Local briefs
April 11, 2007 Road to be closed
Fishpot Hollow Road in Centerville will be closed on Saturday and Sunday for drain repairs. Motorists normally using this road must use alternate routes on these days.
Project date set
The state Department of Transportation District 12 has set the starting date for projects to make improvements to the Interstate 70/79 South Junction and the interchange of Interstate 79 and Route 40, both in Washington County.
The contractor will begin to put equipment into place beginning Monday. The work itself will begin the following week. The project will be completed in five phases running through July. The work will require detours.
During the initial phase, traffic traveling on I-79 northbound will exit at the Laboratory Interchange / Route 40 (Exit 33), follow Route 40 East to Route 519 North, take Route 519 North and get onto I-70 eastbound at the Eighty Four interchange. The ramp closure at the South Junction of I-70 and I-79 will be in place so that concrete patching can occur.
Work planned for the South Junction interchange consists of concrete patching, diamond grinding and raised pavement markers. Work planned at the I-79/Route 40 interchange involves a 4-inch overlay.
Garden dedication
Over the past several years, Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc. (FCDAC) has used the beauty of tulips and their representation of a new beginning to help “plant your promise” to stay drug-free during National Red Ribbon Week.
The annual celebration of Red Ribbon Week takes place in the fall during the last week of October. Red Ribbon Week is the most far-reaching and well-known drug prevention event in America – a time to pledge to live a safe and drug-free life wearing a red ribbon to affirm our commitment to drug prevention and education, according to the FCDAC.
This past fall, the commission donated 100 tulip bulbs, which produces large and vibrant red flowers on tall stems, to Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, with the idea of dedicating an awareness garden. In conjunction with Penn State Fayette’s Campus Cleanup Day at noon Wednesday, May 2, the FCDAC will dedicate the “Garden of a New Beginning” to the campus that will be an annual reminder to support a drug-free America.
Assistance offered
State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, wants area senior citizens to know they can receive help with state forms and applications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second and fourth Friday of every month of the Center in the Woods, 130 Woodland Court, California.
A member of Daley’s Donora office staff will be in attendance to provide the assistance.
No appointment is necessary. Constituents can receive help filling out forms for PACE or PACENET, the state’s prescription drug assistance programs for senior citizens; the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which is available to income-qualified seniors, widows and widowers, and residents with permanent disabilities; and other state forms and applications.
“Our goal is to help out as many senior citizens as possible by supplying them with the information and assistance they need to receive these rebates,” Daley said. “I encourage anyone who might be eligible or who has questions about these programs to attend one of these sessions.”
More information is available by calling Donna Nicholson at Daley’s office. The toll-free number is 1-800-467-9486.
Library event planned
Carnegie Free Library will host a special day for preschoolers, highlighting ” A Splendid Friend, Indeed” themed activities at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 18. The library will have a fun-filled day of polar bear and goose themed activities to highlight “A Splendid Friend, Indeed,” this year’s book selection for One Book, Every Young Child.
Pennsylvania’s second annual One Book, Every Young Child collaborative program is designed to highlight the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers, ages 3 to 6 years old.
Written by children’s author and illustrator Suzanne Bloom, “A Splendid Friend, Indeed” is a story of a talkative goose that endears himself to a polar bear that doesn’t want to be interrupted. An element of this statewide reading initiative is the traveling trunk, which was developed by museum educators. The trunk is filled with fun bear and goose puppets, activities, games and manipulatives for young children.
Studies show that activities like reading aloud and sharing books and stories are crucial to early learning.
This event is free and open to the public. To learn more about the One Book, Every Young Child program, visit www.paonebook.org.
Hours announced
The Uniontown post office will offer extended hours for tax day on Tuesday.
The window of the main post office at 47 E. Fayette St. will be open until 9 p.m. for tax-related transactions. The two mailboxes located outside of the post office will be picked up at midnight. All mail collected up until midnight will be postmarked April 17.
Forum planned
The Citizens Advisory Committee for the Uniontown Area School District will hold a public forum for school board candidates at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Uniontown Area High School auditorium on East Fayette Street in Uniontown.
The forum is expected to take two hours. The committee asks the public so voters will know the views of the 11 candidates who are running for the five open seats on the board.
Hours announced
The legislative aide from the office of state Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, will be at the Menallen Township Municipal Building, Searights Crossroads, from 8:30 a.m. through 11 a.m. Friday to meet with constituents from Precinct 3 (New Salem.)
Matters dealing with state government may be referred to this office.
The Fayette County Office is located at 113A Thornton Road (Route 166) in Redstone Township. For more information, call 724-785-1201.