< PreviousCAround Your Town Around Your Town After closing to the public last March due to COVID-19, the LifeSpan Senior Resource Center in Imperial once again started welcoming seniors back into the building this past July. Two luncheons during the week of July 5 officially kicked off the center’s reopening to the public. For one of those lunches July 8, the center was hoping to host a festive outdoor picnic in the Imperial Plaza parking lot with hot dogs. Though the weather didn’t cooperate, and the few dozen seniors who had shown up were forced inside, those present were more than happy to sit down for what has become a rare social luncheon these days. “It’s good to be back, see some familiar faces, catch up with everybody,” said Diane Rizzo of Findlay Township, who sits on the center’s advisory board and attended the luncheon. Center director Kathy Fritchman says that, going forward, the center is planning to host occasional luncheons along with a handful of regular events and programs. At the time of this writing, LifeSpan is planning a car cruise, taco Tuesdays, a “mocktails” event, Spanish classes, bingo and even some exercise classes. Events are listed on the center’s newsletter, which can be accessed either by visiting the center’s website or by calling the center. Both forms of contact are listed at the end of this article. Throughout the summer, the center will also continue to offer its grab- and-go luncheon program that it started after it was forced to close last year. Instead of serving meals inside the center, LifeSpan began offering frozen prepared meals in a to-go format that could be picked up at the curb. Kim Rollinson, center services operations director, says that the center will continue to offer the to-go meals at least through the summer. The meals are free, but the center asks for a $1.50 donation for each, or $7.50 per week. Rollinson says that isn’t the only service that the center has continued to offer these past 16 months. She says no staff members were laid off during the pandemic. Instead, they made regular wellness calls and continued operating the center’s home-delivered meals program. The Imperial center is one of only seven LifeSpan Centers in the region to offer the program, she says. Administrative assistant Michelle Craven says seniors very much appreciated the wellness calls and that staff members received plenty of “thank you” cards for them. She says that, for some seniors, the calls were the only form of human contact they received all day. “When we were closed, the isolation was sometimes unbearable to some seniors,” says Craven, “and you just don’t know how much they appreciate a kind voice and you talking to them. We wanted to let them know that we were here for them.” Now that the center is back open, staff members are hoping that seniors will be able to get the social interaction they’ve been missing once again. Seniors are encouraged to check the center’s newsletter for events and programming. The newsletter can be accessed by visiting lifespanpa.org and choosing “Imperial Center.” Seniors can also call the center at (724) 218-1669. Home Delivered Meals can be ordered by calling (412) 464-1300 and asking for extension 158. The center is open 8 a.m.to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. LifeSpan Senior Resource Center reopens Kathy Fritchman, director of the Life Span Senior Resource Center in Imperial (pictured at center) and her staff began welcoming back seniors in June. STORY AND PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY 20 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021y > 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. August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 21y > Learning Curves Learning Curves 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! A handshake, verbal agreement, signed contract and pinkie swear - promises are made in various life settings and for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common: agreeing to commit to one’s commitment. In a business environment, specifically, it is vital that employers and employees, alike, follow through on their commitments. I have over eight years in customer service and I strive to be a person of my word. My integrity is important to me and I know that it makes a difference in my performance and customer feedback. When I tell a customer that I will research the issue/question and then follow up with them via their preferred contact method, I do. Some are surprised that they get a reply, but absolutely all of them are thankful. I accepted this new position with Express Employment Professionals Robinson Township on June 30 and agreed to begin July 15. The day before I was to head into work for the first time, I was in a car accident. Thankfully, I walked away from the damage with only a burned and swollen forearm but no need for a hospital visit. Nonetheless, I pulled into the parking lot the next morning for my 8:30 a.m. start time and spent the day with my new coworkers. My promise was made and kept. People appreciate the follow-through that comes with excellent service and commitment. It is a reminder that the person offering to help you sees you, understands the situation, and is committed to finding a solution. As I am joining and integrating into the Express PittWest team, my objective is to continue demonstrating my dedication to my assignments, goals and team members. I will also strive to encourage onboarding associates to show commitment to their new jobs. I will encourage them to abide by declared rules, honor safety regulations, demonstrate above-average attendance, and follow their assigned duties. I want them to see their opportunities as more than just a job. I want them to see it as a reflection of their character and who they are and can be. I desire to see our associates succeed in their follow-through, because, after all, actions speak louder than words. The Robinson and Monaca team are here to keep their commitments to you, reach out to us as you navigate your job search or search for a new team member. Commitment to one’s commitments BY VICTORIA SHEPHERD, EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS Victoria Shepherd is the sourcing manager for Express Pittsburgh West office of the global staffing franchise Express Employment Professionals. Express Pittsburgh West has offices in Robinson Township and Monaca. The office has put 6,800+ job seekers to work in a variety of fields, including administrative, professional, engineering, skilled trades, and skilled labor. In addition to providing recruitment service and workforce solutions for job seekers and businesses throughout the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor and Beaver County, Express also provides the ExpressJobs app and online tools and resources such as JobGenius, ExpressLearn, eskills, and America Employed. To learn more, visit expresspros. com/wpittsburghpa/ or call (412) 494-2000. 22 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021y > Learning Curves Learning Curves New School Year, New Experiences. Same Consistent Results With Kumon. In-Center And Virtual Classes Available To learn more, schedule an orientation today! © 2021 Kumon North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Kumon Math and Reading Center of Robinson Township Robinson Town Centre, 1940 Park Manor Blvd. Suite 512 Pittsburgh, PA 15205 robinsontownship_pa@ikumon.com | 412-790-6100 Study tips from Kumon Center of Robinson What is timing? Timing is defined as the period or point in time that something occurs. When we talk about academics, it is the time it takes to complete an assignment. At Kumon, time plays an important role in your child’s progress. Kumon worksheets have a spot for students to write down their start and end time. The time taken to complete the worksheets helps your child’s Kumon instructor determine how challenging or simple the set was for them to complete. What is accuracy? Accuracy is defined as the quality of being correct. This means how well your child completed an assignment or their Kumon worksheet set. Accuracy can determine how well your child knows the subject matter and how ready they are to advance. Accuracy is also another important component at Kumon. In fact, Kumon students are encouraged to correct any mistakes right away so that they are less likely to repeat the same mistake on future assignments. Why are timing and accuracy important? Timing and accuracy go hand in hand with one another because they help determine your child’s confidence in their work. A child might be able to rank a perfect score, but it might have taken them a long time to complete their assignment. They may not fully grasp the related concepts, they might have distractions, or they may not be confident enough to complete the work quickly. It is important for your child to feel comfortable with their assigned worksheets. This will help them seamlessly advance in their coursework. Keep an eye out for your child if they are completing work too quickly or if it is becoming too time consuming. This can be a sign that they are not studying at the right level. “Just-right” level of study The just-right level of study is the optimum level for each student to develop their academic and self-learning ability. It can be a comfortable level or a challenging one, depending on what is best for each student at different stages in their Kumon journey. Our instructors are constantly considering timing and accuracy by evaluating whether your child needs less work, more work, or that extra review to help them get ahead. What remains constant, however, is that the “just-right” level must always be a level at which students can repeatedly experience a sense of accomplishment and progress on their own without being taught. Kumon instructors continually challenge students to grow by gradually increasing the level of difficulty of the worksheets they assign, while also noticing and considering the increases in each student’s level of academic ability. BY SHANTHA BHARTHI, KUMON LEARNING CENTERS Shantha Bharthi is the Center Director of the Kumon Center of Robinson Township at Robinson Town Centre. Kumon instructors prepare individualized lesson plans for each child and support them as they progress through Kumon. To learn more and schedule a FREE parent orientation and student placement test, call the Kumon Center of Robinson Township at (412) 790-6100. August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 27CAround Your Town Around Your Town In the summer of 2020, fairgrounds across the area remained mostly quiet due to the spread of COVID-19. Many of the traditional festivals and fairs that usually highlight the season and bring communities together didn’t occur. This summer, however, local communities were able to experience something of a return to normal as concerts, fairs and other events brought back the music, food and fun of the season. Such was the case in McDonald, where the VFD’s planning of its annual McSummerfest event remained uncertain as its usual start date in late June approached. Last season, the department had to cancel its annual festival, which typically draws thousands of people to the borough for live music, food, carnival rides and more. Instead, the department shifted gears to host a drive-through style event where families could pick up food. This year, the department returned to its festival format, though on a smaller scale. Instead of the giant festival it usually hosts at Heritage Park, it instead hosted a smaller event in the VFD parking lot. “This year we weren’t sure that we would be able to go back down to the park due to the COVID situation,” said Alan Amoroso, secretary for the McDonald VFD. “So instead of planning to go down to the park and have a full-blown McSummerfest, we decided to plan a mini McSummerfest [at the fire station.]” Despite the downsized event this season, the community enthusiastically showed its support for the event on the first day during the firemen’s parade. After collecting candy thrown from fire trucks, families quickly headed to the department for food, games, a car show, mobile escape room and the musical talents of Dan Bubien and the Delta Struts Band. The following days featured more live music, including a McSummerfest Idol Competition, which showcased the musical talents of borough residents. First place went to Abbie Greenawald, who entered the first round with a cover of “Stay” by Sugarland. “It’s a big adjustment, when you’re doing fundraising to keep the place going and you lose your major fundraiser,” said Amoroso. “We’re doing it like this and hoping that we can do good.” In nearby Findlay Township, the community was able to celebrate its summer and the lifting of restrictions as well. Bringing together families on Independence Day, the township’s fireworks celebration was something residents didn’t want to miss. “We always book our fireworks a year out,” said Stephanie Strain, who was the recreation coordinator for Findlay Township at the time of the event. “So we said that we were going to do this no matter what. We love to provide this event for our community, and we always get a good response from it.” The fireworks celebration once again took place at the Recreation and Sports Complex at Leopold Lake, offering a space for families to gather for fireworks and fun. The event offered music, balloon art and plenty of festival treats. “We probably had around 2,000 people attend, which is a really great number for us,” said Strain. “I think that may have been a little bit down because of the holiday weekend, but we still had a great turnout.” Planning for these local festivals became increasingly easier earlier this year due in large part to the increased number of vaccinations in western Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, over 60% of Allegheny County had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine by mid summer, one of the highest in the state. In addition to the increased number of vaccinated people, federal and state mandates also no longer required strict social distancing and mask wearing at outdoor events. As a result, it was much easier to plan for community events such as these. “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.” Cara Mason, who organizes the Second Saturdays concert series in Coraopolis, says that people were itching for the return of festival season. “People are ready to get out,” said Mason at a Second Saturdays concert in June. “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 also noticed that audiences were 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.” Local festivals and musicians help bring communities back together STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARRET ROBERTS Ashley Marina performs at Burkett Park. 28 • Allegheny West Magazine • August/September 2021CAround Your Town Around Your Town For musicians, the return to normal also marked 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.” Overall, the hope for many organizers is to return to something normal soon and enjoy spending time with neighbors and friends once again. “All you can do is what you’re comfortable with,” said Strain. “If you’re comfortable being in those crowds, do it. Just get back to normal life. That’s what I see happening all around us, people enjoying life, enjoying events and enjoying being together.” Findlay has a number of events planned for the rest of the summer, including its annual Fair in the Woodlands on Aug. 20 and 21 and its Rhythm, Ribs and BBQ event Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. For those events and more being planned by Findlay and other communities the remainder of the summer, see below, download the AWMag Events app at awmagazine.com, or flip to page 43. A crowd gathers for the Ninth Annual Fireworks Celebration at the Recreation and Sports Complex at Leopold Lake. Dan Bubien and the Delta Struts Band perform at McSummerfest. August/September 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 29Next >