Let’s face it, colonoscopies are a pain in the butt. Well, not really; the procedure itself takes place under sedation so you feel nothing during the examination. What is inconvenient about a colonoscopy is the prep work. The idea of drinking an unappealing liquid that induces diarrhea, something we spend the rest of our lives trying to avoid, all so that someone can thread a
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For the past few years in February (Dental Health Awareness Month) my staff and I head out to local schools to speak to first graders about dental health. We go over brushing and flossing, review what goes on at a typical dental office appointment, talk about how we prevent the spread of germs, and discuss healthy eating. After our little presentation we always leave time
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What is the state of Pittsburgh’s health? Not the city itself, but our residents. How healthy are Pittsburghers? According to Bert Sperling’s Best Places website, Pittsburgh ranks 22 out of the U.S.’s top 50 most populous cities in health. Each city was evaluated on several criteria including Mental Health, Lifestyle, Activity, Health Status, and Nutrition. Mental Health evaluated aspects such as stress level, sleep issues,
Read the Full Article →This post is written by Summer Tissue, the founder of Military Connections, a non-profit corporation that sends equipment, care packages, and supplies to military personnel stationed overseas. We have been shipping boxes since 2003 and celebrated our 9th anniversary in July. We are registered as a 501 (c) (3) with the IRS so that all donations are tax deductible. History of Military Connections I started
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McMutrie Sisters There are two kinds of people in the world: those who when they see a need, talk about doing something to satisfy it, and those who roll up their sleeves and actually get to work. Pittsburgh sisters Jamie and Ali McMutrie are of the latter stock. For nearly 14 years, the McMutries, who hail from Ben Avon, have been working in Haiti to
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I didn’t grow up under a roller coaster, like Woody Allen’s character Alvy Singer in the movie Annie Hall, but I did grow up very close to one. I grew up in West View, the home of West View Amusement Park. I was a kid in the 1960’s and 1970’s, right before the park went into decline and closed. But even in its waning days,
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From Poorhouse To Golfer’s Paradise: The Transformation of Woodville All that remains is a makeshift cemetery. The graves are abandoned, smothered by weeds and brush in summer, and buried by snow during winter. Tucked away in transitional space between one of Pittsburgh’s most upscale housing developments and the commercial/industrial area that supports it, there is one major gravestone, marking and commemorating the institution for what
Read the Full Article →The most striking aspect of the Flight 93 Memorial is how isolated and hauntingly quiet the crash site is. The stillness almost has a physical presence. Located 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Stonycreek Township, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the memorial is an easy day trip from the city, and one that packs a profound emotional experience. The memorial is 20 miles from Exit 110, the
Read the Full Article →I’ve always enjoyed my neighborhood. A few years ago, I began to notice many improvements within the area, and realized that the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation was largely behind them. The BHCF has impacted Brighton Heights in the same way that other good civic organizations have added value to the neighborhoods they represent. I decided to attend one of their monthly meetings to show my
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There is a lot about Pittsburgh, PA, that no one would guess is true. Who could imagine that a city in southwestern Pennsylvania would be such a key to the waterways of the nation? Or that Pittsburgh is home to the oldest cable car operation, even predating San Francisco’s famous cable cars? Yet both of these pieces of Pittsburgh trivia are true! Pittsburgh holds the
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