Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Positively Pittsburgh Live News 1-3-14



Positively Pittsburgh Live News
1-3-14

Co-Host, John Pournaras of John Pournaras Agency of Ambridge. If you are tired of the "big
box" companies or online way of doing taxes, then you need to meet John Pournaras. John is the "Outrageous Accountant." Yes he wears black leather and ostrich boots and a big black stetson. But that is not why he is Outrageous. He is Outrageous because he's the guy who owns a business on Main St USA and just like the days when you knew who you were doing business with, you can get to know John and he will get to know you, your family, your business and your tax and accounting needs. Unafraid to answer a new question, John has the IRS on speed dial and knows how to cut through the red tape to get the answer you need.

These days between Fiscal Cliffs and the ever changing, confusing tax codes you need a guy on a white horse or Silver Toyota who will rush in like the Cavalry and advocate for you, should you ever need intercession for your taxes.

For those in the Greater Pittsburgh Area or Beaver and Butler Counties, John Pournaras Agency is connected directly to Penn Dot for online title transfers, online messenger service and online registration renewal.


On Tonight's Show: WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TECHNOGRANNY?

CULTURAL CLUES: Wicked, International Performing Arts Showcase for Youth. Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra BNY Mellon Grand Classics: Bach, Beethoven & Brahms, Haydn & Zarathustra at Pittsburgh Symphony

KIDZ KORNER: Ice Maze at Boyce Park, Stuck

WOMEN AND GIRLS ADVANCEMENT: Wonder Women On Page and Off, Sweet Adelines Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus Global Open House, January Screening American Promise, Women Business Leaders Breakfast, Nominations for the 2014 Tribute to Women Awards, PowerUp Lunch Can't We All Just Get Along?

BUSINESS BUZZ: John Pournaras Agency, Biophotonic Scanner, 2014 Marketing JumpStart VIP, American Income Life Insurance Company, Six Reasons You Need this Great Marketing, Five Ways Listening to Empress of Biz Talkcast Makes You Smarter About Business

PITTSBURGH HISTORICAL STUFF : East Liberty Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.

NON-PROFIT EVENTS SPONSORED BY BLACK TIE-PITTSBURGH: Nominations for Peace it Together Event, Annual Ladies Night Out Purse and Cash Bash, Fourteenth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast: "Honoring Diversity in Our Community", Glass Slipper Ball

NEIGHBORHOOD HI-LIGHTS: Winter Weather Stuff from Allegheny County

POSITIVE PITTSBURGHERS SEGMENT: The Ultimate Recipe for an Energetic Life

ROVING PITTSBURGHER REPORT: Lucy's on Carson St., Colangelo's Bakery

PITTSBURGH LOCAL SPORTS: Rock football quartet earns first-team Hansen all-region honors


WHERE IN THE WORLD IS TECHNOGRANNY?

Collangelo's Bakery in the Strip, Lucy's on Carson St. Southside


CULTURAL CLUES

Wicked
Back by “Popular” demand. Variety calls WICKED "a cultural phenomenon,” and when it last played Pittsburgh in 2011, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Winner of over 50 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, WICKED is “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The New York Times).


Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for "the most complete - and completely satisfying - new musical in a long time" (USA Today).

WICKED is recommended for children ages 8 and older. Children under four will not be admitted.




Pittsburgh Selected to Host Annual International Performing Arts Showcase for Youth 
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to announce that Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater will host the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase being held January 22–25, 2014, at venues throughout Pittsburgh’s downtown Cultural District. The IPAY Showcase is in its 37th year and will bring artists from around the world to Pittsburgh to perform in eighteen productions from seven countries, including four from the United States and three from Canada. 


 The IPAY Showcase is presented in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival.
boy girl wall
photo credit Justine Walpole
and La Boite Theatre Company

The seventeen productions represent a wide range of work including theater and musical theater, dance, circus and physical comedy, puppetry and installation. Productions range from small intimate performances to large-scale spectacles and have been created for young audiences ranging in age from babies to teenagers.

A full list of performances scheduled for the 2014 Showcase can be found online at www.ipayweb.org/showcase.





Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra BNY Mellon Grand Classics: Bach, Beethoven & Brahms
Jan. 31: 8 p.m.; Feb. 2: 2:30 p.m. / Heinz Hall

Originally written for organ, Leopold Stokowski orchestrated Toccata and Fugue in D Minor in 1927. It has since thrilled audiences and was made famous in popular culture by Disney’s Fantasia.
Hélène Grimaud 


With its fiery, rich harmonies and the powerful spirit of this symphony, it is surprising that the fourth is one of Beethoven’s lesser-known works. With playing touted as “superb, tightly controlled and forcefully articulated” by 

The Los Angeles Times, pianist and wildlife conservationist Hélène Grimaud returns to Heinz Hall with Brahms’ fierce and dramatic first piano concerto.

Tickets: 412-392-4900 or pittsburghsymphony.org



The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Presents “Haydyn & Zarathustra”
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra invites you to ponder universal questions and fundamental truths in a stirring BNY Mellon Grand Classics program featuring Haydn, Danielpour and Strauss on Jan. 17-19, 2014 at Heinz Hall, under the direction of conductor Christoph König and featuring the powerful voice of soprano Hila Plitmann.

König leads the Pittsburgh Symphony first in Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 22, “The Philosopher,” a nickname thought to be inspired by the musical “question and answer” in the first movement of this enchanting symphony. Plitmann joins the symphony for Darkness in the
Hila Plitmann
Ancient Valley, Richard Danielpour’s tribute to the plight of the Iranian people and a co-commission between the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Nashville Symphony. The concert concludes with Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra, inspired by the Friedrich Nietzsche book of the same name. Strauss’ “tone poems” tell remarkable tales about extraordinary characters, events and places, and in Also sprach Zarathustra, he comments on nothing less than the evolution of humankind. The “sunrise” portion of this piece was made famous in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, possibly the most well-known two minutes of music ever written.
The Saturday night performance features the first Beyond the Notes program of the year, highlighting Also sprach Zarathustra. In these concerts, the conductor and orchestra will spend the first half of the concert explaining and demonstrating the nuances of the music, taking the audience inside the compositions and revealing many fascinating details. Following the intermission, audience members will hear the complete performance of the piece with an enriched understanding of its meaning. Please note that Plitmann will not be a part of the Saturday performance and the concert will open with Haydn’s “The Philosopher.”

The concerts will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets, ranging from $25.75 to $109.75, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900, or by visiting pittsburghsymphony.org.

KIDZ KORNER

Ice Maze
The ice maze was designed and created by Master Ice Carver and Ice Creations Owner Richard Bubin. It is constructed of 325 blocks of ice and weighs 90,000 pounds. The maze covers an area of 1,200 square feet, and its walls are five feet tall. The labyrinth ends in a nearly 200-square-foot room complete with two seven-foot-tall ice thrones, which provide great photo opportunities for visitors. The entire installation has a footprint of 3,600 square feet. The maze was part of First Night Pittsburgh. It was disassembled, moved and reconstructed at Boyce Park, where it will remain as long as weather and conditions allow.

The Parks Department is also sponsoring a winter fun photo contest beginning Saturday and continuing throughout the month of January. Prizes include ice skating and skiing passes. Take a photo of you, your family or friends enjoying the Boyce Park ice maze, ski slopes and snow tubing area, North Park or South Park ice rinks. Submit your photo on Allegheny County’s Facebook page or via Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #ACWinterFunPhotoContest. Then go and check out all of the submissions and vote for your favorite. Contest winners will be selected by popular vote on Facebook.

For information on winter fun, events and activities in the Allegheny County Parks, including facility locations, hours and admission rates, go to www.alleghenycounty.us/winterfun.



Stuck
Pittsburgh International Children's Theater 412-456-6666
January 12, 2014 - January 19, 2014 Ticket Prices: $9.50 in advance; $11 day of show if available


It all began when Floyd got his kite stuck in a tree... He throws his shoe to shift it, but that gets stuck too. So he throws his other shoe and that gets stuck along with…the cat, a ladder, a pot of paint, the kitchen sink, an orangutan and a whale, among other things! Will Floyd get his kite back? With original music and audience participation, this brand new story by Oliver Jeffers has been adapted into an exciting new production by the team behind Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and The Way Back Home.

Best for ages 3-10, 50 minutes, bigwoodenhorse.com


WOMEN AND GIRLS ADVANCEMENT

Wonder Women: On Page and Off
The ToonSeum, Pittsburgh's museum of comic and cartoon art is proud to present, Wonder Women: On Page and Off. The exhibit is an exploration of the role of women as artists and in the workplace of the comics industry, and the way the way women have been portrayed in the art form of comics. Comics provide yet another example of the roller coaster of gender constructs that hindered women.


WHEN: January - March
WHERE: The ToonSeum, 945 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Click HERE for more information.

Sweet Adelines Global Open House
All over the globe, Sweet Adelines International choruses are joining together this January to teach the world to sing. Women of all ages who enjoy singing are invited to the Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus Global Open House any Monday evening at 7:00pm. The Sounds of Pittsburgh chorus is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, an organization of nearly 25,000 women worldwide who sing four-part a cappella harmony, barbershop style.

Our members share a love for music and fellowship singing barbershop harmony. As a member, you too can experience the exhilaration of performing and singing with us. Any woman of average singing ability, with or without vocal training, will find a part that fits her voice range with the help of the chorus' musical leaders and director.


The Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus performs regularly throughout the community, offering its talent for entertainment at civic events and charitable functions. We are currently medalists in our region of this worldwide organization.

To find additional information about the Sounds of Pittsburgh Chorus, please visit www.soundsofpgh.org or contact Mary Ann at 412-279-6062 or send an email to masember@mac.com.


From Our Friends at Girls Coalition

January Screening: American Promise
A documentary 14 years in the making, American Promise provides a rare look into the lives of two middle class Black families in Brooklyn as they navigate the ups and downs of parenting and educating their sons. The provocative, intimate film presents complicated truths about America's struggle to come of age on issues of race, class and opportunity. A panel discussion will follow the screening. This event is a collaboration with POV, the award-winning independent non-fiction film series on PBS . The film, by Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson, premiers on PBS on February 3.



WHEN: Monday, January 22, 2014 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: WQED Multimedia Hillman Conference Room,
Click HERE to register for this FREE screening.

February Screening: Las Marthas
Dating from the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, the annual debutante ball in Laredo, Texas is unlike any other. Las Marthas follows two Mexican American girls carrying this gilded tradition on their young shoulders during a time of economic uncertainty and political tension over immigration.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: The Ellis School, 6425 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Click HERE to register for this FREE screening.



CHATHAM UNIVERSITY - Women Business Leaders Breakfast Series
Join Sandy Cindrich, Co-owner and President/CEO, Penn Brewery & Linda Nyman, Co-owner and Director of Marketing, Penn Brewery as they discuss their transition from corporate careers to private business ownership in a traditionally male-dominated industry. These "ladies of lager" will address: How and why they entered the craft beer business; The move from working for large organizations to owning their own business; The biggest challenges they've faced in growing the Penn brand in a rapidly changing category; What it's like to be a woman in a highly male-centric industry; The biggest surprises they've encountered since acquiring the Brewery; Their vision for the future of the Penn Brewery brand.


WHEN: January 10, 2014 from 7:30am - 9:00am
WHERE: James Laughlin Music Hall, Chatham University, 1 Woodland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
COST: $25 per breakfast
Click HERE for more information and to register.




YWCA GREATER PITTSBURGH: Now Accepting Nominations for the 2014 Tribute to Women Awards

Nominate a woman who is making a difference in her community for the 2013 Tribute to Women Awards. These awards honor outstanding women in categories including arts and culture, business and professional services, civic and community services, education, health and human services, science and technology, and young leaders. Nominations are open until Wednesday, February 19, 2014.


Click HERE to access the registration form.

Christy Uffelman
PowerUp Lunch Can't We All Just Get Along? Seton Hill, e-Magnify
Maximizing the #Generations@Work
February 5, 2014 / 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Rivers Club, Pittsburgh, PA

Speaker:  Christy Uffelman, BCC, MHCS Partner, Align Leadership, LLC

What You'll Learn:
Understand the core values and workplace characteristics of each generation.
Understand how to best motivate and engage across the generations.
Share best practices with your peers on how to transform workforce conflicts into growth points.

To get the most of this session, consider bringing generationally diverse
members of your team.

Multiple team members from a single organization are asked to not sit at the same table.

Join us to share insights into how to bring out the emotional intelligence of your employees and utilize the inherent talents of Millennials/Gen-Yers, Gen-Xers and Baby-Boomers.

This is a powerful, interactive presentation for CEOs, high-potential talent, and emerging leaders who seek to break through generational friction, drive innovation and leverage the untapped knowledge of their entire workforce.

Registration: $35 (includes lunch)

Details: Learn more about this event and speaker Christy Uffelman, BCC, MHCS. 





BUSINESS BUZZ

Ads Run in the Holiday Business Blast for PPL Mag supporting PositivelyPittsburghLive Talkcast and Magazine
Thanks to PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com and PositivelyPittsburghLive Talkcast

Your support has helped me to win an award that has set me aside from all of the big box tax preparers. A very Blessed Christmas and Prosperous New Year to All.

Watch some informative yet humorous video tips on accounting for your business on my syndicated video channel on PPLMag. WATCH HERE.

For new tax preparation clients mention this ad to receive $50.00 discount on prepartion of your 2013 tax return. Use code PPL2013 Call 724-266-7078 before March 15 for offer to be valid.


Revolutionary Biophotonic Scanner Available in Offices of Dr. Santosh Pandit
Revolutionary BioPhotonic Scanner measures how well your supplements are working. As seen on Dr. Oz.Find out if your investment in nutritional supplements is paying off or it you are wasting your money and need to invest in another brand.

Antioxidant Scan in office of Dr. Santosh Pandit, 9104 Babcock Blvd. Suite 3114; Pittsburgh,Pa. 15237

New Years Special
One Adult Antioxidant Scan, Get Your Results in 90 Seconds! Completely non invasinve, no needles or pin pricks.

Just $25.00 Cash

Bring your children for same scan to see how effective their antioxidant supplements are!

With adult scan, child scan under 18, $5.00 / Call for Information: 412-367-9104.


Marketing Tele-Summit
Given this crazy time of year, you may not have been able to review (and re-review!) the tons of material we presented during the Telesummit. This telesummit gave you access to interviews with successful experts with proven tactics in:
Secrets to Powerful On-Stage & On-Camera Presence; Pricing, The Red-Headed Stepchild of Marketing; The 4-Step Fishing Formula To Hook Your Prospects; Entrepreneurs, Are You Ready for Sales; Getting Publicity for Your Small Business; Your Book: The Key to Unparalleled Profits!; Three Networking Mistakes that Prevent Business Owners From Building a Powerful and Profitable Network; Brand Visibility – Control Your Image Online & Offline to Attract More Clients; How To Use The Most Under-Utilized Yet Most Powerful Marketing Weapon On The Planet To BANISH Your Competition Off Of Google… Forever!; Building a Million Dollar Business; How to Use Printed Newsletters to Create Raving, Referring, Buying Customers for Life & Explode Profits; Direct Mail Programs From The US Postal Service; Celebrity Leverage; LinkedIn Power Profiles–Outstanding or Out of Luck!; Pulling More Money from Your List

Much as I would like to give you more time to access all of the recordings for free, I can't. After Midnight Tuesday, December 24th free access to the recordings goes away. Unfortunately, so does the special $47 pricing for the VIP upgrade. You can get the details and upgrade at: http://2014MarketingJumpStart.com/VIP.

VIPs get unlimited access to the recordings, plus transcriptions of all of the interviews, and bonuses from some of our speakers, like a free 30 minute memory coaching call from Alexander Vornoff our "Memory is Money" speaker. Also the TechnoGranny, Joanne Quinn-Smith is providing through the VIP access, a free 30 minute Power LinkedIn profile consult.

After midnight Tuesday, the VIP Upgrade goes up to $97, and worse, we will be closing the cart after Midnight December 31st.

Go ahead. Jump over to http://2014MarketingJumpStart.com/VIP. Because you deserve to give yourself every advantage you can for 2014.



American Income Life Insurance
American Income Life Insurance Company has served working class families since 1951. Our life and supplemental accident and health products help protect members of labor unions, credit unions, associations and their families. AIL is a company that cares about its policyholders and worthy causes that make a difference in the world.


If interested in competitive whole life insurance, supplemental mortgage insurance or head start policies for yourchildren; please call local agent

Joseph B. Smith III at 412-628-5125 or  email at jbsmith@ailifepa.com





Folly of Marketing Plan
in  Your Head

Six Reasons You Need this Great Marketing Book:
1. If you've never had a marketing plan, 2014 should be your year to write one.

2. If you are starting a new business you need a road map and we are betting Santa did not bring you one for Christmas.

3. If you want to grow an existing business, find the catalysts here.

4. If you want to update the way you do things to become more profitable, find great tips to upscale and enliven your marketing both online and off.

5. If you want to understand the philosophy of why customers buy so that you can sell more.

6. If you want to learn how to formulate a plan that will grow your business steadily and profitably.

Get your paperback or Kindle E-Book Here. Android, PC or Kindle E-Book just $2.99 thru January 10, 2014.

Five Ways Listening to Empress of Biz Talkcast Makes You Smarter About Business
1. No BS Practical Advice to help increase your bottom line.

2. In the trenches guests who have stories and advice to help you.

3. Profit from host and guests successes and learn from their mistakes.

4. Host JoAnn Forrester has raised over 40 million dollars in financing for small businesses.

5. Fun, entertaining, inspirational business advice that will make you smarter and more profitable.



PITTSBURGH HISTORICAL STUFF

KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER- East Liberty Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.
Free and open to the public, the theme of this year's festivities is "Every Voice Counts, Every Story Matters." Beginning at noon, activities will be available in the lobby, led by partner

organizations that work toward social justice in our community, including MGR Foundation, Garden of Peace Project, Love Front Porch, Union Project, Assemble, and Literary Arts Boom. Beginning at 2 p.m., on-stage performances will feature talented youth ensembles from the region, including Hope Academy, CHANCE, 1Hood Media, Dreams of Hope, and KST's own Soundwaves Steelband.

WHEN: Monday, January 20, 2014 from 12:00noon - 4:00pm
WHERE: Kelly Strayhorn Theater 

Click HERE for more details.

NON-PROFIT EVENTS SPONSORED
 BY BLACK TIE-PITTSBURGH


CENTER FOR VICTIMS: Nominations for Peace it Together Event
Every year, the Center for Victims honors individuals in the community who are actively working to end violence and promote peace. The Peace it Together event will be held on March 13,

2014 but nominations are now being accepted for awards. Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond to promote peace? Do you know of a business or nonprofit that is using resources to make a difference in the community? Nominate them today!

Click HERE to find the nomination form, and to see a list of past winners.




OUTREACH TEEN AND FAMILY SERVICES: Annual Ladies Night Out Purse and Cash Bash
Join Outreach Teen and Family Services for the second annual Ladies Night Out Purse and Cash Bash. This fun event features dinner, drinks, and multiple opportunities to win raffle prizes. All proceeds from the fundraiser support Outreach Teen and Family Services programs, and supports the mission to foster emotionally healthy teens and their families by providing counseling and educational programs in a supportive environment.

WHEN: January 17, 2014 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm
WHERE: Castle Shannon Fire Hall, 3600 Liberty Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234
TICKETS: $35/ticket, includes pasta dinner, open bar and two chances in the main drawing for a designer purse.

Click HERE to find more information.



Fourteenth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast: "Honoring Diversity in Our Community"
Come together to honor diversity in our community while remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This breakfast will feature Assistant Editor/Columnist/Book Editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Tony Norman, and will honor a local high school student with the spirit of unity award.

WHEN: Monday, January 20, 2014 - registration begins at 8:00am, breakfast served promptly at 8:30am
WHERE: La Roche College, Zappala Student Center, 9000 Babcock Blvd., North Hills
Click HERE for more information and to register.




NEIGHBORHOOD HI-LIGHTS 

Winter Weather stuff from Allegheny County
Allegheny County Offers Tips & Information in Advance of Extreme Cold Weather

County Emergency Services, Human Services & Health Department Urge Residents to Take Precautions as Extreme Cold Weather Continues

The Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, Department of Human Services and Health Department today urged residents to take extra precautions during the next four days with continued frigid temperatures and snow in the forecast. Officials also provided a number of recommendations and safety tips to help residents prepare for and deal with the extremely cold weather.

Preparing Your Family & Home for Severe Winter Weather

The Department of Emergency Services offers the following tips to protect yourself and family from the dangers of severe winter weather and resulting impacts, such as power outages and loss of heat:

· Prepare an emergency supply kit with non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered radio, flashlight and batteries, clothing and blankets, and an adequate supply of medications.

· Have a snow shovel and other snow removal equipment, rock salt for melting ice on steps and walkways, and sand to improve motor vehicle traction.

· Develop a family emergency plan so everyone knows how to contact one another. If possible, carry cell phones. Designate locations where your family will meet, both in and outside your immediate neighborhood. It may be easier to make a long-distance call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be better able to communicate with separated family members. Have a plan to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.

· Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time, such as work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.

· Make sure your home is well insulated and that you have weather stripping around doors and windowsills to keep warm air inside. Insulate water pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during extremely cold weather to avoid frozen pipes. Shut off water valves if you will be away from home for an extended period.

· Keep fire extinguishers in your house, and make sure everyone knows where they are stored and how to use them. House fires pose a risk as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.

· Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full in case you have to leave home, and make sure it’s in good operating condition by checking antifreeze and oil levels, battery and ignition system, tires, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, thermostat, headlights, brake lights, flashing hazard lights, windshield wipers and washer fluid levels.

· Familiarize yourself with terms used to identify winter weather: freezing rain creates a coating of ice on roads, walkways and bridge surfaces; sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground and also causes roads to freeze and become slippery; winter weather advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected; winter storm warning means severe weather conditions have begun or will begin very soon: blizzard warning means heavy snow and strong winds will produce blinding snow, near zero visibility, deep drifts and life-threatening wind chill.

· Listen to NOAA weather radio, local radio and television stations, or cable stations, such as the Weather Channel, for weather updates and emergency information.

· When a weather watch, warning or advisory is issued, avoid unnecessary travel, and listen to radio and television for updates.

· If you must travel, carry necessary medications and an emergency supply kit with blankets, extra jackets, hats and gloves. Let someone know your destination, route and expected arrive time so help can be sent if your vehicle gets stuck or breaks down. If possible, carry a cell phone. If the weather is too severe to continue driving and there is shelter nearby, stay bundled up in your vehicle until help arrives.

· When confined to home during severe winter weather, eat regularly, drink fluids, but avoid caffeine/alcohol. To conserve energy and keep occupied areas warm, close off heat to unused rooms.

· Listen to instructions given by local emergency management officials. For information on how to plan and prepare for winter weather and extreme cold, as well as what to do during and afterward visit websites of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, NOAA Watch, Ready.gov or the American Red Cross.

Preventing Home Heating Fires

The Department of Emergency Services also reminds residents that half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February. Follow these safety tips to keep your home safe:

· Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves, or portable space heaters.

· Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.

· Never use your oven to heat your home.

· Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

· Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

· Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

· Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

· Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

· Test smoke alarms monthly.

For additional information on preventing household fires during winter months, visit the National Fire Protection Association’s “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” website.

Assisting Older Neighbors During Severe Weather

The Department of Human Services (DHS) encourages all county residents to check on older neighbors to make sure they are safe during periods of severe weather. Here are some tips and guidelines:

· Make sure seniors have a list of emergency telephone numbers that includes neighbors and family members who can help, if needed.

· Check to see the furnace is working if the house feels cold. Become alert to dangerous methods of heating a room, such as open flames or ovens.

· Ensure that walkways and steps leading to their homes are cleared and that there is food and water in the house.

· Go back later or the next day, if at all possible, to make sure everything is still alright. Remove your coat and stay at least 15 minutes. This is a great chance to share a cup of coffee, verify the pipes are not frozen, and check on pets.

· Be particularly mindful of older neighbors during a power outage. Lack of electrical power not only presents dangers associated with lack of heat, but also risks associated with non-functioning vital medical equipment, such as oxygen systems, emergency lighting, stair glides and medication timers. If you cannot contact someone you believe is in the house, contact your local police or emergency services.

When weather circumstances dictate, the DHS Area Agency on Aging and its contracted providers contact frail, isolated and high-risk consumers who are registered for care management. Care managers visit those at highest risk and ensure each home is well-heated and has enough food, water and medication to last for several days. Care managers also respond to emergency needs as they arise.

The Area Agency on Aging has already provided more than 2,400 “Snowy Weather Boxes” to at-risk older adults who are registered with the agency and often live alone. The boxes include toilet paper, non-skid slipper socks, hand sanitizer, flashlight and batteries, peanut butter, crackers, tuna, fruit, juice, bottled water, and other shelf-stable meals and drinks.

Information about programs and services for older adults is available by calling SeniorLine at 412-350-5460 (TDD/TTY 412-350-2727), sending an email to SeniorLine@alleghenycounty.us, or visiting the DHS Older Adults website atwww.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/olderadults.aspx.

Guarding Against Frostbite & Hypothermia

The Allegheny County Health Department urges residents to take precautions to guard against frostbite and hypothermia, the dangerous and sometimes fatal lowering of body temperature.

The wind chill index, which takes into account the combined effect of wind speed and air temperature, can be used to indicate the risk of frostbite to exposed skin. Frostbite can occur within 30 minutes at a wind chill temperature of -19 degrees, within 10 minutes at -33 degrees, and within 5 minutes at -48 degrees.

Health officials recommend the following safety measures:

· Dress warmly in loose-fitting layers of clothing. Wear a hat, scarf, boots, gloves or mittens, and ear muffs or a head band. You can lose as much as 50 percent of your body's heat through the head, so it is important to always wear a warm hat.

· Cover as much skin as possible to guard against frostbite. The nose, cheeks, ears, fingers and toes are most vulnerable. Wind and precipitation raise the risk of frostbite.

· It is especially important for adults to dress children appropriately if they are going to be outside in cold weather. If they cannot be dressed appropriately, do not send children outside in cold weather.

· Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages because they cause the body to lose heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages, broth or soup to maintain body temperature.

· If you suspect frostbite, call for emergency medical assistance. In the meantime, cover the frozen area to protect it from further injury and provide extra clothing or blankets. Bring the victim indoors, if possible, and provide something warm and non-alcoholic to drink. Re-warm the frozen area by immersing it in warm, not hot, water.

· If you suspect hypothermia, which occurs when someone’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees and causes shivering, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness, call for emergency medical assistance. In the meantime, bring the victim into a warm room. Remove wet or frozen clothing. Place the victim in warm blankets or a tub of warm, not hot, water. If the victim is conscious, give him or her non-alcoholic hot liquids.

· Hypothermia can occur indoors. If you cannot maintain a house temperature of 68 degrees, dress warmly and use blankets and hats to keep warm, especially for infants, the elderly and the chronically ill.

Cold weather health tips may be obtained by calling the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-ACHD (2243) or visiting www.achd.net.

Providing Shelter & Services to People Who Are Street Homeless

The Department of Human Services Office of Community Services and Pittsburgh Mercy Health System’s Operation Safety Net® are again operating the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter (SWES) for the safety of people who are street homeless.

The shelter is located in the Smithfield United Church of Christ at 620 Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh. It provides temporary, overnight accommodations, social services and protection from frigid temperatures to people who typically do not use other existing shelters during severe winter weather.

From now through March 15, the SWES will operate from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. when the temperature drops to 25 degrees or below and when dangerous winter weather exists or is predicted by the National Weather Service. Additional nights will be added, as needed. To find out if the SWES is activated on any given evening, call 412-779-1329.

Operation Safety Net coordinates employees and volunteers to staff the shelter and procures all necessary supplies, including sleeping bags, linens, winter apparel and food. Allegheny County Police provide security each night the shelter is activated.

Case managers help individuals who come to the shelter access needed services, secure benefits, and find permanent housing. In the past five years, Operation Safety Net has successfully connected more than 850 of the individuals it serves to housing.

During the winter of 2011-2012, the SWES operated 31 nights, down from a record 64 nights during the winter of 2010-2011. During the 31 nights it was open, the shelter served an average of 65 people each night. Overall, 409 individuals benefited from the shelter’s activation – 43 were age 26 or younger, and 29 were age 64 or older. Fifty of the individuals were women, and 48 of the individuals were veterans.

The SWES is made possible by funding from DHS, the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, Federal Emergency Management Agency, City of Pittsburgh Department of Economic Development, and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Monetary donations are welcome and may be made at www.pmhs.org. To donate by phone, contact PMHS Development Executive Director Connie Murray at 724-934-3537. For more information about the SWES, contact Operation Safety Net Program Manager Stephanie Chiappini at 412-246-2980.

 POSITIVE PITTSBURGHERS SEGMENT 

The Ultimate Recipe for an Energetic Life
Please join me on Tuesday, January 16th from 6-8 pm to celebrate the launch of my book: The Ultimate Recipe for an Energetic Life.

You'll be able to sample recipes from the book, de-stress with a glass of wine, and purchase copies of the book. You'll also learn what foods you need to have in your pantry to ward off colds and flues this winter. And discover what foods are keeping you from feeling energetic!

Please invite your friends along! The 3rd Street Gallery in Carnegie is a fun venue for a winter evening! Hope to see you soon!

Kathy

Kathy Parry - Your Real Food Coach
Keynote, Employee, Event and Association Wellness Programs
Author of The Ultimate Recipe to an Energetic Life 


ROVING PITTSBURGHER REPORT 

Colangelo's Bakery 21st St. in the Strip

Colangelo's is a pasta, pizza and bakery shop right next door to the best coffee place in the strip district, La Prima Espresso, 205 21st St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Neighborhood: Strip District


There is even an open doorway between the two and the only challenge when you go in the door, especially on a Saturday morning, is do you have a fresh piece of New York Style pizza or an Italian pastry? We had pizza with fontinella cheese and spinach, no sauce. MMMMM! Primo! Also enjoyed a raspberry latte from La Prima. The canoli is also amazing. Except for a couple of premium tables you either have to get your food to go, or stand at the tall tables they provide. But it's worth the stand. Pasta, pizza, pannini, and old style baked goods.

Check out these prices: this might be the best deal in the strip.
Daily Pasta & Sandwich Features... $5.75-$5.95
Monday: Pasta w/Bolognese Sauce
Muffaletta Sandwich
Tuesday: Pasta w/Spinach aglio-olio
Hanger Steak Sandwich
Wednesday: Pasta w/Sicilian Sauce
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Thursday: Polenta w/Spicy Sausage
Hot Sausage Sandwich
Friday: Pasta w/White Clam Sauce
Italian Tuna Melt
Saturday: Thick Sicilian Pizza
$2.00 a slice
Everyday: Pasta $5.75
Tomato Basil Sauce, Pesto, Aglio-olio

Lucy's Handmade Clothing Shop
http://www.lucysclothingshop.com/

2012 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15227
This is a sister shop to the one on Smallman Street in the Strip District but it has longer hours and is not as crowed. We go for the amazing jewelry at half of depatment store prices, but the store is just packed with amazing eclectic fashions that you might not find somewhere else. We defy you to go inside and not spend any money. They have everything from kicky $3.00 earrings, to elaborate necklaces with matching earrings and dramatic bracelets.





PITTSBURGH LOCAL SPORTS


Barksdale
Rock football quartet earns first-team Hansen all-region honors
Nine members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference runner-up Slippery Rock University football team were named Monday afternoon as members of the Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Region Committee’s 2013 NCAA Division II All-Super Region One squad.

 The Rock had the second-highest number of first-team selections and tied for the second-highest total number of student-athletes honored among the 49 Super Region 1 teams.
McCombie

Region champion West Chester placed five players on the first team, while The Rock had four and regional runner-up Shepherd and PSAC champion Bloomsburg had three each.
Schademan

Tucker
Shepherd led the overall squad with 10 selections, Bloomsburg and Slippery Rock had nine each, New Haven posted seven and West Chester, Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg each had six players honored.

Senior quarterback Nigel Barksdale, senior punter James McCombie, senior wide receiver John Schademan and redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Cory Tucker each earned first-team status to headline the list of Rock student-athletes honored
Read the entire release here

PITTSBURGH GOOD NEWS FORUM

This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2014 All rights reserved.



Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.

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