to touch the tomb. For some reason, the man couldn’t seem to grasp the fact that he wasn’t allowed to do that and the sentinel responded by delivering a blow with the butt-end of his rifle, as the man just would not listen to requests to stop. Proper channels are available for those who would like to pay their respects by placing a wreath at the tomb. McMahon says this is often done by school groups. A sign-up is available through the Arlington National Cemetery website, though McMahon warns the list tends to be long. The president or vice president also places a wreath at the tomb on Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year. McMahon says he personally never got to guard on a Memorial Day, as his relief was off on those days, but he says he did get to meet a U.S. president during another chance meeting. While on detail on the South Lawn of the White House in 1985, he took a break with some secret service agents. “We were out setting up for a monthly presidential dinner and it was like 105 degrees,” he recalls. “The secret service guys brought us in and gave us some water, then all of a sudden Ronald Reagan came strolling in and just sat down.” He says Reagan asked each of them about their military service and why they joined. “I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “I’m this 21-year-old kid sitting there talking with the president. He just wanted to talk.” McMahon served as a sentinel at the tomb from 1987 to 1988. He later went from the Army into intelligence and retired in 2004. He has worked for the government for the past 17 years. Last year, he and his wife, Lisa, moved from Butler to Robinson Township. McMahon suggests that teachers or anyone else interested in learning more about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier visit www.arlingtoncemetery.mil, where there is an educational toolkit available. Requests can also be made by groups for a visit from the Society of the Honor Guard to deliver an educational presentation about the tomb. For more, visit tombguard.org. James D. Wagner, MD, and Morgan Beer, PA-C, of Moon Medical Associates–UPMC, welcome new patients to their office in Coraopolis. Announcing our New Location New patients are welcome. Schedule an in-office or video appointment online or call 412-269-4114. James D. Wagner, MD Morgan Beer, MSPAS, PA-C Dr. Wagner received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He completed his residency at Allegheny General Hospital and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. For more than three decades, Dr. Wagner has been caring for patients in the Pittsburgh area. Morgan Beer received a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Moon Medical Associates-UPMC 1600 Coraopolis Road, Suite G1 Coraopolis, PA 15108 412-269-4114 July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 15CAround Your Town Around Your Town Though we may not often appreciate it, many of the products that we use on a daily basis - from smart phones to cars - are comprised of many complicated parts that have gone through lengthy manufacturing processes. From the design phase all the way to manufacturing the final product, many of those parts are oftentimes shipped from multiple locations as they are molded, heat treated, tested and finally used in assembly. Further testing can lead to design tweaks and even longer manufacturing wait times. Advancements in 3D printing technology, however, are changing the way many companies think about the manufacturing process. The day may quickly be coming when some companies will prefer to simply manufacture parts in-house, and thereby cut down on the time and money that it costs to develop prototypes and final products. “When you print the part, instead of waiting three months or six months to get the part, in two days you have your part tested, [and you can say] ‘Oh, let’s make a little adjustment,’” says Philip Moslener, corporate vice president of advanced technologies for the Pittsburgh-based company Wabtec. Wabtec, which is part of the same Westinghouse company that was founded in Pittsburgh 150 years ago, takes its name from Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation. The company makes products for rail-based transportation, including freight and passenger lines. After merging with GE Transportation in 2018, the company moved its base of operations from Wilmerding to Pittsburgh’s North Shore. In June, Wabtec also became the first company to open a 3D manufacturing facility at Neighborhood 91, a new industrial park located at Pittsburgh International Airport. Moslener says the facility is the company’s fourth 3D printing operation, though it’s the first dedicated to printing parts in aluminum. In addition to Wabtec, Rusal America, which produces powdered aluminum additives for 3D printing, is also opening a facility at Neighborhood 91. Arencibia, which produces and recycles gases used in 3D manufacturing, is to take up residence at Neighborhood 91 as well. David Storer, director of business development for the Allegheny County Airport Authority, says Neighborhood 91 was built specifically to cater to additive manufacturing. He says the airport authority is pushing to attract more companies involved in the additive manufacturing ecosystem as well as industries that can benefit from it. “We’re not going to be industry specific,” he says. “We’re looking to attract anyone who can benefit from additive manufacturing - and many industries can. It’s just that process of co-locating and being able to do it faster and cheaper.” Former state Sen. Matt Smith, who is now president of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the Allegheny County Airport Authority board of directors, says the idea is to bring everything needed for additive manufacturing to one place. “Everything you need is going to be here on the campus,” he says. “With 3D and additive printing, it’ll be one continuous cycle that exists completely on this campus. So, you’re not going to have to make something here, send it somewhere else, have it ship back here. Everything will be vertically integrated so you can just push it out.” In remarks delivered at an event held to mark the opening of Wabtec’s facilities, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said that Neighborhood 91 is the first of its kind in the country. Cassotis, who developed the idea for the advanced manufacturing site, said the idea came from consulting with various community members and stakeholders involved in 3D printing an additive manufacturing. “We have these world leading universities in CMU and Pitt that are doing the kind of research into artificial intelligence and robotics - which basically is 3D printing and advanced manufacturing - and we’ve got all of this foundation support at Hazelwood Green for R&D - production makes sense as the next part of the additive manufacturing chain,” she said. “So, we stepped forward and thought, how can we act as a strategic landlord? How do we develop this land so that we can attract all parts of the additive manufacturing industry, which is new and looking for a home in the U.S.?” Eric Gebhardt, Wabtec’s chief technology officer, said in his own remarks that the company will be printing large-scale, aluminum lightweight parts at the facility for customers. In remarks, he also emphasized the collaborative process behind Neighborhood 91. Neighborhood 91 sets stage for revolution in manufacturing STORY AND PHOTOS BY DOUG HUGHEY ABOVE: Eric Gebhardt, Wabtec chief technology officer, cuts a ceremonial ribbon at the company’s new additive manufacturing facility at Neighborhood 91 on June 8. To his right are Christina Cassotis, CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. BELOW: Philip Moslener, corporate vice president of advanced technologies for Wabtec, delivers remarks in front of a SLM 800 printer that the company will be using to print parts in aluminum. 16 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town “It brings together people from academia, industry, to pull together the best capabilities to really have an incubator to drive this forward,” Gebhardt said. “And, the members of this community, of Neighborhood 91, will be sharing ideas, testing theories, really advancing everything going forward.” Wabtec’s facility has been outfitted with a SLM 800 printer that has a number of efficiencies built into it. Moslener says that instead of releasing argon gas that’s used during printing into the atmosphere, the gas is captured and recycled. The printer also recovers upwards of 95% of its leftover aluminum powder, which can then be used for a subsequent print. Moslener says that to print a part, argon gas, which is non-reactive, is pumped into a chamber. Lasers then weld thin layers of powdered aluminum - which is usually explosive in an oxygenated environment - together. The weld plate is then dropped a matter of microns and another thin layer of aluminum spread on top. That next layer gets welded on top of the last one. The process repeats thousands of times until the part is complete. The part is then pushed onto a conveyor system and removed by a technician. Though printing one part can take a day or more, those who work for Wabtec say the process is still more efficient than traditional manufacturing. Peter Bocchini, a Wabtec site manager, says the process is also less labor intensive, particularly when it comes to milling parts. “If you were in a conventional machine shop and you were running that 24/7, you would have to run three eight-hour shifts with three different technicians running that machine,” he says. “With the printer, we only need the engineer to be at the machine during set up and breakout.” Storer says that Neighborhood 91 currently has two buildings constructed and that the airport authority is planning to break ground on more soon. ABOVE: A SLM 800 printer at Wabtec’s Neighborhood 91 facility utilizes lasers that weld together ultra-thin layers of powdered aluminum in a chamber filled with argon gas. BELOW: These aluminum parts were all printed at Wabtec’s Neighborhood 91 facility. July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 17y > Learning Curves Learning Curves Michele P. Conti is an estate planning and elder law attorney. Conti attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Oxford University and Duquesne University School of Law. She received her LL.M. in taxation from Villanova University. She can be reached at (724) 784-0239 or michele@contilawpgh.com. BY MICHELE P. CONTI Planning ahead for a blended family It is likely that you or someone you know is on their second, third, or maybe even fourth marriage. Though they have found happiness more than once in their life, there are many legal complications that exist with a blended family. One such difficulty is determining who receives that person’s assets upon passing. Is it the spouse, the children from a prior relationship, the spouse’s kids or someone else? The idea of “yours, mine and ours” can fracture families. When we work with clients who have a blended family, we stress the fact that deciding who receives their wealth upon their death is essential. The challenge is satisfying everyone involved. If they do not plan correctly and view the whole picture - including retirement accounts and life insurance policies - they may unknowingly disinherit someone, whether they meant to do so or not. All too often, a former spouse also remains as the named beneficiary on an account. Regardless of what a will or trust says, the beneficiary designations trump all others. Therefore, we must be proactive when reviewing a person’s assets or else everyone, except the former spouse, will be unhappy. Another error that sometimes occurs is when a spouse names their current spouse as the primary beneficiary and their children as equal contingent beneficiaries. This is often done so that everyone will receive something. However, in this situation, the spouse receives all of the assets and is free to act as they wish. The spouse can spend all of the assets or even change the contingent beneficiaries upon receipt of the money. When a retirement account is involved, the surviving spouse inherits the account of the deceased while the contingent beneficiaries go by the wayside, even upon the surviving spouse’s death. Oftentimes, people also assume that their spouse receives everything upon their death simply because they are married. Others assume that their children receive the bulk of their estate because they are related by blood. Each of these assumptions is wrong. In Pennsylvania, when there is no will or beneficiary designation, the commonwealth provides us with the following chart to determine which beneficiary receives what percent: An easy remedy is to name both the spouse and children as beneficiaries on such an account and dole out percentages rather than an outright distribution to one person. Remarried couples often use a trust as the vehicle to spell out their wishes. If the intention is to provide income for the life of the surviving spouse, we can name the children as beneficiaries. The tricky part is naming a successor trustee. Without proper planning, the plan could fail, which is why oftentimes a corporate fiduciary is involved so that the assets remain consistent and continue to grow. What can you do if you have blended family? We can discuss your particular situation and determine the best option for you and the families involved. This may include a postnuptial agreement, a spendthrift trust or even a bloodline trust, depending on your overall wishes. There is no right answer, but there are a lot of options. We spend so much time and money planning for things like weddings, holidays and vacations, but let’s take some time to also plan for your loved ones’ futures. Doing so will ensure that the family will not be fractured upon your passing. 18 • Allegheny West Magazine • July/August 2021lLegislative Update Legislative Update State Rep. Valerie Gaydos State Rep. Valerie Gaydos represents Pennsylvania’s 44th District. Her office is located at 1005 Beaver Grade Road in Moon Township. Subscribe to her emails at www.repgaydos.com and follow her on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RepGaydos. Wolf vetoes Voting Rights Protection Act To ensure trust in our democracy, we must know with certainty that our voices will be heard and the mechanism of government is truly representative of all our citizens. That means free access to casting every vote, accurately counted, with checks and internal controls, including independent audits to ensure no corruption or undue influences creep in. After months of hearing concerns about our election process from constituents, the Pennsylvania General Assembly took action. I voted in favor of House Bill 1300, the Pennsylvania Voting Rights Protection Act, which would have made it easier to vote and harder to cheat. Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the legislation, saying he would not sign a bill that creates barriers to voting. I am disappointed with the governor’s latest action. Throughout 10 hearings on Pennsylvania’s election process, we heard the need to fix flaws in our election. This legislation would have allowed for more than 20 different forms of voter identification; it would have required for no voter to wait longer than 30 minutes to vote; and it would have allowed for early counting of mail-in and absentee ballots so we would have results on election night. People expect our elected leaders to listen to the people, our employers. The Voting Rights Protection Act included initiatives supported by the majority of Pennsylvania voters. A recent poll by Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster found that 74% of those polled support voters having to show an identification card and 81% are in favor of signature verification. I will continue to fight for you. The House State Government Committee will be taking up Senate Bill 735 to require voter identification via a constitutional amendment. This will take election reform directly to YOU! Standing up for taxpayers and supporting a fiscally responsible budget I voted in support of the state budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, which passed the House. The measure was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf as Act 1A of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on many families and businesses over the past year and there is a lot of work yet to be done to fully restore our economy. While the budget reflects an 8.8% increase over last year’s budget, this spending plan includes no new taxes and will deposit more than $2.52 billion into the Rainy Day Fund, growing it to a historic $2.76 billion. One of my top priorities in this budget is education. Children are our future, and the betterment of the Commonwealth hinges on their paths to success. The budget for PreK-12 education would be $13.55 billion, which is a record high. Early childhood education funding, which includes PreK and Head Start, would see a $30 million increase. Special education funding would see a $50 million increase. Additionally, $350 million in federal relief funding would be dedicated to address learning loss, summer enrichment and afterschool programs. A system redesign of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) would be backed by this budget, as $50 million in federal relief funding would assist with integration. Finally, I vow to be a strong advocate of protecting our most vulnerable citizens. Recognizing the ongoing costs related to COVID-19 mitigation, the budget allocates $282 million in federal relief funds to help nursing homes, assisted living and personal care homes with costs related to personal protective equipment, staff testing and other pandemic-related costs. The budget also includes money to take care of those with intellectual disabilities. While the 2021-2022 budget increase of 8.8% exceeds inflation and population growth, which significantly exceeds the increase under the Taxpayer Protection Act index of $654 million (1.79%), the spending increases were mostly directed to areas hurt by COVID-19 that had to be addressed this year. I hope that in future years, the General Assembly will continue to work on living within our means so that no one will ever be caught off guard again should the state face another pandemic. For more information on the 2021-2022 state budget, go to www.pahousegop.com/2122PAbudget. My human trafficking legislation is now law! My legislation that would better protect the victims of human trafficking was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf. House Bill 1147 (Act 45 of 2021) would expand the list of sexual offenses that require offenders to attend and participate in a Department of Corrections program of counseling and therapy designed for incarcerated sex offenders. This legislation is necessary as a result of additions made to the list of sexual offenses (human trafficking) in the Crimes Code, specifically the definition of sexual servitude. Research has shown mental health treatment to be vital for offenders who commit sexual crimes. I urge all of us to continue to raise public awareness as well as arm prosecutors and law enforcement with every tool possible to take down traffickers and protect victims. Human trafficking is the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation. It involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to abuse a person for profit. 412.205.8998 DDSWebDesign.com Websites that get results. Designed in Pittsburgh Contact us for a free website analysis. Imagine your website working as hard for your business as you do. July/August 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 19Next >