 On
My Mind
Developing a Sense of
Permanence
We were grateful to have recently been
invited to a South Hills Chamber of
Commerce luncheon and to have the
opportunity to hear Dr. Scott Finnell,
CEO of Pressley Ridge give an account of
its mission. Pressley Ridge is a care
community serving the needs of troubled
children in residential settings from
Kentucky to Washington, D.C.
In Western Pennsylvania, Pressley
Ridge has a 175-year history of providing
treatment, foster care, community-based
residential and educational services in
Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Washington
and Greene counties. Whether working
with a family at a home visit, picking up a
child who missed the school bus, calling a
“huddle” at camp, or going to court to
advocate for a child, the staff of Pressley
Ridge has one goal in mind: to meet the
needs of the kids and families they serve.
The sense of permanence of such
institutions serves to inspire all businesses
to persevere and succeed. As you will
notice in our story on local developments
planned and projected, you’ll realize
that South Fayette is becoming something
of a hot location for the developers of
residential, light industrial, professional,
and retail projects. There’s even a
hotel or two planned for the area. Are
we witnessing the beginning of that
same type of permanence, perseverance
and persistence that makes a community
strong?
That same emotional investment
underpins the motivations people have for
remodeling their houses. People undertake
renovations for any number of reasons. To
increase the value with a view to selling, to
upgrade amenities to bring them up to
modern standards, even to enlarge the
house and make it more stylish. Others
look for ways to dramatically open up the
existing space, perhaps with a sweeping
skylight. But what most homeowners want
is simply to make their house more
comfortable, more livable.
In our special section on home
remodeling, we discuss some of the
options available to homeowners today.
The advantage for our readers is that we
have many experienced interior designers
and contractors available locally. These
professionals offer the entire gamut of
services homeowners would need to
renovate, upgrade, enlarge and remodel.
Whether you need to extend a great room,
restyle a bathroom, or finance an addition,
you’ll easily find an area professional to
accommodate your needs.
Another kind of professional is our
choice for this issue’s focus on “Successful
Women of the South Hills.” Kathleen
Refosco is an accomplished food designer.
She can take an uncooked turkey and in
20 minutes turn it into a vision of
Thanksgiving perfection. Kathleen
discusses the
secrets of a
successful food
stylist and talks
about how she
juggles all of the
demands on her
time, including
until a few years
ago having to nurse
a husband with
Lou Gehrig’s disease.
South Fayette Source is a magazine
that caters to a wide variety of interests
and needs. But its success ultimately
depends on our readers. Keep letting us
know whether we’re doing a good job or
not. Compliments, criticisms and
comments keep our editors on their toes.
And speaking of our editors we want
to reintroduce our Managing Editor,
Martin Schultz. Martin brings years of
writing and editing experience to the task
of managing the editorial department, and
perhaps he is our silent hero, as he is
responsible for directing the content of
our magazines.
Please keep letting us know what you
think of each issue.
— M.C. and Brian McKee, Publishers
|
 Home Remodeling 2008
As savvy homeowners remodel, they are doing so with an eye to the future.
Cover
Focus
With its Asian-influenced wall and window treatments, this
bathroom melds a contemporary and futuristic design comfort
and simplicity of line. Courtesy of the Kohler Co.
|
 Successful Women of the South Hills
How Kathleen Refosco has built a career out of creating inedible mirages
SF Basketball
No failure in trying
Serious Business
South Fayette has become one of Pittsburgh’s
hottest commercial development locations
Pucker the Polka Man
His foot-stomping playing has brought smiles
to generations of East European immigrants
Whatever Happened to
High-School Wrestling?
SF senior
Tammy Veneski finds that bowling success comes naturally
|
Message From the Superintendent
Footloose
 Think Spring with NJAHS
Student News
High School Student Makes
CCAC Dean's List
|
