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The South at a glance
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Citizen Fire Academy planned
Mt. Lebanon, Castle Shannon and Dormont fire departments will sponsor a 10-week Citizen Fire Academy starting and concluding Nov. 3.
Classes on various firefighting topics, as well as facility tours, fire extinguisher and Jaws of Life use and ride-alongs, will take place. Attendees also will be trained in CPR, first aid and the use of automated external defibrillators.
Most of the classes will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays at the Public Safety Center on Washington Road, though there will be a Saturday session on Nov. 3.
The academy is open to all residents and business owners age 18 and older in the three municipalities.
A schedule of academy topics and an application can be found at: www.mtlfd.org.
Hike Saturday under the moon
The Scott Conservancy will sponsor a Once in A Blue Moon event at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Whiskey Point in the Kane Woods Nature Area.
Participants, who will not need flashlights, will discuss the wildlife along the Kane Woods trails and learn about the so-called "Blue Moon" at this time of year. Hikers should bring a chair and any desired snack or drink for the campfire that will follow.
Some Conservancy members are planning a short canoe trip on Chartiers Creek before the hike if the water levels are acceptable. The trip will start at 4 p.m. at the PNC Bank parking lot in Carnegie and will travel to the Sharp Edge restaurant in Crafton.
For more, contact Don at 412-276-3222 or email him at: donedrum@yahoo.com.
Water resource groups plan workshop
Mountain Watershed Association and the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring will hold a free training workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 8 at the meeting room at Gander Mountain, 1500 W. Chestnut St., Washington Crown Center.
The session is aimed at individuals and community groups interested in monitoring streams within the shale-gas drilling region.
The two groups are based at Dickinson College, Carlisle.
Registration is required; call 724-455-4200, ext. 4, or email veronica@mtwatershed.com.
Sisters say: Soup's on!
It's not even autumn, but already the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God are talking comfort food. The sisters are relaunching their monthly Soup Take Out Sept. 12. Homemade soup choices include wedding, chicken noodle or broccoli for $5 a quart. Two dinner rolls are included. Orders must be placed by next Thursday by calling 412-885-7232.
Soup orders can be picked up from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Motherhouse, 3603 McRoberts Road. The sisters' craft shop will also be open; proceeds from the soup and shop go to the continuing health care, education, spiritual direction and other work of the sisters.
Details: visit www.osfprov.org or call 412-885-7232.
Air conditioning bids
Commissioners decided Tuesday to seek bids to replace the malfunctioning rooftop air conditioning unit for the library. Manager Denise Fitzgerald said it would cost $4,000 to repair it while a commercial-size replacement unit would be about $10,000. The unit has had two service calls this summer.
"It's only 10 years old. That's not old for an air conditioner," said commissioner David Jason.
Commissioner Bill Wells agreed, noting the key operating parts were replaced earlier this summer.
Randy Lubin, director of public services, said some employees thought the unit may have been hit by lightning but repairmen have confirmed that it is malfunctioning even though it has plenty of Freon.
Commissioners agreed unanimously to solicit bids to replace the unit. If the bids exceed $7,500, the board will repair it instead.
• Action was tabled on a consultant's recommendation to consolidate Scott's five business districts to three. "We need this explained to see if we agree with it," said board President Tom Castello. Mr. Wells agreed, noting, "We're kind of putting the cart before the horse here."
• Resident Pat Martin expressed frustration with the delinquent real estate tax collection system that allows three years to pass before legal action is initiated. Besides costing communities and school districts tax dollars, money must be shelled out to go after the delinquent taxes, Mr. Castello said.
Mrs. Martin said the Allegheny County assessment website shows that there are elected officials serving in Scott and Chartiers Valley who are delinquent in their county taxes. Seeing these delinquencies is discouraging to those who pay their bills, she said.
First Published August 30, 2012 6:49 am
