Local briefs
Post office to close Beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the Lemont Furnace Post Office will be temporarily closed for building renovations.
Post office box holders will be able to pick up their mail from the service window at the Hopwood Post Office located at 2 Paul St.
Customers who receive a notice to go to the post office to pick up mail will be able to pick it up the next day at the Hopwood Post Office. For security reasons, all patrons will need to show identification for mail to be released.
The Hopwood Post Office (phone number 724-437-5106) is open for business during the following hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
The Hopwood Post Office can accommodate all postal needs, but customers may visit any post office that is convenient. To locate the nearest post office, customers may call 1-800-275-8777 for assistance.
The post office announced that its “Stamps by Mail” program, which offers the convenience of having postage stamps delivered directly to homes, is available. Officials noted that local residents may enjoy this free service and find it beneficial during this period of renovation.
Holiday report issued
Five people were killed and 228 others were injured in 500 crashes investigated by state police during the three-day Easter holiday driving period, State Police Commissioner Col. Paul J. Evanko announced.
Evanko said four of those killed were not wearing seat belts. Alcohol played a role in 63 of the crashes, including three of the fatal crashes. The three-day Easter driving period covered Friday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31.
During that period state police issued 3,542 speeding citations, charged 155 people with driving under the influence, cited 115 for not wearing seatbelts and issued citations to 19 for not securing children in safety seats.
Evanko said the numbers cover only those crashes investigated by state police and do not include statistics on incidents to which other law enforcement agencies responded.
During last year’s Easter holiday driving period, which covered April 13 to 15, three people were killed and 273 were inured in 564 crashes investigated by state police
Store to open
St. Vincent de Paul will open a new retail store in Uniontown located at 70 N. Mount Vernon Ave. on Monday, April 15.
The 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony will include Ray Polaski, president of the board; other board members and volunteers. The doors to the new building will open to the public for the first time immediately following the ceremony.
The store is the first St. Vincent de Paul store to be constructed in Fayette County and extends 5,000 square feet of retail space to the public and an additional 2,500 square feet for program and work use. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“For the customer, each day is a surprise and discovery of what can be purchased,’ stated Roy Sarver, executive director.
For the grand opening week of April 15-22, the store will offer door pries and volunteers will provide refreshments to the customers.
Constantly, the public donates gently used items to the store for resale. Many churches and organizations conduct drives for clothing and small household goods in order to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Store. Individuals wishing to donate items may drop them off at the rear of the store Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Receipts recognizing the donation for tax purposes are available for those able to itemize their tax returns.
Revenue from the sale of items in the store is used to provide help and help for those that are in need. Volunteers following the Vincentian spirit of charity assess the need and determine how the store can be of assistance.
For more than 10 years, the St. Vincent de Paul Store has been providing services to the residents of southern Fayette County through the help of over 160 volunteers. Groups or individuals wishing to volunteer should contact Sarver at 724-439-4908.