Allegheny River Green Boulevard
Today’s Opportunity, Tomorrow’s Destination
The Allegheny River Green Boulevard is moving from a vision to a plan - and we want your input! The Green Boulevard seeks to transform the industrial rail line and waterfront barriers in Lawrenceville and the Strip District into a multi-modal green corridor where development and the landscape interact in a positive and accessible way. The year-long planning project’s first public meeting is November 17th from 6-8pm at the Society for Contemporary Craft at 2100 Smallman St in the Strip District.
At the meeting we will have a special guest speaker from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and we’ll be reviewing the vision plan outcomes and introducing new ideas for open space, land use/housing and transportation. Find out more at www.greenboulevardpgh.com!
Message from Senator Ferlo: Putting the Care Back in Healthcare-Town Hall Meeting
My office has fielded a number of calls and emails from people with serious concerns and questions regarding the current conflict between Highmark, Inc. (Highmark) and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Many are worried about where they will turn for health coverage and care if Highmark and UPMC do not reach an agreement.
Highmark is the dominant health insurance provider in Allegheny County and UPMC is the dominant health care provider. If the two do not come to an agreement, it could be disastrous for health care consumers and employers in our region. Patients’ access to healthcare should not be the rope in this tug of war.
As a core value, I believe everyone has the right of access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. Under PA Act 55 of 1997, both Highmark and UPMC are recognized as Institutions of Purely Public Charity, e.g. nonprofits. Their behavior is hardly charitable towards the needs of our citizens, and public officials are taking steps to hold them accountable.
I will be convening a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, September 8th at 7 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Ballroom. This forum will be open to community members and stakeholders who want to express their concerns and take action. Additionally the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will convene a public hearing regarding this matter on September 13th at Penn State McKeesport, and the House Insurance Committee will convene a similar hearing on August 25th at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
Our office will be posting on future meetings and updates at http://upmcvshighmark.blogspot.com and on my website. Please visit www.senatorferlo.com or call my office at 412-621-3006 to learn more about this or any other state-related issues.
Fall 2011 Edition of the Morningside Newsletter
Greetings Neighbors!
- The Morningside Mile walk/ run scheduled for September 10th
- The Heth’s Run Watershed Clean-Up
- Sports Teams Sprucing Up our Community Parks
- Messages from Councilman Dowd, Representative Dom Costa and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
- TreeVitalize Street Tree Program Update
- Love Your Block Grant Received by Morningside
- St. Raphael Church Celebrates 100 Years
- Senior Center News
- New Business Updates
How to Keep Rodents Away from Your Home & Neighborhood
News Release
Cut Off Food and Shelter: Store Garbage Properly & Keep Property Free of Debris
The Allegheny County Health Department is offering residents information and advice on how to combat rodent problems in and around their homes.
“We tend to get more rodent complaints this time of year, because people spend more time outdoors and may notice rodent activity in their yards and neighborhoods,” said Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon.
The first step to avoiding a rodent problem is to maintain your own property and be sure it’s not providing rats with the food and shelter they need to survive. If other properties are littered with garbage and debris, report the conditions to the Health Department so the owners can be cited and ordered to clean up.
Complaints can be reported by contacting the Health Department at 412-687-ACHD or www.achd.net.
Health officials recommend the following tips to prevent rodent problems:
- Store garbage properly, since it accounts for 80% of a rat’s diet.
- Drain moisture out of your garbage before placing it in plastic bags. This will reduce odors, cut down on the breeding of flies and limit spills during handling and removal.
Use a kitchen garbage can with a lid and a plastic liner.
In addition to the kitchen garbage can, store garbage in at least one 30-35 gallon container with a tight-fitting lid for every two people in the household. Use bungee cords or rope to tie down loose-fitting lids.
Don’t leave plastic bags containing garbage and awaiting pickup outside, on the porch or in the garage overnight. Rats are most active at night and move in once they find a steady source of food. You may not notice the small holes they chew in the bags until it’s too late.
Clean the garbage storage area after each collection and frequently wash your cans.
Don’t let dog food sit out for more than an hour after feeding time and clean up your pet’s waste daily, because rats will feed on your pet’s food and its waste.
Don’t throw bread or seed on the ground to feed birds. It is a violation of health regulations because it will attract rodents.
- If you feed birds, use a birdfeeder and clean the ground under the feeder weekly.
Store grains such as rice, cereals and pasta in metal or glass containers; store potatoes and onions in the refrigerator or in metal or glass containers; store dry pet foods and bird seed in metal garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
Old cars no longer in use and household items such as chairs, sofas and refrigerators should be hauled away from your yard, porch or driveway as soon as they are discarded so they don’t become a nesting or hiding place for rodents.
Don’t let items you’ll never use again accumulate in your basement or attic.
To keep rats out of your house, close holes in floors, baseboards and especially openings in exterior walls and foundations for water, sewer and gas lines.
Close exterior doors tightly because rodents can enter through openings as small as a quarter-inch and make sure basement windows fit tightly and have no broken glass.
Bruce W. Dixon, M.D., Director
Guillermo Cole, Public Information Officer
412-578-8004, e-mail: gcole@achd.net
MACC always needs volunteers to help with a variety of projects, from event planning to mailings, and gardening to painting. Let us know what you'd like to help with!