I’m hosting a free shredding event tomorrow, April 25, to help you safely dispose of papers and disks containing sensitive information. It will run from 10 a.m. to noon at my district office, located at 1296 Pittsburgh St. in Cheswick. It’s a great way to protect your identity by ensuring documents don’t fall into the wrong hands, such as financial statements, canceled checks, and legal or insurance papers.

Please follow the posted signage so we can maintain an even flow of traffic and keep people safely off the main road as they wait to shred their documents.

Feel free to call my office with any questions at (724) 826-5151.

I think that meaningful dialogue between citizens and law enforcement is important. This week I hosted PA State Police Trooper Joe Dunsmore to discuss a range of law enforcement topics—including an expansive discussion on First Amendment rights of protestors, what to do when pulled over by police, and police training and policy. There were many excellent questions from the community at our forum at Cooper-Seigel Community Library.

I believe strongly in bringing as many resources to the community as possible. I plan to ask Trooper Dunsmore to come back for a second session, so keep an eye on my newsletters and Facebook page for updates.

Read news coverage of this week’s forum here.

Thanks to everyone who stopped in for a reusable tote bag, to adopt a tree or to drop off your glass recycling during our Earth Week Celebration this week at my office. It’s great to see so many people who do their own small part to help our environment!

I loved spending time with fourth-grade eco-students and the cutest little screech owl last week at Acme Elementary in the Allegheny Valley School District. I was so happy to congratulate these great kids on their efforts to spread the word about environmental responsibility. I made sure to tell them that in addition to personal environmental responsibility, we must also hold corporations responsible when they pollute, something I am pushing for in Harrisburg.

Some things are hard to get rid of—computer equipment, televisions, and tires, for instance—so I want you to know about an event for those hard-to-recycle items. Presented by the Pennsylvania Resources Council, it will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at The Pittsburgh Shrine Center, 1877 Shriners Way in Cheswick. See the graphic above for fee structures and more details about the items they’ll take off your hands.

I’m offering a new service this year at my Cheswick office! Once a month through September, I will host a representative from Allegheny County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars’ office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents can use these special days and hours at my office, located at 1296 Pittsburgh St., to pay county property taxes; apply for the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion or Senior Citizen Tax Relief programs; or obtain hunting, fishing, or dog licenses.

Mark your calendars with the dates and times on the graphic above!  

Pennsylvania will hold its primary election on May 19, so it’s time to consider how to make your voice heard. First, make sure you’re registered—you have until May 4.

If voting in person doesn’t fit your schedule, Pennsylvania offers dependable vote-by-mail options. The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 12. Allegheny County recently approved ballot return sites where voters can return a mail-in ballot without relying on the mail, and you can read more about them here.

Get more info on voting by mail at www.pa.gov.

Twice a month, a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) will be at my Cheswick office, 1296 Pittsburgh St., to assist veterans with a variety of services. The VSO will be available on the third Wednesday and Thursday of each month.

Call to schedule an appointment at (724) 826-5151.

District Office

1296 Pittsburgh Street

Cheswick, PA 15024

(724) 826-5151

Pennsylvania State Capitol

111 B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 705-7141