Swissvale Police Launch Body Worn Camera Program - Swissvale Borough
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January / February 2021 Swissvalian THE Your Community Newsletter Swissvale Police Launch Body Worn Camera Program In our continuing mission to provide the highest standard of law enforcement service to the Borough of Swissvale, the Police Department is proud to announce that body worn cameras will now be employed by our officers during the course of their daily duties. The “WatchGuard” brand cameras selected for use are on the cutting edge of available technology, and are being fielded as the culmination of a yearlong project initiated by Chief of Police, Ellis Watson. Utilizing funds seized during criminal investigations in and around the Borough, Chief Watson has worked tirelessly to ensure that the necessary equipment and training to launch this program was made accessible to our officers. Body worn cameras provide an unparalleled ability to officers and investigators when used as evidence collection tools. On a national level, body worn cameras have become standard equipment for most major law enforcement agencies, and have provided access to investigators that, before now, has been unavailable. Video has long been a valuable investigative tool, and is commonly sought from various other places during a criminal investigation. Now, our officers have the ability to generate such useful footage themselves with the press of a button. The ability to go back and review what occurred during incidents from varying perspectives allows police officers to more accurately pursue appropriate actions pertaining to criminal Above: Body camera on Swissvale police officer’s uniform. charges, as well as providing an added level of transparency between police administrators and the officers themselves. Each officer received extensive training in the use and employment of the WatchGuard cameras this fall. The necessary policy and procedure updates were provided in late October. With these and other logistical concerns addressed, the “body cams” (as they are commonly referred to) have now become part of a Swissvale Police Officer’s standard daily equipment. The Swissvale Police have always been proud of the strong relationship with the community they serve, and are pleased to continue this tradition of excellence by remaining at the forefront of the training and technology curve in the ever-evolving field of law enforcement service. 02 Borough Administration 06 Environment 03 Police Corner 07 Spotlights 04 Swissvale Senior Center 08 Community Happenings 05 Public Works 10 Library 7560 Roslyn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 www.SwissvaleBorough.com 412.271.7101
2 The Swissvalian January / February 2021 www.SwissvaleBorough.com The Swissvalian 3 Borough Administration Borough Administration Greetings Swissvalians and Happy New Year! I am looking forward to all 2021 has to offer here in Swissvale Borough; a new year and a new beginning as Borough Manager. Swissvale Police Department, I am thrilled to be surrounded by such a dedicated and professional in Partnership with Other Surrounding Communities, group of individuals working together to serve this growing community. Through the combined efforts of our public works crew, fire and police departments, code enforcement office, and administrative staff, along with our volunteer firefighters, we strive to provide a safe Borough for Gives Back you to live, work, and play. On Sunday, December 20, 2020 members of the Swissvale It has been a whirlwind experience in many ways, getting to know the Police Department, in partnership with Edgewood, Forest Council members, staff, and as many of the residents as possible, given Hills, Wilkins Township, Churchill, Wilkinsburg, Braddock the short time frame I have been in this role. There are still people Hills, Turtle Creek, and Rankin, passed out Christmas gifts to meet, and I will continue to do my best to learn as many names to those in need. The drive-up event was held in the parking and faces as possible. I am continuing to get out into the Borough to lot at Edgewood Town Center with gifts provided by Toys for familiarize myself with the streets, businesses, and neighbors. My Pittsburgh Tikes. Thank you to everyone who participated! former municipal experience uniquely situates me to provide the The event was a great success! Borough with the guidance and knowledge of a well-rounded leader. Volunteers from participating communities Although there will be new challenges and exciting changes in the years to come, one thing will remain constant — I am here to serve the community and its residents to the best of my ability. Katherine Malsch PSAB Communication Borough Manager Contest 2020 Borough of Swissvale Swissvale Borough is the proud recipient of the following 2020 awards: • Third Place Recognition – Website • Third Place Recognition – Borough News Municipal Newsletter Contest • 2020 Honoree – Social Media The judging criteria for Websites includes: content quality; Elected Officials Borough Officers Advertising and structure and navigation; layout, design, and visual appeal; functionality; interactivity; overall experience; and use of Deneen Swartzwelder, Mayor Katherine Malsch, Borough Manager Publishing Requests technology. Abigail Salisbury, President Robert L. McTiernan, Solicitor All submissions must be received by the The judging criteria for Newsletters and Social Media Weldianne Scales, Vice President first of the month prior to the issue in which includes: content quality; layout, design, and visual appeal; it will appear. Please submit all questions/ writing; use of photos; accuracy of information; and Christopher Ansell materials to news@swissvaleborough.com or timeliness. Shawn Alfonso Wells 412.271.7101. David Petrarca Swissvale Borough would like to thank the PSAB for these awards. William Price Michele Stanton Borough Contacts Fire, Police, Medical Emergency Police Department (Non-Emergency) Nied Administrative Services 7560 Roslyn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 911 7560 Roslyn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 Fire Department (Non-Emergency) 412.271.6666 7441 Washington Avenue phone: 412.271.7101 Building, Zoning, and Code Enforcement Culgan Towing, Impounding fax: 412.271.5441 412-271-0345 Monday - Friday 8:30a - 4:30p Public Works, Trash, Recycling 7400 Irvine Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 412.271.0448 412.271.7160 Tax Office, Thomas Barr Funeral Home 412.271.0350 412.351.3342 Charlie Nied, Supervisor Family Owned for 99 Years
4 The Swissvalian January / February 2021 www.SwissvaleBorough.com The Swissvalian 5 Swissvale Senior Center Environment Public Works Seniors Always Matter S.A.M. Our Mission is to enhance our senior citizens’ lives by providing opportunities for fellowship, fun, and food in a friendly and safe Interested in Donating? environment that also provids community celebration for special Checks payable to: days and holidays. Seniors Always Matter Mail to: Seniors Always Matter Thank you for supporting Seniors Always Matter! Seniors Always Matter (also known c/o Carol Palangio as S.A.M.) is a 5013C non-profit organization that supports our local seniors and our Swissvale Senior Center. The non-profit is run by volunteers from our community and all 2023 Noble Street Swissvale, PA 15218 donations support our local seniors. We are grateful for all donations and appreciate your future donation considerations. Director, Carol Palangio would like to thank the following individuals / groups for their donations to Seniors Always Matter. (S.A.M.) • Mr. Jordan Marckisotto - Giant Eagle Edgewood Town Center • Ms. Marilyn Rita Koontz Recycling Reminders • Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Keteles • Ms Aisha Mariner - Giant Swissvale Borough will continue to collect the same recyclables in 2021 • Shredded paper. If you shred paper, the shreddings should be • Mr. David Petrarca Eagle Edgewood Town Center as we currently collect. Many other municipalities have eliminated the bagged and disposed of with your household trash. • Ladies of Charity: St. Joseph collection of glass, certain plastics and other materials but Swissvale will • Swissvale Presbyterian Church • Dirty food containers. Cans and jars that contained food products the Worker Parish continue to collect these items in the recycling as long as we have a place must be clean and free of food debris. Labels do not have to be • Mr. Charlie Nied to dispose them. The Borough would like to remind our residents that • Mr. John Bonacci removed. If you don’t want to clean the containers, please dispose • Mr. Thomas Barr, Tax there are certain things that cannot be collected in the recycling and will • Mr. Alvin G. Rutter of them in your household trash. Collector be left behind. These items include: • Mr. and Mrs. Ron Suvak • Pizza boxes including the lids. No parts of a pizza box will be collected. • Mr. Clyde Wilhelm • Anything that is placed in a plastic bag. Plastic bags are not • Clougherty Family and Friends acceptable to use as a means to dispose of your recycling. The • Take-out food containers including Styrofoam or plastic containers • Mr. David Mann In loving memory of recycling plant that processes our recyclable materials will not are not recyclable. This also includes pre-packaged food containers • Swissvale Borough Officials • Swissvale Rotary Madeline Lanni accept recycling in plastic bags of any type including grocery store from the grocery store. • Sam and Theresa Maksimchuk bags, trash bags or the blue “recycling” bags that many people • Scrap metal including bed frame rails. • Ms. Ann Haines The Swissvale Senior Center lost a dedicated purchase and use to dispose of their recycling. All recyclables and loyal friend. Madeline Lanni died on should be loose in your recycling bin. Loose plastic bags are also • No type of food waste of any kind October 10, 2020 at the age of 92. She along not acceptable. • Yard waste. with her sister, Nancy Pope, were in charge Merry Christmas to All! of the bingo games at the Swissvale Senior • Cardboard boxes containing Styrofoam. If you purchase a new TV • Compost. Center for many years. The two sisters were a or other item that contains Styrofoam in the box, you must remove We are remembering the good times celebrating the Christmas Holiday at the • Styrofoam and Styrofoam peanuts. great asset to our senior center. Madeline will the Styrofoam from the box and dispose of in your household trash Swissvale Senior Center. Although we are unable to celebrate together, our wishes are be deeply missed. and leave the cardboard box for recycling. for good health and happiness to all. Christmas Tree Recycling Christmas Tree Recycling will begin on Monday, January 4, 2021 and continue for approximately three weeks. Christmas Trees can be placed at the curb with your trash and will be collected by the Department of Public Works. All trees will be collected and chipped into mulch. Trees must be free of ornaments, lights and tinsel in order to be collected. We will collect the trees on your regular trash day unless there is a snow event that requires our crews to be plowing and salting the roads. If your tree is not collected on your trash day due to weather conditions, it will be collected as soon as the weather permits. Pictured from left to right: Nancy DeMarco, Genny Diana, Cil Marchitello, Rose Greeley, and Ann Hopwood
6 The Swissvalian January / February 2021 www.SwissvaleBorough.com The Swissvalian 7 Environment Employee Spotlight Swissvale Shade Tree Advisory Committee Update In addition to planting and caring for trees in Swissvale, the SSTAC strives to educate the citizens of our borough about the importance of our community trees. From improving the quality of the air we breathe, to providing heat and shade throughout the year, trees are an important resource for Swissvale. Knowledge about the Spotted Lanternfly and the destruction it can cause to our Swissvale trees is one important way for our citizens to Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons support our urban canopy. Spotted Lanternfly does not bite or sting, it can lanternfly opens its wings, it reveals a bright red The Spotted Lanternfly swarm people, making it difficult to be outside underwing. Spotted lanternflies live through the Invades Western PA in infested areas. The insect causes serious winter only as eggs. Adults lay eggs on trees in We are always curious about brightly colored or damage in trees including oozing sap, wilting, masses in the late fall, under bark, posts, lawn unusual looking insects. Unfortunately, they are leaf curling, and tree dieback. In addition to tree furniture, cars, trailers, outdoor grills, and on often detrimental to our environment. Such is damage, when spotted lanternflies feed, they many other surfaces. the case of a species recently found in Western excrete a sugary substance, called honeydew, If you find a spotted lanternfly or a suspicious Pennsylvania, the Spotted Lanternfly. The that encourages the growth of black sooty mold. looking egg mass you should try to collect it Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species native Spotted lanternflies go through five stages of and put it into a container filled with alcohol to China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. There are growth after hatching from eggs. The first four (rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, etc.) to kill very few predators here and many suitable plant stages are called nymphs, which are incapable of and preserve it, or take a good picture of it. hosts for the Spotted Lanternfly, making its flight. The young nymphs are black with bright Report your sighting online to the Pennsylvania population level very problematic. According white spots and are roughly the size of a pencil Department of Agriculture https://extension. to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, eraser. The next stages of growth are similar, psu.edu/have-you-seen-a-spotted-lanternfly or Holly Kendall Benjamin Stone it has been found in Allegheny County, in but the nymphs become larger. The fourth stage call Penn State Extension at 1-888-4BADFLY Fire Department Police Department the city of Pittsburgh, North Versailles, and of spotted lanternflies, prior to adulthood, is (1-888-422-3359). Monroeville, Wall, and Wilmerding Boroughs. Holly has worked for the Borough since Ben has worked in Swissvale for just two vibrantly red with distinct patches of black and What else? Kill it! After taking a picture of it, August of this year. In addition to working months. In his time here, his tasks have The insect is being very destructive. It eats equally distinct bright white spots. The adult squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. In the fall, here, she works full time as a firefighter with included police matters and serving the trees, grapes, hops, vegetable plants, flowers, spotted lanternfly is about 1” long. Adults have these bugs lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each. the airport Fire Department. Some of the day citizens of Swissvale. His favorite part of and almost any plant in its path. Although the grey wings with black spots. When the spotted These are called bad bugs for a reason. to day tasks for Holly include: responding to the job is working with fellow officers and incidents, apparatus and equipment checks, gaining new experiences every day. Ben says training, station clean up, and smoke detector that people would be surprised that the police installations. Holly says that helping people is answer lots of phone calls. the best part of the job and that she likes to When he isn’t working, Ben enjoys lots make people feel safer. She thinks that people of outdoor activities. He likes fly fishing, would be surprised by the required amount backpacking, and snow skiing. His favorite of training and re-training the departments vacation spot is the Holiday Valley Ski undergoes. Resort. Ben’s favorite food is a good burger, Outside of work, Holly enjoys playing and favorite show is the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, watching sports. She has two golden retrievers, and his biggest pet peeve is drivers who Simba and Billy. Her favorite food is pizza, refuse to use their turn signals. An actor favorite show is Friends, and her biggest pet who could play him in a movie is Jonah Hill. peeve is tardiness. Holly once spent five weeks Benjamin is an avid water-skier, and he is traveling through Europe. An actress who also a credentialed ship’s captain. His words could play her in a movie is Ellen DeGeneres. of wisdom are, “When you treat people the Holly’s words of wisdom? “Life is too short, way you want to be treated, your life and work live every day like it’s your last.” become easier.” Rkillcrazy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
8 The Swissvalian January / February 2021 www.SwissvaleBorough.com The Swissvalian 9 Community Happenings Community Happenings Borough Calendar* 1/1 New Year’s Day – Admin Office Closed 2/3 Regular Council Meeting (virtual) 1/6 Regular Council Meeting (virtual) 2/4 Food Pantry Distribution Day 1/7 Food Pantry Distribution Day 2/14 Valentine’s Day 1/21 Food Pantry Distribution Day 2/18 Food Pantry Distribution Day 1/27 Agenda Meeting (virtual) 2/24 Agenda Meeting (virtual) *All events listed in this calendar are subject to cancellation or postponement as the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to evolve. All Borough Council and Agenda meetings have moved to a virtual format for the time being. Residents who would like to watch a live stream of the Verizon Wireless to Initiate 5G Project in Swissvale Borough council meetings can visit Facebook.com/Swissvale on the scheduled meeting night. Verizon Wireless is beginning a project in Swissvale to extend 5G where the proposed utility poles will be located. All are marked “Verizon wireless service to our residents and businesses in order to provide Wireless Pole”, “VZW Pole” or “Pole”. All of the new poles will be stronger network reliability, faster downloads, and allow more connected located within the road right-of-way even though it may appear that they devices on their wireless network. This is especially significant at this are located in your yard. Rotary Club of Swissvale time when more students are learning virtually, and many people are Although you may not want the new pole near your property, the Borough working from home. Swissvale Rotary was able to purchase a commercial refrigeration unit for the Swissvale Food of Swissvale cannot require that the poles be moved to an alternative This project will entail the installation of 30 new utility poles with 5G location. Congress has passed legislation that severely restricts the ability Pantry (Swissvale Cares) as a result of grants from Rotary District 7305 and the Greater Pittsburgh nodes throughout Swissvale. Some of the poles will replace existing of municipalities to regulate these types of installations. The Borough Community Food Bank. Our thanks to Perla’s Appliances Plus for sourcing, delivering and setting poles and will add the additional equipment necessary for 5G service cannot override Verizon’s decision to situate these poles in the proposed up this unit. If you’d like more information on the club or to join one of their ZOOM events, please while others will be in new locations where utility poles do not currently locations as each individual pole location is part of a larger project to contact a member or the club through Facebook. exist. Verizon Wireless has marked the physical locations of the 5G provide the best wireless service to their customers. poles throughout the Borough with paint or with a stake in the location Pictured (L to R) Nelson Kirksey, Swissvale Food Pantry coordinator; and David Mann, Swissvale Rotarian and Food Pantry volunteer. CityReach Church Swissvale Wilkins School Community Center New Sermon Series: Regular Worship Schedule: 2020 has been a time like no other for all of us. set-back. We welcome donations online by credit Yes, the pandemic has curtailed in person activities card using the DONATE button on our website The Way of Jesus: The First Christians at the WSCC temporarily. In response, we have wsccpgh.org or by mailing a check to us. 10:30 a.m. on Sundays hosted several virtual gallery shows and have Join us as we investigate the first generation of those who followed Jesus Until we can gather together safely, we hope you 7327 McClure Ave, 15218. offered classes from the comfort of your home. Christ; their growth as a community, conflict, and everything in between. find joy, peace, and love in the days to come. Currently, we are discussing possible formats for If you attend our in-person gatherings, please wear a mask for a Rivers of Steel Artists in Residency program this the entirety of service. Thank you for being a supporter of the WSCC summer at the WSCC with Bradford Mumpower. through the past decade. You’ve attended classes You can participate via live stream through our Facebook Through these months, the WSCC has obtained and events, volunteered, stocked the little free Donations can be sent to: page at: www.facebook.com/cityreachswissvale/live federal emergency loans and grants, greatly library, enjoyed the playground, taught classes, reduced staff hours and continues to plan for a safe submitted artwork for gallery shows, hosted re-opening. Without regular programming and WSCC celebrations, became members, and made events, our future is less certain. Whether you are a donations. We miss you and the joy and life that 7604 Charleston Ave regular attendee, a neighbor, or just glad the WSCC fills the center when you are there. We hope that Swissvale PA 15218 is here, please consider making a donation to us you and your loved ones are well and safe during today. We have enjoyed 37 years of community, this trying time. and with your support we can make it through this
10 The Swissvalian www.SwissvaleBorough.com The Swissvalian 11 Library Library Love Your Library Month Update and Thanks Music (Not) at the Library We are pleased to be hosting several fantastic local musical groups who will be serenading us SWISSVALE LIBRARY WILL BE Due to current COVID levels in our area, the Swissvale Library is open for limited patron Swissvale Library Temporary Hours: digitally this January and February. Enjoy our concerts from the comfort of your own living room, CLOSED on 1/18/21 and 2/15/21. Plan services at present. Patrons can request items (books, DVDs, CDs) and pick them up in our lobby Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat: 10am-4pm and BYO hot cocoa or alternative beverage! Stay tuned to our Facebook page and website for all your book, CD, and DVD selections or curbside. Library items can be returned in our outside drop box anytime, or inside the lobby the concert details. accordingly. Tues, Thurs: 12-6pm during our open hours. You can still send print jobs, request a fax or copies, use our WiFi outside, and order items from any library in the county. We will follow guidance from the county and Sun: Closed Grab and Go Kid’s Craft and STEAM Kits! state health department as to when it’s safe to allow patrons back inside to use the computers and browse again. Miss Cece is continuing her Grab-and-Go Kids’ Kits. We have Pre-K activity bags and school-aged The library is located at 1800 children’s STEAM kits in the lobby. These are swapped out regularly, so check out our website, Monongahela Ave., Swissvale, PA Facebook, or YouTube channel for all the details on what’s currently available. COVID-19 Support Guides Available At Library 15218, at the corner of McClure and Need food, housing, or mental health resources? The Swissvale Library has collated a listing of Monongahela local, county, and state resources available for patrons during times of crisis like now. They are For a complete listing of upcoming programs and events, visit swissvalelibrary.org or call us at available in the lobby, on the library’s website, or call us at 412.731.2300 to request that we email 412.731.2300. you a copy. Swissvale Library’s “Book Bucks” Experience Kits for Local Virtual Programming Program Resumes for 2021! History Attractions Like Carnegie Free We have new virtual programs every week! Check out our YouTube channel for preschool Library of Swissvale Guess what? Swissvale Library finally held its If you’re feeling a bit of quarantine fever, you annual “Book Bucks” Auction in November can now check out an experience kit from sing-alongs and grab-and-go instructions and on Facebook! 2020—and only 6 months late! About two- five local history centers: the Senator John teasers! We also host LIVE Zoom meetings on thirds of the readers participated, and took Heinz History Center, the Lincoln Highway Thursdays at 4 pm with games and comic book home much loot. But not all of it—we have Experience, the Air Heritage Museum and read-alouds for tweens and teens. (E-mail Cece at 61 items remaining to add to the new auction McKinley Schoolhouse, and the McKeesport caroc@einetwork.net for the meeting ID, prizes of 2021. Regional History and Heritage Center. Each kit passcode, and to hear what’s coming up!) contains a pass for four FREE ADMISSIONS Additionally, we are adding regular Zoom meetings Yes, we will hold another auction (sometime) to one of the centers, as well as information for elementary school-aged children and tweens next year. It will be our 21st auction. We will about each attraction. You can check out one (time TBD as of this writing), featuring games, And have the leftover prizes, and much more – kit at a time. Loans are for one week only, activities, friends, and fun. Email Miss Cece toys, books, household items, gift cards, etc. If and cannot be renewed. Please return your at caroc@einetwork.net for more information! you would like to possess any of these items, experience kits to the library upon your return. you can try to win them! (It’s like celebrating Happy historical trails to you and three friends! Christmas, or like shopping without money— Coming Soon: Hotspots 412-271-4234 but you will need to READ BOOKS!) Ask at for Borrowing! the door for our official “Book Bucks” forms. “Make-It” to-Go Activities this Winter! The Swissvale Rotary has made a generous Then you will earn “Book Bucks.” Sometime contribution to the library so our patrons can in 2021, whenever the virus permits, we will Are you looking for some hands-on fun, a borrow hotspots. We expect them to be available all have fun together. (Remember: this program family activity, or a new quarantine project sometime in January. They won’t go out in is for all readers, including grown-ups.) for yourself? We are fortunate to have delivery, rather they will be picked up and As of now, in-person library programs are not local papermaker and teaching artist, Katy returned to Swissvale Library. They’ll go out happening. So what can you do this winter? DeMent’s, Make-It to-go kits on offer this fall for three weeks, with no renewals. We’re very Read books and collect “Book Bucks” to spend at the Swissvale Library. Katy’s delightful pleased to offer this additional service to our at our 21st annual Book Bucks Auction! Pick kits will include instructions for children patrons. Call for more details. up a form in the lobby and get reading! and adults, reclaimed *materials, as well as digital links and references. These kits are for Book Discussion Groups individuals and families of all ages. Cabin fever getting to you? Here are We have five different book discussion groups January’s Make-It kit will be collage self- at the Swissvale Library. One is meeting a few of the items that you can get at portraits. Available mid-January. virtually via Zoom until we are unable to the Swissvale Library, in addition to books, movies, and music: February’s Make-It kit is a mystery. Come meet in person, and the others look forward to find out! Available mid-February. meeting in person when we can. We love our books and the camaraderie of discussing them Puzzle-of-the-Week Stop by and see what MAKE-IT to-go kits are together, but patrons’ health and safety is our Miss Bonnie creates a paper Puzzle-of-the- available now. Everyone is welcome to take a utmost concern. New book lists are available Week, available in the lobby or inside the kit each month. for 2021 selections. See our website or stop library. One entry per family, return your by the library for a list of books and meeting completed puzzle by Saturday of each week, for dates. All are welcome to participate. a small prize. Even if you don’t return them for a prize, keep yourself mentally sharp!
7560 Roslyn Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 www.SwissvaleBorough.com 412.271.7101 ECRWSS Postal Customer Pittsburgh, PA 15218 Thank you for making Swissvale one of the best places to live, work, and play. Happy New Year!
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