Save the Date! – 13th Annual FontanaFest

I’m pleased to announce that the 13th Annual FontanaFest will once again be held at Highmark Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds!  Save the date – Saturday, August 19 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Once again, parking will be free in the stadium’s West Lot, compliments of Forest City! 

The annual community event is perfect for families and children, promoting healthy and active lifestyles by providing many fun activities and crafts.  Children will also have the chance to play on several inflatables, an obstacle course, and a climbing wall.  All attendees also are provided with the opportunity to engage with several organizations from around the region and receive important information on available services and programs, nutrition, health care, jobs and jobs training. 

Stay tuned throughout the summer for updates on the schedule of events, participants, and more!

Summer Food Program for Children

Children ages 18 and younger can participate in the Allegheny County Summer Food program beginning this month.  Summer Food will run in over 80 locations in Allegheny County through August.  At these locations, which will be announced soon, children can receive a free breakfast and lunch during the summer recess from school.  For more information on the program, including information on locations and times, please call the Allegheny County Department of Human Services at 1-800-851-3838.

Safety on Amusement Park Rides, Attractions

The PA Department of Agriculture is reminding adventure and thrill seekers to have fun safely this summer at amusement parks and fairs throughout Pennsylvania.  The Department’s Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards registers more than 9,300 amusement rides and attractions, more than any other state or foreign country, and certifies and trains nearly 1,600 professional private industry inspectors across the state.  The Department has inspected and registered amusement rides under the Amusement Ride Safety Act since 1984 and regularly participates in education and outreach seminars that include classes and hands-on demonstrations for ride operators and inspectors.

Regulated rides include not only roller coasters, Ferris wheels and carousels, but also wave pools, water slides, inflatables, ropes courses, climbing walls, zip lines, trampoline parks and other facilities.

Below are ride safety tips offered by the Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards:

• Look for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania registration plate on rides and the public notice verifying a ride has been inspected according to PA Amusement Ride Safety Act standards.
• Before getting in line for the ride, check and follow boarding restrictions, including those for medical concerns, height and weight.
• Listen carefully to all instructions.  Operators are trained to keep riders safe.
• Make sure rider operators are alert.  Never board a ride if the operator appears to be inattentive.
• Keep your arms, hands, feet and legs inside rides at all times.  Always remain on a ride until it comes to a complete stop.
• Use shoulder harnesses, seat belts, lap bars or chains appropriately.
• Stop riding before you get tired. Tired riders are more likely to be injured than alert riders.
• Stay hydrated. Not drinking enough water can increase your risk of injury or illness.

More information on amusement ride and attractions inspections, and the ability to search an online inspection database is available at www.RideSafe.pa.gov.

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

I want to remind qualifying seniors in Allegheny County that they will soon be able to pick up vouchers for locally grown fruits and vegetables.  The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is a federal program that is administered at the state level by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  This program attempts to provide seniors who are nutritionally at risk a means to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from approved Pennsylvania farmers.

The program provides recipients with four $5 voucher checks for a total year benefit of $20 to redeem at qualified farmers’ markets.  Checks may be spent through Nov. 30 on produce that is grown in Pennsylvania or purchased directly from a Pennsylvania farmer.

Some examples of produce that may be purchased under the vouchers are apples, beans, berries, carrots, grapes, melons, spinach and tomatoes.  Customers must spend the entire $5 check and change will not be given.

The distribution of voucher checks will take place next Tuesday, June 13 at senior centers throughout Allegheny County.  Checks are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Seniors are asked to bring identification showing proof of age and residency to the distribution site.

To be eligible, individuals must be an Allegheny County resident who will be 60 years old by December 31, 2017.  The income limit for a one-person household is $22,311 and is $30,044 for a two-person household.  Married couples may each receive one set of checks.  If an eligible consumer requires a proxy to receive their checks, the proxy is responsible for signing for and spending the checks for the individual.  All individuals must completely fill out a proxy form in order to have a proxy receive checks for them. 

For a complete listing of voucher check distribution locations and times, or to download a proxy form, please visit the Allegheny County Department of Human Services website at http://www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/olderadults.aspx.  A listing of distribution sites, farmers’ market locations and proxy forms can also be picked up in my district offices.  Anyone with questions on the program can also call the Allegheny County SeniorLine at 412-350-5460.

Tax Amnesty Program

I want to remind everyone again of the Pennsylvania Tax Amnesty program. This program was authorized by Act 84 of 2016.  The PA Tax Amnesty program represents a limited opportunity for individuals and businesses to pay past-due taxes with all penalties and half of the interest waived.  The program opened on April 21 and will close on June 19.

Individuals and businesses with unfiled or unpaid Pennsylvania taxes due as of the end of 2015 are generally eligible for the Tax Amnesty program.  Delinquent taxpayers known to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue will receive a written notice by mail informing them of tax delinquencies and the availability of the PA Tax Amnesty program.  Those who are eligible but do not take advantage of the Tax Amnesty program will receive a five percent penalty on amnesty eligible liabilities that remain unpaid after June 19.

While tax amnesty is an incentive for individuals who are delinquent on their taxes to pay immediately, they will still pay more than if they paid their taxes on time.

There are currently 862,598 taxpayers eligible for the program with more than 680,000 from Pennsylvania.  There are nearly 60,000 delinquent taxpayers in Allegheny County.

Anyone interested in applying or learning more can call 1-844-PA-STATE-TAX (1-844-727-8283).  You can also apply online at www.backtax.pa.gov and click on the “Apply Now” tab.  Applications must be submitted by June 19.

Connecting in Station Square – Workshops Tomorrow!

The public is invited to join the Port Authority of Allegheny County for a Station Area planning workshop tomorrow.  Station Square is a multimodal transit facility where buses, light rail (the T), and the Monongahela Incline all come together to provide people with options and connections.  The Port Authority is creating a plan for this area that will include recommendations for how to make the area safer, easier to use, and more attractive.

Part of creating this plan is talking to people who have an interest in the area, including nearby residents, business and property owners.  To involve those stakeholders, the Port Authority’s planning team is holding workshops that are open to public participation on:

            Wednesday, June 7
            Sheraton Station Square, Woodlawn Room
            Session 1: 9 – 10:30 a.m. or Session 2: 6:30 – 8 p.m. (choose one)

For questions, and to confirm your attendance, please contact Karen Brean at Brean Associates by phone at 412-977-0271 or email at karen@breanassociates.com.

Bellevue Borough Celebrating 150 Years

Bellevue Borough is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2017!  This weekend, from June 8-11, the community is welcome to attend a celebration of Bellevue that will include a Fireman’s Parade, carnival, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and much more. For a complete schedule of events for the weekend, please visit http://www.bonafidebellevue.com/ or click here.

Fontana Fact

Pennsylvania became the first large state to mandate recycling for its residents in 1988. Today, about 94 percent of the state's residents have access to recycling. Most participate in the more than 1,000 curbside recycling programs for items like paper and plastic, while drop-off containers exist in rural areas, according to the PA Department of Environmental Protection.

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