< Previousy > Learning Curves Learning Curves BY MICHELE P. CONTI 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. This past year was a year like no other for many of us. Who would have expected that we would experience a pandemic, homeschooling and a global shutdown? Even though we practiced social distancing, one common factor stands out amongst our clients - an influx of pet adoption. Anyone who knows me understands my love of all animals. If I could help in the rescue of every misplaced, abused and lonely pet, I would. That’s why I am an advocate of rescuing and a staunch supporter of Bridge to Home Animal Rescue - a local animal rescue located in Eighty-Four, Pennsylvania. BTHAR is a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping homeless, unwanted and discarded dogs. Their goal, as stated on their website, bridgetohome84.org, is to help dogs find their forever home. Without a facility, their dogs are kept in volunteer foster family’s homes until the perfect home is found. A recent Facebook post by BTHAR’s president, Tracey Crompton, caught my attention. It was accompanied by a photo of an elderly Schnauzer named Mabel with an all-to-familiar story about owners who had recently passed away, and their children dumping her at a kill shelter in Ohio. She wasn’t sick. She wasn’t ill-tempered. She was simply a burden that her owner’s family no longer wanted to be bothered with. I look at animals similarly as to how I view my clients and their common concerns with growing older. We are all cute and cuddly in infancy. Then we grow and exhibit our rebellious teenage years. We age and mature only to slow down in time to enjoy our golden years. Commonly, our golden years are fraught with concern about whether we have become a burden to our families. Will our loved ones still visit and call since oftentimes we forget the story we told them last time we spoke? Will they still love us if we have an accident and make a mess of things? I listen to clients whose stories aren’t all too dissimilar from the last. Will my kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews who were once so close and familiar throw them away simply for aging and slowing down? In Mabel’s case, that cute puppy her owners fell in love with, will she be forgotten upon their death? Fortunately for Mabel, she was saved. Let’s face it - there is no protection from euthanasia for older dogs like Mabel once they are deserted. A few months without interest, sometimes a few days, and the older shelter dog becomes another heartbreaking statistic of pets who’ve outlived their cuddliness. As Tracey posted not so long ago, “Dogs die in kill shelters. Nice dogs. Young dogs. And even pure bred dogs. The dogs I foster come into my life and I put everything into finding them the best home. Not just for today but for ten years down the road until they die…If you are old and want a puppy please reconsider it unless you have a plan. Check out an age-appropriate dog for you.” At the very least, have a plan and make sure it’s one that we can ensure will be executed. Don’t assume your children won’t take your pet to a shelter. I bet this thought never crossed Mabel’s folks’ minds. What can be done? Put in place a simple estate plan with thoughtful provisions and parameters that are legally enforceable. If there’s anything I’ve learned as a lawyer, it’s that your loved ones often surprise you in death. The ones I heard would always do the right thing and are good kids have oftentimes acted in ways that would surprise and disappoint a parent. If you adore your pet and want to make sure that it is taken care of when you are no longer here or unable to provide the proper care, we can help you. We can draw up a plan to guarantee that your pet isn’t deserted and continues to receive the love that we all deserve. For more about Bridge to Home Animal Rescue, visit www. bridgetohome84.org. Pets should also be part of estate planning 20 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021y > Learning Curves Learning Curves SUBMITTED BY MIA A. KOVACS, CFP®, BILL FEW ASSOCIATES Mia A. Kovacs, CFP®, is a vice president and a financial consultant with Bill Few Associates. She can be reached at (412) 630-6041 or at mkovacs@billfew.com. Make financial planning part of your marriage Finances can be a source of conflict in a marriage, and for good reason. Money informs our lifestyle, funds our hopes and aspirations, and assists in caring for our loved ones. Disagreements over how we spend, save and borrow money are disagreements over how we are living today and how we see ourselves living in the future. Each individual brings to the marriage their own financial goals, values and habits. Getting these goals, values and habits to align is difficult. The first step is to start the conversation. Talk about what you value. These are the beliefs that inform your goals and explain your financial behavior. You may value family, financial security or simply living for today. Our values are often shaped by our upbringing and, without concerted effort, they change very little over time. Find what values you share. Set goals that are in line with your shared values. Goals are the execution of our values. They are specific plans that we mean to achieve and check off on our “to-do” lists. If you value family, one of your goals may be funding your child’s education. If you value financial security, you may set a specific emergency savings goal or a goal to obtain life insurance. With specific goals defined, you will need to assess your spending and savings habits. If your values and goals do not match up with your spending and savings habits, you may need some help to create new behaviors. To keep you on track, you can plan regular sit-downs with your spouse or engage with a financial planner. There is no “right” answer that will fit every couple. As individuals, we are unique and so are our marriages. Even though finances are one of the most common things couples fight about, there isn’t a common solution that fits all marriages. Consider working with a financial planner. Financial concerns and planning can become an emotional topic. A financial planner acts as a neutral party and is able to provide perspective. Furthermore, a financial planner can assist in identifying realistic goals based on shared values and available resources. Their knowledge can help you live happily ever after. June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 21June 2021 Milestone Anniversaries Welcome New Members! Berkshire Hathaway Home Services The Preferred Realty – The Gina Cuccaro Team Fox Pest Control-Pittsburgh Manning & Napier Momentum – The Business Growth Agency NaVoba Open Systems Pittsburgh Sani-Products Worldwide Inc. 25 years Moon Veterinary Hospital, PC 20 years Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. 15 years Partners for Quality Foundation, Inc. 10 years Honorable Mary P. Murray, Superior Court Judge Robinson Self Storage 5 years Wyndham Garden Pittsburgh Airport D&GG Marketing Communications and Advertising MediaQuest Key Leadership 850 Beaver Grade Rd. Suite 101 Moon Twp., PA 15108 412-264-6270 | paacc.com #PAACC Follow Us!! Plan Your Next Getaway! No membership required! For more information about any of our trips or to register, please call Michelle Kreutzer at 412-203-0257 or mkreutzer@paacc.com. Best of the AmalfiCoast & Rome Includes: RT Air from PIT, hotels, Meals, Day Trips, Local English Speaking Guides, Transportation, and so much more! March 15 - 22, 2022 | Early Bird Pricing- $3,199 Looking for Conference space? No Membership Required! The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce is offering conference space to accomodate up to 24 people. Ask us about our conference spaces that include: For more information or to book, please contact Michelle Kreutzer at info@paacc.com or 412-264-6270. •Free wifi •Free Parking •Free Room Setup •Projector/ Screenbeam for presentations •No Membership Required •Conference Phone •ADA Accessible •Caterer’s Kitchen •Dry Erase Board •Smoke-Free Facility 22 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021Chamber Link Chamber Link Between sky-rocketing drug prices, climbing copays and increasing deductibles, patients are paying more in out-of- pocket costs than ever before. As the burden of healthcare shifts to the consumer, over 250 million Americans - whether they are insured, under-insured or uninsured - are affected by the price of prescription medications in the U.S. every year. The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce has historically found ways to offer valuable cost-saving services to assist our members. Now, thanks to a new partnership with Clever RX, the chamber is offering a prescription drug cost-reduction program to anyone in the airport corridor who would like to utilize it. This free-of-charge plan was built to empower and engage healthcare professionals with the goal of driving down prescription drug costs, and it’s already making a difference. Clever RX is on a mission to increase patient prescription compliance, reduce claims and improve the overall health and wealth of Americans. It allows the user, regardless of health plan, to search for their prescription at the lowest price, the closest location, and/or at their preferred pharmacy. Clever RX CEO and founder Jim Prendergast says, “We are on a mission to educate the millions of Americans in need that there is a better, more affordable way to access your prescription medications. You aren’t stuck going to the same pharmacy and paying an outrageous price. You have options just by changing your consumer behavior.” To help get these prescription savings options into consumers’ hands, Clever RX offers its Clever RX app and website to users for free via partners throughout the U.S. With over 55,000 FDA-approved medications, of which 40% are under $10, the user simply searches for their prescription and shows the voucher to the pharmacist. Clever RX is accepted at over 80,000 pharmacies nationwide. The voucher can be shown directly in the app, texted to a phone, emailed, or printed. Beating the average health plan 80% of the time, consumers using Clever RX are saving thousands of dollars each year. Clever RX is also one of the very few pharmacy savings programs that aid in the nation’s fight against the opioid epidemic. Clever RX complies with the Drug Utilization Review for strict Opioid Safety edits. Clever RX and the PAACC believe in sharing the savings forward. This program can be shared with friends, family, and more. One share with three people can lead to another three people and, before you know it, they’ve reached over 250 million Americans in need. If you are interested in participating in this free-of-charge, non-insurance related program, call us at (412) 264-6270. We will be glad to send you a membership card today. What do you have to lose? New partnership passes along prescription drug savings to airport community BY CHRIS HECK, CEO, PAACC June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 23lLegislative Update Legislative Update State Rep. Valerie Gaydos When I first took office in early 2019, the economy was growing stronger and we were looking forward to a more prosperous future in Western Pennsylvania. Then came COVID-19 and many of our gains in recent years were wiped out. During the first few months of the new session, my House colleagues and I have prioritized economic growth and have introduced and/or passed several bills to not only reignite our economy but also allow Pennsylvania’s businesses to do what they do best: expand their products and services and create family-sustaining jobs. The following is legislation that I have introduced to help you and our economy: • Legislation that would help reduce prescription abandonment due to prescription prices. House Bill 882 would enable health care providers to share prescription alternatives and payment options with enrollees right in the doctor’s office. Essentially, it creates greater prescription drug price transparency. • The elimination of the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax, otherwise know as the “death tax,” would ensure that inheritance goes to the family or heir it was meant to go to. A goal of House Bill 1148 is to make sure that people who are successful in Pennsylvania remain in Pennsylvania! • Legislation that would reduce the size of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 203 to 151 members. House Bill 482 would increase the population size of the House districts by approximately one-third, bringing the ratio of constituents to lawmakers in Pennsylvania more in line with other states, streamlining the legislative process and saving taxpayers’ money. • Legislation to spur job creation and help ensure Pennsylvania is well-positioned as a global leader in scientific advances in manufacturing techniques. My legislation will incentivize collaboration between higher education and high-technology industries in the development of advanced manufacturing. I have advocated for the support of the Neighborhood 91 project, which will be built on a 195-acre site adjacent to the Pittsburgh International Airport. It is being called the first global epicenter for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The project will create nearly 6,000 jobs and generate nearly $2.2 billion in wages over the next decade. My legislation that would better protect the victims of human trafficking overwhelmingly passed the House. House Bill 1147 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. Programs that incorporate the risk-need-responsivity model are far more effective at reducing recidivism than those that do not. Research has shown mental health treatment to be vital for offenders of sexual crimes. We need 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. No one should have to experience the trauma these victims are going through every day. My bill is part of a package of bills that were advanced by the House this week. House Bill 1147 now moves on to the Senate for consideration. House approves my human trafficking legislation Imagine your website working as hard for your business as you do. 412.205.8998 | DDSWebDesign.com Websites that get results. Designed in Pittsburgh Contact us for a free website analysis. Affordable Custom Designs Responsive Sites | Content Management SEO | E-commerce | Hosting | Maintenance Restoring PA’s economy 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. 24 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021 June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 25Your SchoolsYour Schools N Archangel Gabriel Christian School Musical Magic On May 6, 7 and 8, over 40 students graced the stage with their rendition of “Seussical Jr.” The audience was overwhelmed with the talent, dedication and excitement that permeated the socially distanced gymnasium of the school. AGS is overwhelmingly blessed to have its building filled with families and faculty who are extremely giving of their time, talents and resources. A Cat’s Hat off to each and every person who made this possible. Eighth grade designs their own t-shirt Just as in years past, AGS eighth-graders once again designed their own graduating class t-shirt this year. The end of the year was difficult for these students as they were preparing to say “so long” to their close classmates who had been with them for the past decade. This tradition is not only fun but a memorable way to celebrate their classmates and achievements. Each member of the graduating class appeared on the shirt and they each wore them proudly during dress-down days at the end of the year. Let’s go fly a kite Students truly enjoyed the very first Archangel Gabriel Parish Kite Festival. Even the littlest of attendees participated by bringing their bubbles and adding to the fun. This family affair included people of all ages and kites of all sizes. Students who made their own kites were amazed as they flew them for the first time. Some had never even flown a kite before so this was a real treat. The event was made possible by Mrs. Ford, who worked with middle school students to make the beautiful kites. It was not only fun but also educational. STEM spaghetti challenge Fourth-graders took on a very delicate challenge when they were tasked with building the largest structure possible, at their desks, using only marshmallows and raw spaghetti. The limited resources proved to be no problem, however, as students built seemingly impossible structures with precision, patience and care. There are certainly some future engineers among these fourth-graders. FLUOR engineering challenge Sixth- and seventh-graders were tasked with building towers using only 30 sheets of paper or less and one roll of tape for the FLUOR Engineering Challenge. Their towers also had to hold a can of vegetables for 60 seconds. Brayden Douglass built the tallest tower, at 83 centimeters, out of both classes this year. Earth Day School, students and faculty celebrated Earth Day by decorating hallways with creative projects that taught students about the planet and how to respect it. Preschoolers recycled paper towel tubes and made bird feeders while community helper and friend Miss Gabi joined through ZOOM from the Robinson Library to share some special Earth Day stories. Second-graders were challenged with creating something unique out of all recycled material. A number of these projects can be viewed on the school’s Facebook page. STORIES AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED AGS students perform “Seussical Jr.” AGS eighth-graders proudly wear the t-shirt they designed for their class. AGS students show off the kites they made for the school’s first kite festival. Fourth-graders (above) were tasked with an engineering challenge in which they had to use spaghetti noodles while seventh- and eighth-graders faced off in a tower-making competition (below). Some AGS students created animal reports for their Earth Day projects. 26 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021N Your Schools Your Schools Parkway West Career and Technology Center STORY AND PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY Cabot donation to help PWCTC purchase new equipment Representatives from Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation presented Parkway West Career and Technology Center with a check for $35,000 on April 29. According to Bill desRosiers, Cabot’s manager of external affairs, the money comes from Cabot’s participation in the Pennsylvania EITC - or Educational Improvement Tax Credit - Program. The program awards companies with a tax credit in exchange for donations to a scholarship organization, an educational improvement organization or a pre-K scholarship organization. DesRosiers said that PWCTC is one of 26 career and technology centers in the state that Cabot supports through the program. “We target career and technology centers because of our industry, what we do, trying to build a workforce of tomorrow,” said desRosiers. “We also find that genuinely there are people who want to better themselves with a career or trade and sometimes there are additional out-of-pocket expenses to attend a career and technology center as opposed to a traditional high school environment.” DesRosiers says the funds can help cover tuition costs, school- related fees or purchase equipment. The money Cabot donates, including funds donated to PWCTC, do not have to support students studying in a gas and oil-related field, he said. Rather, funds can be used across PWCTC’s course offerings, from cosmetology to carpentry. In PWCTC’s case, the money will assist the Graphic Arts & Production Technology Program. “Thanks to Cabot’s continued generosity to strengthen career and technical education at Parkway West, our Graphic Arts & Production Technology Program will be receiving a state of the art laser engraver, which will permit students to obtain real world work experiences while still in a non-threatening learning environment,” said Dr. Darby Copeland, PWCTC executive director. George Stark, Cabot director of external affairs, said this is the fourth year that Cabot has donated to PWCTC and the 11th that it has participated in the EITC program. The amount presented to PWCTC on April 29 represented two years’ worth of contributions through the program. PWCTC serves 12 public high schools across the area, including West Allegheny. Students who graduate can either enter directly into the workforce or continue to pursue their education at a post- secondary school. Among those who attended the check presentation was state Sen. Devlin Robinson, who voiced support for educating students about the trades. He said schools such as PWCTC that train students in the trades provide a career pathway without the burden of significant student debt. “I’m a big proponent of trade schools and trade careers,” said Robinson. “I think that teaching kids that there are other options than college and a lifetime of debt is a good thing. They can be trained here and come out and get a good-paying job.” Representatives from Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation present a check to Parkway West Career and Technology Center on April 29. Pictured are George Stark, Cabot director of external affairs; state Sen. Devlin Robinson; Brock Snedeker, PWCTC assistant director and principal; Dr. Darby Copeland, PWCTC executive director; Natalie DeCario, Cabot external affairs coordinator; and Bill desRosiers, Cabot manager of external affairs. June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 2728 • Allegheny West Magazine • June/July 2021College in high school programs expand to include Robert Morris University West Allegheny is excited to partner with Robert Morris University to offer an amazing opportunity for students who want to become teachers. Through the new partnership, students at the high school will be able to complete seven college education courses before earning their high school diploma. As part of the District’s RMU Early College in High School Academy, West Allegheny students would pay only $250 for each course. That would provide students with a total savings of approximately $22,000 if they elect to take all seven courses. Those classes, which equal 21 college credits, represent nearly an entire year’s worth of required courses for students who want to become early childhood or K-12 teachers. The courses are part of RMU’s education curriculum, but will be taught by West Allegheny High School teachers. Students enrolled in the program get practical experience through the high school’s on-site preschool. The District has a similar partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County, in which students can earn up to 24 credits in general core courses, including math, science and history. Those credits can transfer directly to RMU, so a student who completes both programs would enter Robert Morris with 45 college credits. “We are incredibly excited to enter into the Early Childhood Education partnership with RMU as part of West Allegheny’s Early College in High School Academy,” said Dr. Jerri Lynn Lippert, superintendent of the West Allegheny School District. “Our students will have a tremendous benefit to start college early and build their collegiate transcript, ensuring they are prepared to persist, while still in high school and at a significant cost savings. We are extremely appreciative to be able to partner with such a distinguished university.” In addition to West Allegheny’s ECIHSA partnerships with RMU and CCAC, the District has also established a partnership with Pittsburgh Technical College in its effort to remove barriers for all students to pursue their career of choice. “This is a tremendous opportunity for West Allegheny students to get real-world teaching experience while completing a substantial portion of their college coursework,” said Mark Meyers, dean of the RMU School of Nursing, Education and Human Studies. “West Allegheny is providing a great service to its students, and we anticipate other school districts will want to follow their example.” June/July 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 29Next >