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Dear Residents,

I have been asked by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to distribute the attached survey to homeowners in order to solicit their opinions on the deer population.

Please take a few moments to complete the survey.  This Is Your Opportunity To Be Heard.  There are only 4 questions on the survey and it should take 5 minutes tops to complete.  I need to have the surveys returned no later than Saturday, February 20th.

The results will be given to the Game Commission.  Then the Game Commissioners will evaluate all the results and determine a five year plan for the 2B Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) which is basically Allegheny County.  We will not have another opportunity like this for five years.  The more surveys I receive, the greater our voice will be on this issue.

• Link To Survey: Deer Management Opinion Survey

Thank you for your time and if you have any questions please call or email me.

Sincerely,

Karla Maruca

Phone: (412) 366-6698
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Editor's Note: The online survey will close Feb. 20.

As if the 2 feet of snow over that blanked Ross and West View this past weekend wasn't enough, Round Two of the Great Snow Storm of 2010 is about to move into the area today.

Channel 11 News meteorologist Scott Harbaugh said Pittsburgh and the surrounding counties can expect to see at least another 6 inches of snow.  Meanwhile, the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a winter storm warning from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Wednesday for eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia and most of Pennsylvania. Accumulations of 6 to 10 inches can be expected.

District schools are all closed as well as the North Hills Community Outreach Food Pantry.

Check on elderly neighbors and relatives

Be sure to check on any elderly relatives and neighbors.  Home-bound elderly are the most vulnerable to the loss of power and phone service essential for home heating and calling emergency first-responders. 

There are over 2,500 senior citizens that fall into the "high risk" category, said the county's Agency on Aging administrator Mildred Morisony.  Her advice:  "Go knock on the door, repeatedly. If you don't get a response and you know someone is in the house, then call a public safety official."

So bundle up. Get the shovel.  Be safe  and get ready for Round Two of the Great Winter Snow Storm of 2010.

FEMA Tips and Guidelines for coping with a major winter storm

• Listen to your radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information.
• Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.
• If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
• Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.
• Cover your mouth. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors. Try not to speak unless absolutely necessary.
• Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.
• Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.
• Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.

Area Warming Shelters

White Oak
Fire Station 300
2916 Jacks Run Road
White Oak 15131

Bellevue
Northgate High School
591 Union Avenue

Shaler
Shaler MIddle School

Millvale
Fire Station 191
501 Lincoln Avenue
Millvale 15209

More Helpful Links

• FEMA
• Follow the weather on WPXI's Digital Doppler Radar...
• School Closings Updates...

One of the biggest dilemmas that I faced while pregnant was my clothing options.  I didn’t find out that I was pregnant until late November and I was due the beginning of August.  I would have to go through THREE seasons worth of clothes before the baby came and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on a wardrobe that I would only wear a few months.

One of the first things I purchased was a belly band.  Several stores carry them (such as Target and Motherhood Maternity).  This helped me get a few more weeks out of my pants.  It also helped towards the end of my pregnancy to give extra support. 
The next things I purchased were all items that could interchange and get multiple uses out of them.  A simple black dress, a pair of jeans, a pair of khakis and multiple t-shirts.  I found deals at Gap Maternity and Old Navy Maternity.   Old Navy Maternity is great, especially online because you can check out all the clearance items.  I was able to get a swim suit for $10.  I thought that was a pretty good deal.

As the weather heated up, I purchased a few pairs of cropped pants and few pairs of shorts.  While I couldn’t wear the shorts to work, they came in handy on the weekends.  I also found a few good deals at Target.com for sundresses.  I was disappointed by the selection at the Target store itself.  It seems as though they only have one to two racks of maternity wear.  So the selections were not great, but they still had a few items here and there.  Also note that Target’s maternity clothes do not always follow your usual size as many brands do.

Hello AcrossRossers and visitors,

I wish you and yours a very wonderful New Year and New Decade.

May you be safe, happy, content and healthy.  I will add to that the thought that the promise and hope of a new decade is a wonderful ocassion for dreaming, daring and achievment.  So whatever it is that you aspire to do or be in the next ten years, go get it. Don't wait. The next ten will get here sooner than we think. So seize the decade.

At this point, I should cue Auld Lang Syne... "Should old acquaintances be...." (Be thankful this is not an audio posting... I am not much of a singer)

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Matthew J. DeReno
AcrossRoss Managing Editor