South Hills Living - Aug. 30, 2024 by SWPA Special Publications

Check out what’s on tap at select area breweries

Scheuermann’s Disease Fund headquartered in Peters Township

TaTa-Toos helps restore confidence for cancer patients and more

TaTa-Toos helps give cancer patients and more back their confidence

Rare spinal disease fund preparing for annual fall fundraiser

from the editor

Pour tour: South Hills breweries gearing up for fall season

Reflecting on a year

As I sit down to write this column, the only thing that comes to mind is what’s happening in my life. I lost my mom in August 2023, so as I write this letter, we’ve just crossed the year anniversary without her. I’m feeling quite sentimental, so if you would, please give me a moment to honor her memory. Last year, as I approached my first holiday season without my life’s magic maker, my dear mother, who kept my spirits bright, I reflected on love and loss when you’re accustomed to creating memories with your family. I’d love to share a little of that with you now.

I’ve written a lot about grief since I lost both of my parents within six years, with a healthy dose of the COVID pandemic in between. Sadness has touched much of my 20s, but I try my hardest to stay resilient, optimistic and thankful. So, in the midst of mourning my mother, I hope you will give me just a little bit of space to honor her and recount to you my thoughts on moving forward without the ones you love.

Grief and morning are like the ocean. At first, you’re out so far that the waves crash over you constantly. You feel overwhelmed by their intensity. Breathing is challenging as another forceful wave knocks you back. You think, can I make it through this? Am I strong enough to go on? As time marches forward, you get closer and closer to the shore. The sandy beach is now in sight, but the waves keep coming.

Now, they sneak up behind you when you’ve let your guard down, when you least expect it. They still overwhelm you with their power. Eventually, you crawl to the shore, spent and exhausted. The waves always come, but now you’re equipped to handle them. You have tools, and you can even, sometimes, see them coming. Others are with you on the beach to hold your hand or simply be with you, experiencing the sadness lapping at your toes.

I share this with you not because I don’t think you’ve experienced loss. I know we’ve been through some tough times. I’m sharing this so you feel less alone. Grief can be all-encompassing and isolating. If you’re like me and you’re missing the ones you love, there’s no making the hurt go away. You learn to live with and appreciate it because if you stop hurting, you stop remembering.

Thank you for reading this vulnerable editor’s letter. I’m wishing you and yours love and light.

As always, if you have a story idea, please reach out. Email me at tthurston@observer-reporter. com, or give me a call at 724-222-2200 ext. 2421. Take care, stay safe and see you in the next edition.

on the cover

Courtesy of Andrew Marcus

TaTa-Toos helps give cancer patients and more back their confidence

By Michele Gillis All photos courtesy of TaTa-Toos

Many women experience a myriad of emotions following cancer treatments, especially if that treatment requires surgery like a mastectomy. Losing hair, eyebrows or parts of the breasts can leave patients feeling less attractive and very vulnerable.

TaTa-Toos, a cosmetic and paramedical tattoo studio in McMurray, is dedicated to aiding women to regain what may have been lost due to illness so they can move forward confidently.

Andrea Tomko, owner of TaTa-Toos, is a permanent makeup and paramedical tattoo master artist, custom blend makeup expert, airbrush tanning provider and cosmetologist who has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years.

What prompted her to open her studio was having a firsthand experience with her cousin and knowing she could help others with her skills.

Tomko’s cousin, Diane DonGiovanni, showed her how her areola and nipple tattoo looked after reconstruction following her double mastectomy, and Tomko was not pleased at all.

When Tomko lived in Texas, she learned different permanent tattooing techniques and was introduced to nipple and areola tattooing.

“It really didn’t resonate until it hit home when my cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Tomko. “At the time, she had lived in Arizona, and the tattooing that she received from the physician’s office was not acceptable in my opinion. I just knew that so much better could be done.”

So, she fixed the tattoo with her 3D tattoo skills, and DonGiovanni is a walking billboard for her talent.

“Now she is the one who walks around my studio flashing people all the time,” laughed Tomko.

DonGiovanni said she and her husband were thrilled at the results.

“My husband and I were both like, ‘Oh my god,’” said DonGiovanni. “He’s like, ‘Are you sure those aren’t real?’ And

From left, Diane DonGiovanni, Andrea Tomko and Kim Kimmel participate in trade shows to tell people about TaTa-Toos

that was just amazing to me. I showed somebody else, and they said, ‘Can I touch that?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah!’ You know, to me, it’s art. It’s what it is right now. And she’s right, I do flash her clients.”

Tomko opened her studio in 2018, and DonGiovanni is right there beside her as the office manager.

TaTa-Toos helps women and men during or after cancer, with alopecia or other ailments, by providing services like tattooing eyebrows or nipples after breast mastectomy or reconstruction, scar camouflage and more. They have even started creating nipple prosthetics and have about 15 sizes available so customers can choose what size, color and protrusion they are looking for if they didn’t come in before surgery to have a personalized prosthetic nipple made.

“I am a breast cancer survivor,” said Judith Davis. “I walked into this place and immediately felt the warmth and care. It’s beautiful, very clean and cozy. Andrea is a beautiful, caring and talented lady. She did a beautiful job on my areola and nipples. When it was time for the reveal, I gasped and cried so hard when I saw myself. Finally, my breast was complete. I recommend this place to anyone who wants or needs to get work done in the areas of their specialty.”

Cancer patients must come in before or after treatment if they want to get their eyebrows tattooed because they can’t have any services during treatment.

Tomko also suggested customers come to the studio prior to their mastectomy and have a mold of their nipple made so that when they come in for their tattoo after all the treatments and surgeries are complete, they will have the prosthetic ready to apply after the tattoo is completed or before.

“They can start wearing their prosthetic even while they’re going through their reconstruction, so as long as their incisions are healed,” said Tomko. “So, for instance, if someone

had to put an expander in to stretch their area where they’re going to have an implant, they can already start wearing the prosthetic even during the stretching.”

The prosthetic is topical, so customers can apply it, remove it, and wear it as often or as little as they want.

DonGiovanni said the nipple prosthetics made her feel whole again, even 12 years after her surgery.

“You know, just watching people come in here and the results of what she’s doing is just amazing, right?” she said. “I don’t want to say I envy them, but I know what they go through because I’ve been there firsthand. And I’m like, I cry with them when they’re so happy with the results of their areolas. And I can only imagine how they’re going to feel when she starts with these prosthetics.”

Tomko said customers can swim and shower while wearing the prosthetics, which enhances the overall experience.

TaTa-Toos also does nipple tattoos for men

Eyeliner tattoo

Some stomach surgeries can affect or even remove the belly button, but TaTa-Toos can do a 3D tattoo to reconstruct it.

“They’re about a ten-day wear,” said Tomko. “You work it off, clean the prosthetic, clean your skin, reapply the adhesive and put the prosthetic back on. So if you treat the prosthetic right, it should last you years.”

Janice, a customer of TaTa-Toos, said that Tomko has given her the gift of confidence.

“After winning my battle with breast cancer, there were battle wounds inside and out,” said Janice. “Andrea helped with normalizing my side effects and healing. Her compassion and commitment to her clients is that of a true healer.”

After opening the studio, she realized she could help many others in addition to cancer patients.

“I realized the need to help others as well,” said Tomko. “So people who have had breast reductions, the transgender community with top surgeries and feminization, they also need it. The scar camouflaging for anyone who’s had any surgery, even just personal harm scars, things like that. So I took it to a whole other level with the cosmetic and paramedical tattooing.”

Tomko doesn’t do traditional tattoos, such as butterflies, hearts or other decorations. She can, but she doesn’t.

“I’ve kept it more to the need for people to help with personal issues like that,” said Tomko.

In addition to helping cancer patients restore their eyebrows or nipple appearance, TaTa-Toos also does permanent brows, lip blushing, lip liner, eyeliner, scar camouflage, 3D belly buttons, saline tattoo lightening and airbrush tanning.

“I went to Andrea yesterday for powder brows and could not be happier with the overall experience and outcome,” said Erin Prindle. “She is truly amazing and I would without a doubt recommend TaTa-Toos without any hesitation and will continue going there for any of my cosmetic needs.”

Tomko explained that permanent makeup can be helpful for people with macular degeneration or multiple sclerosis, who can find applying makeup difficult, or for people who just want their mornings to go smoother.

The tattoos and prosthetics are covered by insurance, and TaTa-Toos is a provider. Tomko can give customers the proper codes to turn them in to the insurance company for reimbursement.

Tomko and DonGiovanni are very involved in the community. They attend cancer support groups in person and online to let people know that they are there and what they have available.

TaTa-Toos is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. TaTa-Toos is located at 4000 Washington Road in McMurray in the Lake View Square plaza. Visit tata-toos.com for more information.

Rare spinal disease fund preparing for annual fall fundraiser

By April Barbe

Scheuermann’s Disease is a rare spinal disease and deformity that affects two to eight percent of the population and can cause other health issues if not detected early enough, according to Doug Strott, founder of the Scheuermann’s Disease Fund.

“When my spine failed at the age of 45 after requiring five spinal fusion surgeries in a 3-year period due to Scheuermann’s, I started to research the disease that almost took my life and took away my career,” Strott said. “But in doing so, I found out pretty quickly that there was virtually no information available about Scheuermann’s on the internet.”

Strott said he decided to begin a blog documenting his life and surgeries, and he was inundated with questions from around the world. He quickly realized a “desperate need for information and research.”

His friends with the Baldwin High School Class of 1983 donated $700 to help him start the disease fund in Peters Township.

“I run the charity throughout the year and have a host of volunteers that help with our annual fall fundraiser,” Strott said.

The 2024 Fundraiser for the fund will be held at The Alpine Club Hunting and Fishing Club, 220 Alpine Road, Bridgeville, from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.

Tickets are $20 per person, and free admission is available for children younger than 12. It will include a food buffet, cash bar, live music, a Chinese auction of baskets, gift cards

and other fun items, a caricature artist, two 50/50 drawings and a silent auction.

“It really is a good time and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” Strott said.

Free spinal screenings will also be available. To donate, get tickets or for more information, visit sdfund.org or contact Strott at [email protected].

Strott said that in the past 11 years, the charity has helped people from over 50 countries. The organization has also helped people set up Scheuermann’s patient groups on Facebook to allow them to talk to others going through the same experiences.

“It is so important that you know you are not alone when your life is turned up side down by a diagnosis or that of your child. Having a positive support group can mean all the difference in the world. We now have approximately 13,000 people in the patient groups.” Strott said.

He said the charity’s goals are to improve the public’s awareness and recognition, improve early detection in adolescents and work with the medical community to understand better the impact that Scheuermann’s can have on a person’s quality of life as they age.

“There is a huge need for research, particularly longterm research studies on how this disease can affect adults,” Strott said.

All photos courtesy of Doug Strott

Scheuermann’s is a form of kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann’s kyphosis. It occurs in children during adolescence (many times during a growth spurt, but not always), and the actual cause is not known, Strott said.

He added that most people are familiar with scoliosis, another spinal malalignment when the spine has a side-to-side “S” curve. Kyphosis is when the spine curves front to back as a “C” curve. When you see a person with an accentuated curvature of their back, or “hunched back,” that is usually a form of kyphosis (either postural kyphosis or Scheuermann’s).

However, Scheuermann’s differs from scoliosis and postural kyphosis because it causes physiological changes to a person’s body. These changes occur in adolescence and become permanent when the person’s bones stop growing.

“That is why early detection is so important. If left untreated, Scheuermann’s may lead to significant health complications later in life and cause damage to the spine,” Strott said. He said sometimes physiological changes can also affect those afflicted.

“Once the person’s bones stop growing, those physiological changes become permanent, and those treatments are no longer an option. The only proven treatment then becomes spinal fusion surgery for those suffering from significant pain and/or severe curvatures. This is the reason that early detection is of utmost importance and why the charity fights for adding kyphosis to school spinal screenings when possible,” Strott said.

According to Strott, school nurses stopped performing spinal screenings in 2015, citing time management. The decision was made by the United States Preventative Services Task Force.

“Many spine organizations wrote to try and change the decision. One group actually performed a research study proving the effectiveness of early detection and spinal screenings in schools, but the decision stayed. School nurses were given the goal of reducing childhood obesity, which is a problem. But school spinal screenings take up so little time and are extremely important, too,” Strott said.

Now, state officials determine spinal screenings in schools, and many states no longer require them. Strott said the fear is that many people are now being diagnosed later in life, making treatments more invasive and more difficult. According to the National Scolious Foundation, Pennsylvania performs screenings in sixth and seventh grades.

“It is important that not only parents, but teachers and coaches and mentors know the signs of Scheuermann’s. If you see a child, as early as 7 or 8 years old, and they are slouching and you continue to ask them to sit up straight, and they respond with, ‘I am,’ or ‘I can’t, it hurts,’ Immediately take them to a doctor for an x-ray. That is the only way Scheuermann’s can be diagnosed. In fact, my high school track coach caught my Scheuermann’s at 17,” Strott added.

To help those concerned find experienced spine doctors, the Scheuermann’s Disease Fund has collected information about doctors and provided a database on its website. Each doctor in the database has been referred by someone with Scheuermann’s Disease, or the physician is a member of the group’s medical advisory board or research initiative.

The charity also sends out free care packages, including a shirt, wristbands, pamphlets, pens and a purple Higgy Bear, a nonprofit whose proceeds help kids with scoliosis.

The Scheuermann’s Disease Fund relies entirely on volunteers to operate. Donations can be made at sdfund.org.

Doug Strott founded the Scheuermann’s Disease Fund in Peters Township

SOUTH HILLS LIVING

Pour tour: South Hills breweries gearing up for fall season

By Trista Thurston All photos courtesy of East End Brewing Company

As soon as the calendar turned to August, it seems the big box stores got the memo to get out the Halloween (and even, in some cases, winter holiday) decorations. But for those who look forward to the Oktoberfest and pumpkin-flavored beers, this time of year is also when we begin to see these releases ahead of the fall season.

Below is a roundup of some local South Hills craft breweries’ offerings in hopes it inspires you to check one out. By no means is this list exhaustive, so be sure to check with your favorite locations to see what they’re pouring.

BACK ALLEY BREWING COMPANY

Located in Dormont, this brewery was started by a longtime group of friends after a decade of homebrewing. Perhaps try the Brewed Awakening Blonde Coffee Stout, a blonde ale with coffee, chocolate and vanilla, which is available while supplies last. Happy hour is every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, where all their pints are just $5.

Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

Location: 2975 W. Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh

EAST END BREWING COMPANY

East End was one of the city’s pioneering craft brewers when it launched in 2004. The Mount Lebanon taproom is open five days a week. With over 50 beers, including an ongoing “You Are Here” series of beers brewed for each of the city’s 90 neighborhoods, there’s bound to be something for every beer drinker on tap. They’re up for a USA Today Top 10 Fall Seasonal Beer Reader’s Choice award for the Big Hop Harvest, a seasonal wet-hopped ale brewed with local hops and a fiery orange color, making it perfect for fall sipping. Voting ends Sept. 9.

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 2-10 p.m. and Sunday, 2-8 p.m.

Location: 651 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon

HEADLEY’S BREWING

Two IT professionals met at an industry event; one tried the other’s beer, and the rest was Headley’s Brewing, which calls itself a nano-brewery with events like trivia and Dungeons and Dragons nights.

Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 4:30-9 p.m.; Friday, 4-9 p.m. and Saturday, 2-9:30 p.m.

Location: 1743 E. Railroad St., Heidelberg

HELICON BREWING

Nestled along the Panhandle Trail, Helicon Brewing has a tasting room and a large selection of pinball machines and hosts pinball tournaments. Their upcoming brews include Festbier lager, oatmeal stout, Dunkel lager and Slovenian pils.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: 102 Union Ave., Oakdale

HITCHHIKER BREWING COMPANY

Mount Lebanon is home to the original Hitchhiker location, but the operation has expanded, and the production facility is now located in Sharpsburg. Hitchhiker boasts an extensive list of brews, and the sleek label invites you to “pick up a hitchhiker.”

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

Location: 190 Castle Shannon Blvd., Pittsburgh

SPOONWOOD BREWING CO.

Spoonwood is a common name for mountain laurel, the state flower. The Bethel Park brewery has 22 taps, a scratch menu and a large outdoor area.

Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Location: 5981 Baptist Road, Pittsburgh

TRUSS BREWING COMPANY

Truss is a unique nano-brewery: walk up to the counter and carry out beer or wood-fired eats. There are a few tables on the front porch or picnic tables in the back with a space for comedians and live music. You can also bring your own chair. The menu includes seltzers, a peach cider and more.

Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Location: 42 Old Clairton Road, Pittsburgh

Note: All information was accurate at the time of publication and collected via the breweries’ websites and social media pages, with help from the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild.

SpringHouse Creamery, Eatery, Country Store and Catering opened in 1975 on the Minor family’s dairy working farm in Eighty-Four. In our old-fashioned country story, you can enjoy family-recipe meals, goodies in our from-scratch bakery, a smokehouse for old-fashioned hickory smoked hams, classy catering, ice cream concoctions galore and, of course, farm fresh milk and famous rich chocolate milk.

1531 Route 136 Washington 724.228.3339

springhousemarket.com

At CRUST! Café and Pizzeria we pay attention to quality and that starts with the dough. Our mission at CRUST! Café and Pizzeria is to give you the freshest product, made with the best ingredients, prepared by people who care.

A Pittsburgh family tradition since 1958. Our dough is homemade from scratch, our sauce is slow cooked from Italian tomatoes, our signature cheeses are hand grated daily... just as John Mineo did in 1958. We believe never change a great family recipe.