SPRING 2013

Fugitives Wanted: Tips Gratefully Accepted Have you seen them? by local police and are likely to extend with tips concerning the person’s their patterns of crime until they’ve been whereabouts. Callers do not have to Arrest warrants issued by District apprehended. identify themselves, nor will they be Justices are outstanding on more than subpoenaed as witnesses in court: 40 individuals for crimes committed in So in February, Cranberry police began cases against the accused have Cranberry Township. They range from plastering the fugitives’ names, faces, already been compiled. writing bad checks and shoplifting to ages, criminal charges, and last known criminal addresses on the Township’s website No rewards are currently posted for assault. at cranberrytownship.org/wanted. the people being sought on Cranberry’s But all of None of the warrants are for residents Ten Most Wanted list. If you have them are of Cranberry Township, but most come information about any of their currently from nearby communities, and their whereabouts, don’t approach or at large – identities are available to anyone, any- attempt to apprehend them – just people where, simply by doing an online search. provide police with any information they who have can use, either by calling 9-1-1 or by Cranberry police hope that people eluded email at: [email protected], who recognize a fugitive will either call capture and let them do the rest. 9-1-1 or their local police department ˜ On the lam. If you’ve seen any of these people, they’re all wanted for crimes committed in Cranberry. Check out the Township’s website for their names, photos, crimes and last known mailing addresses. Then call 9-1-1 with any tips that can help police apprehend them.

What Should I Do With My Local Earned Income Tax Return? Pennsylvania’s procedure all their employees. Berkheimer Tax are available online at www.hab-inc.com. for collecting certain Administrators – Cranberry’s income Questions about your earned income local taxes changed tax collector – now collects the tax tax, as well as your $10 Seneca Valley last year. Employers from those employers rather than from Occupation Tax and $52 Local Services are now required employees. However, residents must Tax, should be directed to Berkheimer’s to withhold continue filing their final individual Butler County office at 724-282-0377. earned income tax returns with Berkheimer – either tax from electronically or by mail. Return forms ˜

A Publication of Inside This Issue: Public Safety...... 2 Seneca Valley...... 11 2-1-1 Phone Service...... 3 Yarn Bombing...... 12 Engineering ...... 4 Special Insert...... Center Spread Supervisor’s Commentary ...... 5 Calendar...... 13 Tech Company Profile...... 6 Parks & Recreation...... 16 Thomson Business Park...... 7 Kids Castle Playground...... 17 Fire Company...... 8 Public Works...... 18 724-776-4806 In Briefs...... 10 Finance...... 23 www.cranberrytownship.org PUBLIC SAFETY Should You Drive Yourself To The Hospital? Picture this: You can tell something’s perform it at that hospital. They have and screaming to our ambulance; that not right, but you’re not sure what it is. to send those patients to Passavant doesn’t happen. Telltale signs might include sudden back Main. Covered by insurance pain, chest pain, numbness, dizziness, “If you opt to drive yourself, you could headache, breathing problems, or other “We transport people to the hospital, end up at the wrong hospital and then uncomfortable symptoms. So should that’s what we do for a living. If you you call 9-1-1 and have them send an have insurance, your insurance ambulance? Or should you jump Any couple 62 or company is going to get the bill; that’s in the car and make a run for why you have insurance. We sometimes Passavant Cranberry? older can subscribe encounter people who are apprehensive about coming with us because they’re It’s a judgment call people to the Cranberry EMS worried about the finances. But we here need to make every Ambulance Service do everything in our power to assure day. And it can have serious for just $40 a year. them that this is the safest mode of consequences. Call 724-776-4380. transportation and earliest intervention Jeff Kelly is Executive Director of the for whatever their medical emergency Cranberry Township EMS, and to anyone happens to be, before they get to the experiencing acute medical symptoms, Emergency Department. lose more time being transported he makes a strong case for calling somewhere else,” he explained. “Our “We don’t show up asking for your 9-1-1. He offers three major reasons: suggestion has always been that if credit card or checking to see if you One is that if you faint, have a seizure, you believe you’re having any kind of have insurance or a subscription before or in some other way become incapaci- medical emergency, dial 9-1-1 and we decide whether to take you. That’s tated while behind the wheel, you would allow us to come to your house. We do not how we operate; that’s not how not only fail to reach the hospital, you a thorough medical assessment, and most EMS services operate. However, could have a serious accident. then offer treatment and transport Cranberry’s EMS doesn’t receive any Second, the ambulance is staffed with recommendations to you, which may or tax funding other than a fuel stipend. medical technicians who can begin may not include Passavant Cranberry. We operate solely on third-party billing, where we take you to the hospital, bill life-saving intervention – intravenous “Of course we do take a lot of people to your insurance company, and expect hydration, bandaging, splinting, Passavant Cranberry. But through our to get reimbursed. If you’re not a anti-nausea medication, and so on – medical assessment on the scene, we subscriber and don’t have insurance, even before you get to the hospital. can make an informed decision about we’re going to bill you. But we will work which hospital is most appropriate for And third, you may end up at the wrong with you to make those payments – your condition. place; not every hospital is set up to a couple dollars a month or whatever care for every medical problem. “However, just because we come out it might be – so that the claim can Oops, wrong hospital doesn’t mean you have to go with us. be paid off.” We’re not ˜ “UPMC Passavant Cranberry is an allowed to excellent facility. They do a lot of really forcibly take good outpatient services, and they have anybody an emergency room just like any other against their hospital,” Kelly pointed out. “However, will; that’s they don’t have a lot of the specialty kidnapping in services you normally see in an acute the state of care setting. People who show up there Pennsylvania. with chest pain might need emergency We won’t drag heart catheterization, but they can’t you kicking

PAGE 2 Cranberrytoday Got A Problem? Who You Gonna Call? Try 2-1-1 It’s already active in 85 percent of secure ongoing financial support from the country – in some cases for more the PUC-mandated ‘Universal Service’ than 20 years. But in case you missed customer assistance programs run by it, dialing 2-1-1 in states where it’s gas and electric utility companies in Southwestern Pennsylvania remains available will connect you with the area. But already, 2-1-1 is proving a work in progress. Memoranda of people who can put you in touch with its value to both human service understanding are still being crafted community resources and nonprofit organizations and individuals requesting between different nonprofits, districts, human service organizations equipped assistance with needs such as feeding public agencies, and professional to deal with non-emergency issues like a family, completing tax returns, locating associations. The database of human threats of foreclosure, utility shut-offs, a summer camp, or finding a job. service organizations continues to expand. And the protocols for escalating disaster recovery, or help in caring for More help, faster family members with chronic illness. urgent 2-1-1 calls to 9-1-1 are still And it’s free. A recent study in Westmoreland County, being worked through. for example, found that prior to 2-1-1, Now, finally, that same referral service is At the same time, however, by collecting callers needed to make an average available to residents of Southwestern data about problems which had previ- of 4 to 7 calls before connecting with Pennsylvania as well, and operators are ously gone unreported, 2-1-1 carries the the right service organizations. With standing by. It’s confidential, it’s not potential for exposing serious gaps in 2-1-1, the number of misdirected calls, recorded, you don’t have to leave the region’s network of legal alternatives and need to repeat the same story, fell your name, and you’re not obliged to and human service offerings, according sharply, while the timeliness of agency follow up with any of the referrals you to Cranberry Public Safety Director Jeff response to caller needs improved. And are given. Schueler. As a result, the system could a federal grant program to help families eventually become a catalyst for new But, unlike 9-1-1, the 2-1-1 service is in northwestern Butler County avoid legislation at every level of government. not taxpayer financed. Instead, it was foreclosure, which is administered by For now, however, the service is available launched with startup funding from the the state’s housing finance agency, here and ready to help Cranberry contracted with 2-1-1 to promote its residents navigate the often confusing program, and is already credited with The 2-1-1 service is not assortment of human services currently saving nearly 500 homes. taxpayer financed. Instead, out there – and it works from any Today, more than 450 health and private phone. it was launched with startup human services in Pennsylvania ˜ funding from the United Ways have their own telephone ‘hotlines.’ Many have tried to create memorable America’s N11 Codes of Westmoreland, Butler, and phonewords – alphanumeric equivalents A special series of abbreviated phone numbers is available in of their telephone number that form a Allegheny Counties. most of the U.S. word, acronym, or abbreviation. But the 9-1-1 and 4-1-1 work from nearly sheer volume of agencies out there has United Ways of Westmoreland, every telephone. Human service become overwhelming. However 2-1-1, Butler, and Allegheny Counties. referrals in Southwestern which uses the familiar N11 shorthand Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, Mercer Pennsylvania are now available dialing code, takes callers directly to and Washington County United through 2-1-1 with support from trained professionals who can tap into Ways joined in a bit later. And plans United Way. The N11 code system a database of more than 50 agencies are in place for it to become fully typically includes: in Butler County – and many hundreds operational throughout the entire 2-1-1: Community services of others statewide – along with details 11-county Southwestern Pennsylvania 3-1-1: Municipal government services about the services they provide and region by the end of next year, at 4-1-1: Telephone directory assistance how to reach them. which time it is expected to handle 5-1-1: Traffic information an estimated 450,000 calls annually. A low-profile launch of 2-1-1 in Allegheny 6-1-1: Telephone customer service County actually took place in late 2011, 7-1-1: TDD relay for the deaf Eventually, according to United Way of so that its initial system bugs could 8-1-1: Underground utility location Butler County Executive Director Leslie be identified. Today, 2-1-1 service in 9-1-1: Emergency services Osche, the program’s organizers hope to

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 3 ENGINEERING Improving On Nature: Cranberry’s Kinder, Gentler Stormwater Management Program Stormwater cascades down from quite detailed, its goals higher elevations. So do stormwater are fairly straightforward: regulations. decrease flood damage, expand recreational In the early ‘70s, a flood of public opportunities, enhance concern about air and water pollution fishing, improve well water, led to formation of the federal upgrade public health, Environmental Protection Agency. and create a more Its overflow poured onto the states, attractive appearance. where it gave rise to Pennsylvania’s Downstream danger. Stormwater management has Department of Environmental One of the primary consequences. So does the lack of it. After a heavy Protection. That, in turn, spilled over instruments for achieving rainstorm, this home in Shaler has to deal with those onto Butler County’s 2011 stormwater those goals stems from the consequences. management plan. And implementation Township’s ability to issue to smaller projects, such as single- of the County plan’s eventually trickled permits for new construction based on family homes built outside of any down onto Cranberry Township. plans which include, to the greatest subdivision – are new ones. However, extent practical, best practices for Rain, of course, is a naturally occurring unlike some other communities in the managing stormwater. That authority, phenomenon. Rainwater has percolated region, Cranberry has had a history in turn, derives from Cranberry’s into soil and run off into streams of taking stormwater seriously. It has compliance with federal legislation since the beginning of time. But just mapped its watersheds and tracked its detailing those practices, which carries because something is natural doesn’t stormwater outflows in exquisite detail. the unwieldy name of “Federal national mean it’s harmless; Mother Nature And it enacted local stormwater controls Pollutant Discharge Elimination System can be ruthless. Surging stormwater, more than 20 years ago. But it didn’t Phase II, Stormwater Discharges From stop there. Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Just because something Systems General Permit” – or MS4, for “The Township created a stormwater is natural doesn’t mean short. Cranberry is one of only three control model back in 1996 which Butler County communities obliged to went well beyond what was required,” it’s harmless. follow its requirements. Schutzman said. “People often worry that new development will cause Exercise control unusual water flows or flooding to their for example, leads to floods which Staff engineer Tim Schutzman is property. We want to assure them that can sweep away everything in their the Township’s point man in the we’ve already looked at improving path. And today, with America’s largely implementation of MS4. “When how stormwater is being controlled on urbanized population, intensive developers submit plans, I review them new development sites to minimize its development along flood plains, to make sure they meet the stormwater impact on adjacent property owners.” sprawling swaths of pavement, and code requirements,” Schutzman extensive use of hazardous chemicals, Managing stormwater effectively is more explained. “That includes the release the potential harm from uncontrolled than just an engineering issue, however; rate of water from the site, the control stormwater is greater than ever. So it’s also an educational one – raising of water volume from the site, whether regulations have been enacted to public awareness about why people they provide for groundwater absorption minimize the damage – regardless should even bother caring about their on their site, and water quality controls of whether it originated from natural community’s rainwater drainage system. from various pollutants on their site. We or human activity. Most residents take it for granted, and control for thermal issues, sediment, the better a system works, the less they As a result, Cranberry is now working pollutants, and nutrients – they’re all notice it. Cranberry’s is working just diligently to administer the County’s factors in stormwater quality coming fine. So raising its public profile without stormwater plan provisions within its off a site.” needlessly raising alarm, is presenting own municipal boundaries. Even though It’s a big task, and some of its local officials with an intriguing the plan’s technical requirements are provisions – particularly as they relate communication challenge. ˜ PAGE 4 Cranberrytoday SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTARY Signs And Speed Limits by Dave Root, Cranberry Township Supervisor

Everyone gets Township determines where to put stop • Number of accidents in a year at the frustrated in signs, restrict entrances, and set speed intersection (5 or more). traffic. That limits. There are no perfect solutions, • Main road volume: a minimum of was readily but I believe that our Township staff 300 vehicles per hour for 8 hours. apparent when works hard to make our roads as safe I rode along recently with a Cranberry as possible. Also, please realize that • Combined vehicular, pedestrian and Township Police officer during a late many of our main roads are owned by bicycle volume entering the intersec- afternoon rush hour. I observed the the state, not the Township. So our input tion from side streets. (minimum of officer conduct traffic stops, investi- about them is limited. 200 units per hour for 8 hours). gate a reported road rage incident, and Speed limits. These are based •Higher speed limits on the main street respond to an accident. At one point we on various criteria set by PennDOT, changes the minimums above. were next to a car with a young person the Pennsylvania Department of doing something with their cell phone Right in, right out entrances. These Transportation. They include: and not looking around. are based on the volume of traffic and • Road history, tradition. Many of our “sight distance.” If the speed limit on According to the federal government, Township roads have been here for the road, combined with the distance 80% of all driving accidents involve long time, and their speed limits to see the entrance, won’t allow a car some sort of distraction including things haven’t changed, even though the to safely enter/exit by turning across like cell phones, reading, eating, or just road may have improved. Resident traffic, then these must be used. Part looking at something in or outside the input is key in this. Limits do change of this decision is also that without a vehicle. The accident we responded to with when the actual speed on the dedicated turn lane, making such turns was supposedly due to a driver “not road is observed and a concept of the causes large backups. noticing” a light had turned red, so “85th percentile” is used. Simply put, they ran through it. Again, there are no perfect solutions, that’s the speed which 85 percent of and sometimes PennDOT regulations First, let me say how impressed I am the drivers on the road actually use. don’t cover every situation, but our with the professionalism I observed The number of accidents is also Township staff works hard to make the when the officer dealt with upset considered. roads as safe as we can. As always, drivers (no one is happy getting a • Road design. Roads must be your input is welcome. citation; some actually admit to their designed for higher speeds. If a road ˜ violations). The majority of the violations has a 5% percent grade or more, the observed were illegal turns from right speed limit must be 25 mph or less. in/right out only entrances, against red The number of pedestrians using the lights, or from the wrong lane, and I only road and whether there are sidewalks, saw a small fraction of these violations. are also considered. • Road category. Simply put, if it’s a There are no perfect residential road, the speed limit is solutions, but I believe lower, usually 25 mph. that our Township staff Stop signs and signals. The most interesting thing I learned about stop works hard to make our signs is that by law they can’t be used roads as safe as possible. for speed control. Other measures such as islands or roundabouts are used instead. An “engineering study” The ride-along, combined with routinely must be conducted to determine hearing from residents about our roads, if a multi-way stop sign is needed. made me want to look into how the Criteria used include:

You can reach Dave Root by email at [email protected]

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 5 TECH COMPANY PROFILE Meet The World’s Largest Maker Of Nuclear Products Can you name the biggest maker of “The team is responsible for anything for example – all have a powerful nuclear power products in Cranberry? that goes on electrically inside a plant,” influence on the industry and what it Duffett explains. “This organization demands from its suppliers, including If you said Westinghouse, guess again. exists to supply electrical equipment to Areva. “We’re all about safety and qual- It’s actually Areva, a $9 billion company, ity, because it’s our business,” he point- with U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, ed out. “We design, build and service N.C., which provides end-to-end “This organization exists nuclear plants with the goal of making materials, equipment and services to to supply electrical them the safest and most efficient form nuclear power plants all over the world. of energy in the world today.” And for the past ten years, a piece of equipment to nuclear it has taken up residence in Cranberry plants. Obsolescence While most of what the company Business Park, where it reaches out installs at customer plants involves big, to serve a cluster of nuclear plants in is a huge opportunity.” engineered-to-order items, much of it the U.S. and Canada with electrical is actually manufactured by a network equipment and related services. of independent suppliers – many of nuclear plants. And the reason nuclear which are also based in southwestern Although Areva’s worldwide operations plants need the equipment is that most Pennsylvania. In fact, before coming employ more than 47,000, even in of them were built in the ‘70s and ‘80s. over to Areva, Duffett himself had the United States, which represents So obsolescence is a huge opportunity worked for a division of Eaton located only a fraction of its business portfolio, for us. They’re trying to get more power in Thorn Hill Park – a business unit the company employs 5,000. Their from the physical equipment in the subsequently acquired by predecessor specialties range all the way from plants, and technology changes a lot of Areva. mining and enriching uranium, to in 40 or 50 years.” building and servicing power plants, Their company’s acquisition meant Some of the items the company installs and finally to dismantling old plants the former Eaton employees got to at customer sites are actually very and recycling spent fuel rods. But while keep essentially the same commute small – electrical relays, starters, and its capabilities cover the full spectrum, as before. That’s more than just a so forth. But some of them, like variable most of its business in the U.S. at this casual convenience. Recruiting and frequency drives which control the time involves servicing the 104 nuclear retaining qualified personnel confers motors driving huge pumps, can be the power plants already in operation – an important competitive advantage on size of a railroad car. plants which currently supply 20 percent technology companies, and the talent of the nation’s electric power. Anything electric pool residing in the greater Pittsburgh area was one of Areva’s top reasons for William Duffett, an electrical engineer, “Anything electric that needs to be selecting Cranberry as its home. directs the Cranberry operation, replaced from an obsolescence where anywhere from 60 to 80 of standpoint, or is being changed out to “Cranberry’s a very new area, the the company’s employees hang their increase productivity or efficiency in the infrastructure is very attractive for hats when they’re not out servicing a plant – that’s what we do,” he said. us, there are lots of things to do,” customer’s site. he reflected. “And we’re a very But nuclear power is a peculiar internationally engaged organization. business. While it is clean, stable, Our international suppliers and and generally quite safe, insulating stakeholders like coming to Pittsburgh power plants against real or poten- and Cranberry. It’s very convenient. tial threats – terrorist attacks, It’s very accessible, and it’s very well cyber attacks, and seismic events, located for most of our suppliers.” ˜ Cranberry’s nuclear family. William Duffett, who heads the electrical systems operation of Areva in Cranberry, services scores of utility customers in the US. Areva is the world’s largest supplier of fuel, equipment and services to the 500 nuclear powered electric generating plants which are either currently in operation or under construction around the globe.

Although widely known for its retail businesses, Cranberry is also becoming an important high technology center. Each issue of CranberryToday features the profile of a different local technology company and offers a glimpse into the Township’s emerging knowledge-based economy.

PAGE 6 Cranberrytoday Thomson Business Park: Keeping Ahead Of The Curve Alfred E. Thomson, III was a visionary. hard to educate people in Pittsburgh have included a self-storage business, As a developer of both commercial and that Cranberry was going to be the next office buildings, an apartment complex, residential properties, he didn’t select hot place, or that people would want to and various other developments in sites for his building projects based on live in Jackson Township. He was always Mt. Lebanon and the airport area, where the market happened to be at the ahead of the curve, which meant people as well as a modular housing plan time. Instead, he chose them because had to catch up to him. So sometimes it in Zelienople. But at least for now, of where the market appeared to be would take longer to get projects done.” Cranberry’s Thomson Business Park going. remains the only flex space property in By 1989, Thomson had acquired a the company’s portfolio. Back in the early ’70s, he built his sizeable piece of undeveloped land on company’s current office, Arcadia Rochester Road in Cranberry, just west “It’s been very nice,” Thomson reflected. Center, on a previously wooded stretch of St. Ferdinand’s church, and built the “It’s fairly low-maintenance because of McKnight Road in McCandless. From first of what would eventually become once tenants get in, they seem to stay that vantage point, along with his son the four-building Thomson Business a long time; we don’t have a lot of Alfred E. Thomson IV, he watched as Park complex. Over time, as business turnover. Everyone’s pretty quiet; they traffic raced north from Ross Township tenants seeking space for assembly, don’t make too many demands on us, on to Wexford. And later, they watched warehousing, and light manufacturing unlike the other things we have, such as traffic tried ferreting out shortcuts filled the building’s 3,100 square foot as self-storage that leases from month- to Cranberry. units, another building would go up. to-month, or apartments which rent The final building, completed just a year year-to-year. So it’s a whole different “My dad started out as a builder in the before the senior Thomson’s death in animal.” North Hills, and just saw the growth 1995, brought the business park’s total heading north,” the younger Thomson The company’s experience working with space to more than 200,000 square recalls. “Back in the ‘80s he developed Cranberry’s municipal government has feet. a lot in Franklin Park, which was a also been favorable. “We’ve had an growing community at the time. Once Today, among its eclectic assortment excellent relationship with Cranberry,” he conquered that, he moved on to 40 tenants which include a church, a he acknowledged. “The permitting Cranberry Township. And he did some gymnastics school, an electric scooter process is fine; they know our history development in Jackson Township. So builder, an internet pet supply company, and the way our buildings are built. The he’d go where the growth was. a coffee roaster, a microscope maker, only change has been that back when Go north, young man and more, Thomson Business Park has we developed the buildings, some of an astonishing 98 percent occupancy them weren’t fully ADA accessible, so “But he’d always do things way ahead rate with three-year leases on spaces with the new rules, we’ve had to retrofit of when they actually worked,” Thomson ranging from a single 3,100 square foot to meet those regulations. But there noted. “That was inventive, but it was bay to as many as six bays side-by-side, haven’t really been any struggles getting also a bit of a curse because it was all with 20-foot high ceilings. new tenants or dealing with new codes. A diversified “Right now, we’re just managing what “It was hard to educate people in portfolio we’ve built and making improvements to keep up with today’s market. And we’re Pittsburgh that Cranberry was going to Other Thomson looking for future opportunities, whether Properties projects be the next hot place, so sometimes it they’re commercial or residential.” over the years would take longer to get projects done.” ˜

Not much room at the inn. The tagline on Thomson Properties’ brochure is “We’ve got room.” But at its namesake business park in Cranberry, room is scarce. With an occupancy rate of 98 percent and low tenant turnover, Thomson Business Park has been home to 40 tenants representing a wide range of industries for more than 20 years. Park owner Alfred Thomson IV, shown here, has built on the legacy begun by his father, developer Alfred Thomson III.

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 7 FIRE COMPANY

Firefighter Profile: The Winters’ Worldwide Brotherhood Gene Winters’ firefighters kicked into cold weather high gear. jacket is emblazoned with the name “When the call came in, ‘Coeymans Fire Company.’ Over his 52 there were guys at the fire years as a firefighter Winters, a retired station. And when it said Texaco executive, has belonged to All in the family. Three generations of Gene Winters’ ‘208 Hobart Drive,’ where four different fire companies, following family are currently members of Cranberry Township’s we lived, they said ‘Oh career moves to various parts of the Volunteer Fire Company. They include, left to right, Todd my God! That’s Gene’s country as head of his company’s Winters, Niko Gratteri, and Gene Winters. Gene’s father, house!’ Guys in a different also a firefighter, had served with a volunteer fire Lubricating Oil Division. fire station on the other company in upstate New York. Coeymans – pronounced QUEE-mans side of town heard the – is a suburb of Albany, New York, dispatcher and said ‘That’s a Life Member designation. And his where his fire service began, as both Gene’s house!’ But they came anyway, mom has remained a pillar of the his father’s and brother’s had before even though they hadn’t even been Ladies Auxiliary. him. In 1977, a corporate transfer to called. And as I was watching them Ten years ago, Todd married Karen, New Jersey brought the family to the put out the fire, I turned around. It whose son, Niko Gratteri, had also Camden area, in a community served looked like a parade out there with so inherited the fire gene – although in by the Chews Landing Fire Department many trucks. They had come because his case, it came from both sides of which, at the time, was an all-volunteer everybody knows everybody – it’s a big the family. But it was a visit to his company. brotherhood. They came on their own, step-grandfather’s home, where he first and they brought their trucks.” “When I was transferred to New saw Gene’s massive collection of Jersey, I didn’t know anybody,” Winters Successive generations model fire trucks, which really ignited admitted. “And the best place to meet the flame. This January, after getting Several years later, after the family somebody is at a fire station. Every day, a jump on his Firefighter I designation had finally settled in Cranberry, Gene’s on my way home from work, I’d pass the through an arrangement between his son Todd also came down with the fire fire station. It’s a big family. So one day high school and the Ambridge Fire bug. “I’d been around it since I was I knocked on the door and they let me Company, Niko – now 18 – was voted in diapers. I just wanted to get into in. I said ‘I’m here to volunteer.’ And full membership in Cranberry’s Fire it and to follow his footsteps toward they said ‘come on in.’ It was like I’d Company. But the CTVFC is just one firefighting,” Todd said, with a nod been there for years.” part of a much larger family. toward his dad. “I joined as a junior On the move member, when I was 15, and I went “The first time I went to Punta Cana, up through the ranks.” in the Caribbean, we had time to kill Then, in the early ‘80s, Winters was before going to the resort, so I went tapped again – this time for a transfer In fact, for a brief period when Gene over to the airport’s fire station,” Gene to Coraopolis. But just as he and his served as Chief, Todd became his recalled. “I said ‘I’m a volunteer from wife Janice were about to leave for Assistant Chief, having already earned the U.S.’ And we sat down and had a Pittsburgh on a house hunting trip, the ranks of Lieutenant and then conversation. In Jamaica, same thing. disaster struck. A candle left on the Captain in the Fire Brigade – the It’s just a brotherhood all over the world. kitchen counter had ignited a curtain, organization’s first response firefighting You’re welcome, no matter where you and just as the couple returned from an unit. Today, though, he serves on the go. That’s how I got this jacket from evening on the town, black smoke came Company side – the business and Coeymans. Even though I’m gone – and billowing out the front door. Janice ran administrative arm of CTVFC – after I’ve been gone a long time – they never across the street to call for help. returning in 2009 from a three-year forget. They gave me the jacket.” That’s when Winters’ brotherhood of hiatus following 21 years of service and ˜

Cranberry welcomes new Fire Company volunteers throughout the year. To learn more, call 724-776-1196.

PAGE 8 Cranberrytoday FIRE COMPANY

Round Up Your Old Prescription Drugs Cranberry Township will again be taking in unwanted medicine for disposal at the Municipal Center rear parking lot on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. It’s part of national Drug Take-Back Day – a free, popular drive-thru, drop-off collection program, which was initiated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration several years ago. Its goals include safely disposing of expired pharmaceuticals, removing them from the sanitary sewer system and ultimately out of drinking water, and keeping them from falling into in the wrong hands, leading to serious addiction, legal and social problems. All forms of medication, including tablets, capsules, pills, liquids and ointments, whether purchased by prescription or over-the-counter, will be accepted. However sharpies and syringes cannot be accepted due to the potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens. ˜

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 9 IN BRIEFS

The Coffee’s On Us Cranberry’s popular Community Coffee series continues in 2013 with plenty of hot java and informal conversation with Cranberry Township Manager Jerry Andree. This casual series of community-based conversations, held monthly at different sites throughout the Township, provides local residents with an opportunity to hear first-hand what Cranberry’s municipal government is thinking about doing, what it’s working on now, what it has recently completed, and to pose their own questions to the Manager. Venues for the Coffee series in the past have included residential neighborhoods, business locations, and Township facilities. There is no charge to attend any of the events, and no reservations are required, although RSVPs for planning purposes to 724-776-4806, will be appreciated. The schedule for this season’s get-togethers includes: Wednesday, April 10, 10:00 AM Tuesday, July 23, 10:00 AM Thursday, September 12, 10:00 AM Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day BC3 at Cranberry, 250 Executive Dr. Brush Creek Treatment Plant, 2306 Saints, 2771 Rochester Rd. (next to the Post Office) Powell Rd. (near the corner of Powell Wednesday, May 15, 10:00 AM Friday, August 2, 12 Noon Road and Glen Eden) Public Works/Traffic Operations Center Friday Lunchtime Concert in the Gazebo, Thursday, June 13, 5:30 PM followed by 1:00 iced tea and cook- Community Park/Jaycees Shelter, ies with the Manager in the Sample followed by a 7:00 concert in the Schoolhouse (on the Municipal Center Amphitheater featuring “Street Level” front lawn)

The Fine Art Of Business Privilege/Mercantile Taxes Recycling Are Getting Serious Associated Artists of Butler County, If you own or manage a business in Cranberry, you are required together with CTCC Community Days to register and pay a tax on its gross receipts. If you don’t and UPMC Passavant, are sponsoring know whether the registration requirement applies to the 2013 Art of Recycling Show, your business, or whether you are reporting the proper featuring artwork constructed of amounts, contact Jeana Lichina, the Township’s in-house recyclable materials. The show will be Tax Administrator, at 724-776-4806 ext. 1165. Cranberry held at the Cranberry Municipal Center plans to enhance its compliance enforcement efforts in from April 19 through May 11. A “Meet 2013 to include additional outreach and field audits. the Artists” opening night reception will ˜ take place Friday, April 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. More than $1,700 in prize It’s A Deal! money is being offered by the sponsors and most of the work displayed will Cranberry be available for purchase. Anyone is eligible to submit artwork, but those EMS Inks which appear in the show will be Township Lease selected by a jury of artists. For details on dates, categories and artwork Agreement details, go to www.ctcchest.org. After more than twenty years confined to cramped quarters on Thomson Park ˜ Drive, Cranberry EMS is pumped up for its move into a new and larger home for its 24/7 operations. On February 7, Don Scalza, Chairman of the Cranberry Township EMS Board of Directors, joined Chairman Bruce Mazzoni and the Township’s Board Supervisors, along with local Public Safety leaders, to initial a five-year lease agreement on a new building which will be built adjacent to the Fire Company’s Park Station before the end of this year. ˜ PAGE 10 Cranberrytoday SV’s Preschool Program: A Building Block to Future Academic Success By Mary Costello Vandergrift, assistant to the superintendent and communications department

It’s time for many parents to start thinking about putting spend a lot of one-on-one time with each child. I know I’ll feel their child in school for the first time, as all four elementary a lot more confident that I’m making the right career choice schools in the Seneca Valley School District recently held when I go to college.” kindergarten registration for the 2013-14 school year. The preschool classroom is warm and inviting, but the high However, some parents are getting a jumpstart on their school teachers also spend time with the children reading child’s Seneca Valley education by taking advantage of the books in the school library, visiting the science room to learn district’s preschool program. about animals, and singing in the chorus room. This year, 30 children are enrolled in one of the daily, Parents are continually updated on their child’s progress with two-hour classes at the senior high school. It’s a chance a weekly, email newsletter, access to the preschool website for the preschoolers to make the transition from home or and three open houses each year. daycare to a more structured classroom experience. Their teachers are high school juniors and seniors enrolled in There are two preschool classes each day (8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Mrs. Susan Harmon’s child development class. and 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.), five days a week for nine months at a cost of $180 for the entire school year. Enrollment is “In kindergarten, children are in a group setting where the open to residents in the Seneca Valley School District. For whole class reads at the same time and plays at the same more information on the program, contact Mrs. Harmon at time,” explains Mrs. Harmon. “As you can imagine, it takes [email protected]. a child some time to get used to this environment. And they have to get used to things you might not think about. For example, a child is often the center of attention and receives nearly constant eye contact from a parent. Now the child needs to think about identity in a different way. He or she isn’t the center of attention anymore.” A new way of learning Mrs. Harmon says preschool introduces this new way of learning and interacting. So, when kindergarten begins, children can spend time grasping new concepts and skills instead of learning how to learn. “Studies show the more prepared a child is for kindergarten, the better chance he or she will have at future academic success,” she says. In a way, the same goes for the high school students who teach the little ones. Many are interested in careers in education, medicine, psychology and science. The child development class gives them a sense of what they’ll expect in the real world. “This class will give me an advantage because it’s so hands-on,” says junior Madison Huhn, Their teachers are high school juniors and who is hoping to become an elementary seniors enrolled in child development class. teacher one day. “We create lesson plans and

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 11 Darn It; A Tall Yarn, Made-To-Order For Community Park Janet Schaffer is not a bomb thrower, around the 4th of July. We’re going to nor is she known for generating graffiti. do a black and gold Steeler tree, a baby In fact, the longtime Cranberry resident tree with pastel color blocks, and we’re is a pillar of her church knitting circle going to do a rainbow tree with stripes some limbs, at St. Ferdinand’s, crocheting tiny items of vibrant colors.” too.” for newborns in the parish’s “God’s Custom-tailored Precious Preemies” program. But not But her ambitions don’t stop there. “I long ago, something changed. But for Janet, an admitted perfectionist, also asked if we could do that Cyclone throwing just any old piece of crochet fence where the tennis courts are,” she Last fall, Janet was introduced to yarn work around a tree isn’t good enough. said. “I’d like to do some flowers and bombing – a novel form of graffiti “We’re not just splish-splashing stems and leaves and maybe some little which involves wrapping items in public something together,” she pointed out. bugs which will all be crocheted or knit- places with creations made of crocheted “We’re planning it. I need it to be right, ted. And we’re going to make a garden yarn, frequently using the scraps left so we took measurements of the trees. of flowers with little things flying around over from more conventional knitting The trunk of the tree I’m doing is nine them on the Cyclone fence.” projects. The results are often visually feet high. striking. And, unless permission has However, being a member of St. Kilian’s been granted by local authorities or “I measured the circumference, so knitting circle is not a prerequisite for the owners of yarn bombed items, they many feet up. Then I came home and being part of the project. Participation are also illegal. decided what kind of square to use and in Cranberry’s yarn bombing program, how to make the colors. Then I assigned formally known as “Art in the Park,” so many women to do so many blocks is open to anyone, according to Half the members of her the way I designed them. Then we’re Community Days organizer Bruce church’s 50-member knitting going to start sewing them together in Mazzoni. In fact, several other groups of strips. Finally, when the weather’s good, knitting enthusiasts, including the Butler program, have been given we’ll go over to the tree and start County Spinners and Weavers Guild, are encouragement – to yarn sewing those strips together. also planning to dress up trees in the park, and CTCC will furnish the yarn for “We’re going to whip-stitch the knitting bomb a handful of trees all of them. But unlike the anonymous in place on the trees ourselves,” Janet work of urban graffiti artists, every tree around the Amphitheatre observed. “And we’re hoping to get a in Cranberry’s yarn bombing project bucket truck because we’d like to do in Community Park. will carry a sign identifying and thanking the source of its elegant needlework. But Janet, along with almost half the members of her church’s 50-member ˜ knitting program, have been granted permission – in fact, given specific encouragement – to yarn bomb a handful of trees around the Amphitheatre in Community Park in time for this year’s Community Days. And she is eager to begin. “We’ve got four trees we’re going to do,” she explained. “We’re going to do a red, white and blue tree because it will be

Keep them in stitches. Janet Shaffer, who leads a St. Ferdinand’s knitting program for premature babies, puts the final touches on a more ambitious project – a Steelers-themed yarn bomb for display on a tree in Community Park this summer. Yarn bombing began in Europe eight or nine years ago, but the practice quickly spread.

PAGE 12 Cranberrytoday Hear ye, hear ye: Kids Castle is Coming to Cranberry

La te Summer, 2013 (with your support) Leave your Legacy Now!

2013 COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR O nce upon a time… The Kids Castle story. Kids Castle is the CTCC community project of the year for 2013. The need to replace Cranberry’s aging Playtime Palace playground had become apparent some time ago. But in 2011, when the Cranberry CUP announced its support for the project with a commitment of $175,000, the idea began gathering momentum. In fact, the initials of Cranberry Uniting Playground – the official subtitle for Kids Castle – acknowledges that organization’s critical support. The Townsfolk Gather A Playground Committee of local citizens was formed last summer. Its task was to create a consensus about the recreational needs of our growing community and to establish fundamental requirements for the new playground. Their recommendations included a much bigger, more varied playground, one with features appropriate for children of different ages, one nearer to parking, and one with child-friendly restrooms which would not require crossing a road to reach them. Their ideas for the playground, which were rendered into an initial design by Pashek Associates, would have cost over $700,000 if supplied and installed by professionals. However, if the playground’s construction used the community-build approach which had been employed to create Playtime Palace in 1991, the cost would be far less. The Castle Grounds The final design for Kids Castle, which will be located just to the northwest of the Playtime Palace site, envisions three themed play areas corresponding to the Cranberry of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, as well as common areas, a small circular stage, walkways, open areas, and trees. nce upon a time… The Kids Castle story.

LEGEND

Visitors will enter the playground beneath an archway which echoes the old Playtime Palace clock tower design. They will then approach a circular brick stage surrounded by terraced steps. From there, they can branch off into any of the three thematic play areas. Landscaping, which includes picnic tables, benches, play lawns and decorative pathways, connect the various play areas on a plot three times larger than the former Playtime Palace site. It will be fully handicap accessible, and designed in to meet current standards for playground safety with the needs of children ages two through twelve foremost in mind. Contribute to this Landmark Playground. Leave your Legacy Now! Using a community-build approach, the cost for Kids Castle was reduced from $700,000 to $495,000. Almost half of that has already been committed, but $240,000 remains to be raised. Your help is needed, right now, to bring this great playground to life.

We’re building a castle – join in Kids Castle – the replacement playground for Cranberry Community Park’s 22-year old Playtime Palace – is a true community project. Its It’s not too late design was created by local citizens and students. Its labor is being provided by local residents. Most of its materials have been donated for you to by local businesses. Its play area themes were designed to reflect local history. And its funding comes mainly from local charities, families and GET INVOLOVED individuals who recognize the value that a first-rate playground brings to … their community – to your community. your help is badly needed It’s not too late for you to get involved. In fact, your help is badly needed – right now – in building – right now – in building Cranberry’s Kids Castle. There are lots of ways Cranberry’s Kids Castle. in which you can contribute to this landmark project and leave your mark for generations to come. For example: In search of • On five successive days in June, hundreds of local residents, both volunteers for: skilled and unskilled, will assemble in shifts at the new playground’s site as part of a community-build effort. Under the direction of • Ambassadors in their home construction professionals, residents will assemble the components neighborhoods for one of the playground’s three themed play areas. • Johnston Schoohouse brick cleaners • Employees of local businesses are forming teams and task forces • 5k runners and walkers to take on various pieces of the project. For example, Westinghouse • Playtime palace employees will work to disassemble the old Playtime Palace and disassembly crew repurpose its salvaged materials for use in the new playground. • Playground build labor • Become a neighborhood ambassador for the playground. The project • Landscaping and fence is seeking more than 100 individuals to become advocates for the builders project within their own neighborhoods, churches, clubs, and places of • Hospitality/refreshment employment. No meetings, no hard selling, little time required. service • Run or walk in a 5k fundraiser for Kids Castle. Your $25 contribution • Construction management to enter this will help the project and be recognized in the dedication booklet created for the event. The April 20 race will be held immedi- Seeking in-kind ately before the playground’s official groundbreaking, which will also support for: mark the final weekend for Playtime Palace. • Large boulders • Become a contributor. Gifts are welcome at any level. All donations • Trex wood and other of $25 or more will be recognized in the playground’s dedication building supplies program. Permanent recognition items – pavers, plaques, stepping • Fencing material stones, trees and more – are available for donations starting at $150. • Concrete • Become a major donor. Playground equipment sponsorships are • Landscaping supplies available beginning at $20,000. A time capsule, picnic tables and • Loan of tools park benches are also available – including a permanent bronze • Food/drink for laborers marker – for gifts starting at $5,000. Kids Castle CRANBERRY UNITING PLAYGROUND (CUP) Donor Recognition

2013 Community Equipment Sponsor – $20,000 to $50,000 ‡ Project of the Year Plaque on/near the equipment Cranberry CUP – the major sponsor for Kids Castle Playground – is challenging all Township neighborhoods to get involved. Time Capsule – $25,000 ‡ Only one available Please consider donating and becoming Plaque at the Time Capsule an Ambassador. • Your own message for the future. • Inside Cover of the dedication program. The Best Recognition will be for our Picnic Table – $10,000 ‡ 8” x 10” bronze plaque will be Playground Ambassador placed on the table top. Get involved in helping us raise awareness by becoming a Playground Ambassador. A Playground Ambassador will be recognized for all the donations they helped to collect Bench – $5,000 ‡ Limited availability and for their neighborhood tally. We are These elegant benches seen and enjoyed looking for one or two Ambassadors for by many includes a 6” x 8” bonze marker. each neighborhood. Please get involved. See back for more details. Tree Plaque – $2,500 ‡ Limited availability Help us build a Striking 5” x 7” black marble tile which includes your corporate logo or personal photograph. new playground Located at the foot of a tree in the playground area. Playtime Palace was landmark project. More than 800 residents were involved in donating time and money to build it in 1991. Stepping Stone – $1,000 ‡ Limited availability Since then, tens of thousands of kids played Customize your stepping stone any way you on it. It served us well. But now we need want. Also includes a separate 8” x 8” paver !your help in building a new playground. for the sidewalk Kids Castle Donor Recognition Order Form Please complete this form, detach and return with your donation. Thank you for your support.

INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY DONOR CONTACT NAME

ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

PHONE EMAIL

Please provide your inscription for the chosen paver or plaque along with a logo, if any, on a separate sheet and attach to this form. Please provide electronic files for any logos. Make check payable to: CTCC-Kids Castle Playground Mail to: CTCC, 2525 Rochester Road, Suite 450, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Questions: [email protected] or 724-776-4806 ext. 1103 Kids Castle CRANBERRY UNITING PLAYGROUND (CUP) Donor Recognition The Ten Family, Ten Thousand Dollar 16” x 16” paver – $1,000 ‡ (Consists of four 8” x 8” clay pavers) • Up to 12 lines, 28 letters per line CHALLENGE • Logos with camera-ready art add $85 The mortgage is paid off, and so is • Located in the entrance of the park college for the kids. How much do you 8” x 8” paver – $500 ‡ really need for retirement? • Up to 6 lines, 14 letters per line Many Cranberry families have made • Logos with camera-ready art add $50 names for themselves by becoming • Located at the entrance to the park community leaders and making Cranberry a better place to live. 4” x 8” paver – $250* There are roads, parks, and buildings •Up to 3 lines, 14 letters per line named for them. • All pavers located at the entrance to the park, right after We want to challenge today’s the PFC pavers community leaders – ten families – to donate $10,000 or more to the 1” x 3” plaque – $150+ Kids Castle Playground. In addition to • Up to 3 lines, 25 letters/spaces /line. the recognition levels which are • All plaques will be displayed in the standard for donors of that amount, playground area together. Exact colors we hope to cast a bronze plaque titled will be determined by the committee. “Playground Community Leaders” listing the ten families who contributed Listings in Dedication Program+ Be a part of history. Create your own keepsake in the dedication program and Thank-you ad. $10,000 or more. This plaque will be prominently displayed on the GOLD – $100 SILVER – $50 BRONZE –$25 playground’s pathway in gratitude + Your name in the CTCC Annual Report and dedication program and on a to your family for helping create a full page “thank you” ad after dedication * All of the recognition in the above (+) category plus your one-page, two-sided letter Cranberry landmark. Multi-year in the time capsule to be opened in 2038 payments are possible. ‡ All of the recognition in the above (+ and *) categories, plus recognized in the Sunday Cranberry Eagle sports page Are you up to the challenge? Donations must be received by May 12, 2013

SUPPORT LEVEL ADD FOR LOGO TOTAL Bronze Support $25 N/A Silver Support $50 N/A Gold Support $100 N/A 1” x 3” Plaque $150 N/A 4” x 8” Paver $250 N/A 8” x 8” Paver $500 $50 16” x 16” Paver $1,000 $85 Stepping stone $1,000 N/A Tree plaque $2,500 Included Bench and plaque $5,000 Included Picnic table and plaque $10,000 Included Time capsule $25,000 Included Equipment sponsor $20-50,000 Included COMMUNITY CALENDAR Registration may be required for some programs. For more information, call: × Cranberry Library 724-776-9100 µ Cranberry EMS 724-776-4480 * Cranberry Customer Service 724-776-4806 ü Cranberry Highlands 724-776-7372 APR † Parks and Recreation 724-776-4806 ext. 1129 ‡ Butler Housing Authority 1-800-433-6327 Yard Waste Collection Starts 4 & 5 Yr. Old Toddler Storytimes Discussion Group Library, 10am MON Planning Advisory TUES Storytimes WED Library, 10:45am & 1pm THURS Infant Storytime Library, 10:45am 1 Commission Municipal Ctr, 2 Library, 3 Housing Counseling ‡ 4 Teen Art Club Library, 4pm Council Chambers, 6pm 10:45am & Library by Appt, Board of Supervisors Mtg Munici- First Editions Book Discussion 1pm 2:30–4:30pm pal Ctr, Council Chambers, 6:30pm Open Gym Basketball Grades 1-3 Chapter Book Library, 7pm Family Pajama Storytime Library, 7pm (18+), 8–10pm Club × Library, 7pm Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (30+), 8–10pm Computer Class Word I × Mantra Teen Advisory Board 4 & 5 Yr. Old FRI SAT SUN MON (TAB) TUES Library, 9am Meditation Library, 4–5pm Storytimes Library, 5 6 Spring Fishing Event 7 Library, 8 Tutoring, Grades 1-6 9 10:45am & 1pm Dick’s Sporting Goods 2–3:30pm Library, 5–6pm Toilet Training Class Sportsplex, 8–10am Knit & Chat Library, 7–8pm Q&A Library, 7–8pm Get Organized Seminar Library, 1pm Open Gym Basketball Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Teen Las Vegas Night Library, 7pm (18+), 8–10pm Coffee & Conversation w/ Twp Mgr Infant Tax Day Computer Class WED Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day THURS Storytime FRI SAT SUN MON Teen Mosaic Craft Word II × Saints, 10am Library, Library, 7pm Library, 9am 10 Toddler Storytimes Library, 11 10:45am 12 13 14 15 Zoning Hearing Household 10:45am & 1pm Family Pajama Board Mtg Hazardous (if necessary) Housing Counseling ‡ Library by Appt, Storytime Library, 7pm Council Chambers, 7:30pm Waste Collection 2:30–4:30pm Open Gym Basketball by Appt, ECS&R Open Gym Basketball Grades 1-3 Chapter Book Club × Library, 7pm (30+), 8–10pm (18+), 8–10pm Infant Storytime 4 & 5 Yr. Old Books & Bagels Book Group Library, 10am The Art of TUES WED THURS Library, 10:45am FRI Storytimes UPMC Wellness Series Finding Your GPS Recycling Show Family Pajama Library, 10:45am Municipal Ctr, Sr/Teen Ctr, 12:30pm Municipal Ctr 16 17 18 Storytime 19 & 1pm Toddler Storytimes Library, 10:45am & 1pm thru May 11 Library, 7pm Open Gym Housing Counseling Meet the Artists Night ‡ Library by Appt, Open Gym Basketball – Art of Recycling 2:30–4:30pm Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Municipal Ctr, 7–9pm Grades 1-3 Chapter Book Club × Library, 7pm (30+), 8–10pm EARTH DAY SAT Kids Castle 5k & 1 Mile SUN The Art of MON TUES The Art of Fun Run Community Recycling Show The Art of Recycling Show Municipal Ctr Recycling Show 20 Park, 8am 21 Municipal Ctr 22 Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Library, 23 Municipal Ctr Computer Class 4–5pm Mantra 4 & 5 Yr. Old Storytimes

Excel I × Library, 9am Meditation Tutoring, Grades 1-6 Library, 5–6pm Library, 10:45am & 1pm Free Electronics Recycling Library, Alaskan Cruise Planning Library, 7pm Open Gym Basketball 2–3:30pm Public Works, 10am– 2pm Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm (18+), 8–10pm WED The Art of Recycling Show Municipal Ctr THURS The Art of Recycling Show Municipal Ctr FRI The Art of Toddler Storytimes Library, 10:45am & 1pm Infant Storytime Library, 10:45am Recycling Show 24 Housing Counseling ‡ Library by Appt, 25 Board of Supervisors Mtg 26 2:30–4:30pm Municipal Ctr, Council Chambers, 6:30pm Municipal Ctr Grades 1-3 Chapter Book Club × Family Pajama Storytime Library, 7pm Library, 7pm Open Gym Basketball (30+), 8–10pm The Art of Recycling Show The Art of Recycling Show The Art of Recycling Show The Municipal Ctr SAT SUN Art of MON Municipal Ctr TUES Municipal Ctr 27 Computer Class Excel II × 28 Recycling 29 Planning Advisory 30 4 & 5 Yr. Old Storytimes Library, 9am Show Commission Municipal Ctr, Library, 10:45am & 1pm Take-Back Drug Day Municipal Ctr Municipal Council Chambers, 5:30pm Money Matters Marriott, 6–9pm parking lot, 10am– 2pm Ctr 20’s & 30’s Book Group Library, 7pm Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Financial Aid/Scholarships Workshop Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Library, 12:30pm

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 13 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Registration may be required for some programs. For more information, call: × Cranberry Library 724-776-9100 µ Cranberry EMS 724-776-4480 * Cranberry Customer Service 724-776-4806 ü Cranberry Highlands 724-776-7372 MAY † Parks and Recreation 724-776-4806 ext. 1129 ‡ Butler Housing Authority 1-800-433-6327 The Art of Recycling The Art of Recycling Show Municipal Ctr Family Pajama The Art of WED Show THURS FRI Municipal Ctr Discussion Group Library, 10am–12pm Storytime Library, 7pm Recycling Toddler Storytimes Show Infant Storytime Library, 10:45am Open Gym Basketball 1 Library, 10:45am & 1pm 2 3 Municipal Ctr Teen Art Club Library, 4pm (30+), 8–10pm Housing Counseling ‡ Board of Supervisors Mtg Library by Appt, Municipal Ctr, Council Chambers, 6:30pm 2:30–4:30pm The Art of Recycling Show The Art of Recycling The Art of Municipal Ctr The Art of Recycling SAT SUN MON TUES Show Show Municipal Ctr Recycling Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Municipal Ctr 4 Household 5 Show 6 Library, 4–5pm 7 4 & 5 Yr. Old Hazardous Waste Municipal Ctr Tutoring, Grades 1-6 Library, 5–6pm Storytimes Collection by Appt, Planning Advisory Commission Library, 10:45am & 1pm ECS&R Municipal Ctr, Council Chambers, 6pm Open Gym Basketball Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm (18+), 8–10pm The Art of Recycling Show The Art of Recycling The The Mother’s WED Municipal Ctr THURS FRI SAT SUN Show Municipal Ctr Art of Art of Day Toddler Storytimes Infant Storytime Recycling Recycling 8 Library, 10:45am & 1pm 9 10 11 12 Library, 10:45am Show Show Housing Counseling ‡ Library Municipal Family Pajama Storytime Library, 7pm Municipal by Appt, 2:30–4:30pm Ctr Ctr Teen Jewelry Making Library, 6pm Open Gym Basketball (30+), 8–10pm

Coffee & Conversation w/ Twp Mgr Open Gym Open Gym Open Gym MON TUES WED Public Works Operations Facility, 10am THURS FRI Basketball Basketball Basketball Books & Bagels Book Group 13 (18+), 14 (18+), 15 Library, 10am 16 (30+), 17 8–10pm 8–10pm UPMC Wellness Series Arthritis and Pain Control 8–10pm Municipal Ctr, Sr/Teen Ctr, 12:30pm Housing Counseling ‡ Library by Appt, 2:30–4:30pm 4-6 Grade Chapter Book Club Library, 7pm

Household Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Primary Housing SAT Hazardous Waste SUN MON Library, 4–5pm TUES Election WED Counseling ‡ Collection Tutoring, Grades 1-6 Library, 5–6pm Day Library by Appt, 18 19 20 21 22 2:30–4:30pm by Appt, ECS&R 20’s & 30’s Book Group Library, 7pm Polls open 4-6 Grade Sheriff’s Office: Gun Zoning Hearing Board Mtg 7am–8pm (if necessary) Chapter Licensing Municipal Ctr, Municipal Ctr, Council Chambers, 7pm Open Gym Basketball Book Club Council Chambers, 9am–2pm (18+), 8–10pm Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Library, 7pm MEMORIAL DAY Open Gym School’s Out All Cranberry Veterans THURS FRI SAT SUN MON Twp Offices, Parks and Recreation, Basketball Day Kids Club Waterpark Memorial and Library Closed 23 (30+), 24 Municipal Ctr, 25 Opens 26 Service 27 8–10pm 8:30am–4:30pm North No Waste Collection Boundary Planning Advisory Commission Municipal Ctr, Park, 1pm Council Chambers, 5:30pm Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Waste Collection delayed Waste Collection delayed Waste Collection delayed Waste TUES by one day WED by one day THURS by one day FRI Collection Planning Advisory Housing Counseling ‡ Board of Supervisors Mtg delayed by 28 Commission Municipal Ctr, 29 Library by Appt, 30 Municipal Ctr, Council 31 one day Council Chambers, 5:30pm 2:30–4:30pm Chambers, 6:30pm Open Gym Basketball 4-6 Grade Chapter Book Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm Club Library, 7pm (30+), 8–10pm

PAGE 14 Cranberrytoday COMMUNITY CALENDAR Registration may be required for some programs. For more information, call: × Cranberry Library 724-776-9100 µ Cranberry EMS 724-776-4480 * Cranberry Customer Service 724-776-4806 ü Cranberry Highlands 724-776-7372 JUNE † Parks and Recreation 724-776-4806 ext. 1129 ‡ Butler Housing Authority 1-800-433-6327 SAT SUN MON Teen Advisory Board (TAB) TUES Open Gym Basketball WED Housing Library, 4–5pm (18+), 8–10pm Counseling ‡ 1 2 3 Planning Advisory Commission 4 5 Library by Appt, Municipal Ctr, Council Chambers, 6pm 2:30–4:30pm Open Gym Basketball (18+), 8–10pm

THURS Board of Supervisors Mtg FRI Farmers’ SAT Household Hazardous SUN MON Summer Reading Municipal Ctr, Council Market Waste Collection Program Begins 6 Chambers, 6:30pm 7 Municipal Ctr, 8 by Appt, ECS&R 9 10 Open Gym Open Gym Basketball 3:30–6pm Farmers’ Market Basketball (30+), 8–10pm Rt. 19 Fire Station (18+), 8–10pm parking lot, 10am–1pm

Coffee & Conversation w/ Open Gym Basketball Housing Flag Day TUES WED THURS Twp Mgr Jaycees Shelter, FRI (18+), 8–10pm Counseling ‡ Farmers’ Market Community Park, 5:30pm Totally Tubular Library by Appt, Municipal Ctr, 11 12 13 Concerts in the Park 14 Tuesdays Night Swim 2:30–4:30pm 3:30–6pm Street Level, Community Park, 7pm Waterpark, 9pm Open Gym Basketball (30+), 8–10pm

SAT Farmers’ Market SUN Father’s Day MON Zoning Hearing Board Mtg TUES Open Gym Basketball Rt. 19 Fire Station Father’s Day (if necessary) Municipal Ctr, (18+), 8–10pm 15 parking lot, 16 Night Swim † 17 Council Chambers, 7:30pm 18 Totally Tubular 10am–1pm Waterpark, Open Gym Basketball Tuesdays Night Swim 9–11pm (18+), 8–10pm Waterpark, 9pm

WED UPMC Wellness Series THURS Concerts in the Park FRI Farmers’ SAT Household Hazardous Cataracts & New Street Level, Market Waste Collection 19 Treatments, Municipal Ctr, 20 Community Park, 7pm 21 Municipal Ctr, 22 by Appt, ECS&R Sr/Teen Ctr, 12:30pm Open Gym Basketball 3:30–6pm Farmers’ Market Housing Counseling ‡ (30+), 8–10pm Rt. 19 Fire Station Library by Appt, parking lot, 2:30–4:30pm 10am–1pm

SUN MON Planning Advisory Commission TUES Open Gym Basketball WED Housing Counseling ‡ Municipal Ctr, Council Chambers, 5:30pm (18+), 8–10pm Library by Appt, 23 24 Open Gym Basketball 25 Totally Tubular 26 2:30–4:30pm (18+), 8–10pm Tuesdays Night Swim Waterpark, 9pm

THURS Board of Supervisors Mtg FRI Farmers’ Market SAT Farmers’ Market SUN County & Township Municipal Ctr, Council Municipal Ctr, Rt. 19 Fire Station Taxes Last Day of 27 Chambers, 6:30pm 28 3:30–6pm 29 parking lot, 30 Face Value Open Gym Basketball 10am–1pm (30+), 8–10pm

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 15 PARKS & RECREATION At Last: Parks And Recreation Has A New Leader It’s been more than a year since the Tight departure of Cranberry’s former Parks relationships & Recreation Director Mike Diehl, but now the department finally has a In the world of full-time head. Pete Geis, a Hampton Parks & Recreation, native and Slippery Rock graduate who however, that for the past eleven years had managed network of Ross Township’s Parks & Recreation relationships is Department, began his new assignment even tighter. “Parks with Cranberry in March. & Recreation departments are Holding Cranberry’s recreational a very close knit staff and programming together in community,” he the meantime was Greg Smith, a observed. “We’re former Manager of Moon Township. competitive with Following his retirement, Smith took each other, but on transitional leadership roles for I’ve never seen a other communities, like Cranberry, who group of people who needed experienced interim managers. worked so closely to help one another When he was first brought in, Smith Out on the field understood that he would need to be out. If I need a program, I can call here for a month, or perhaps even six Marshall Township’s Parks & Recreation Geis is more than just an administrator; weeks, before a new director would be director, or Ohio Township’s director, outside of work hours, he has also spent brought on board. It turned out to be because I have very strong relationships more than 30 years on the gridiron the longest month of his career. But with all the local parks and recreation as a football player. After excelling that transition is now complete, and departments.” on Hampton High School’s team, his he insists that he enjoyed the ride. That includes Cranberry’s own athletic skill earned him a full college department. “I had a relationship with scholarship, followed by an unending Parks and Recreation is Mike Diehl,” he pointed out. “I know series of seasons in semi-pro and arena football, where he continues to anchor about developing relationships the folks who directed it before that – Paul Besterman, and before that, Andy the offensive line as a long-snapping with the community, with the Baechle, who’s now the director for the center. associations, with businesses, County, and before that, Cathy Frankel, “I’ve never not spent a year playing who’s now with the state Department football since I was eight years old,” he and with other departments of Conservation and Natural Resources. reflected. “But a lot of people just don’t and programs. So I’m very familiar with Cranberry like to hear that, at 42, you’re running Township.” around with guys from a totally different As Geis sees it, the fundamental task Even before he was offered the post – generation. They’re great people, but I’m of any Parks and Recreation director one he came to think of as his dream old enough to be their father.” is clear. Here’s how he put it in a job – Geis had become a resident of One of the main reasons Geis’s new presentation to local officials: “It’s not the Township, where sister already position looked like a dream is that brain surgery; Parks and Recreation lived. Following a year-long search for Cranberry residents place a much is about developing relationships with the right house at the right price, Geis higher value on parks and recreation the community, with the associations, found a great fixer-upper in Cranberry. than most other communities do. The with businesses, and with other Working together with his brother-in- significance of that value has not been departments and programs. It’s making law, the house – whose interiors had lost on his counterparts around the sure the community’s needs are being been stripped by its previous owner – is region. “Everybody wants to come with met, and making sure the facilities are now on the cusp of being completely me,” he observed. “They’re all calling safe, current, and as top-notch as the restored as a residence for himself and me up and saying ‘hey, are there any community wants them to be.” his 14-year old son. openings up there for me?’” ˜ PAGE 16 Cranberrytoday Citadel In The Sky: The Vision Behind Kid’s Castle Playground Kids Castle, the visionary new Sherwood Oaks residents Community Park playground which are helping provide the will replace the aging Playtime Palace manpower to process structure this summer, has a lot of all the drawings to moving parts. And they’re not just determine what the mechanical. students would like in the final design, together For the past year Bruce Mazzoni, in his with support from capacity as Co-chairman of the project playground designers and as a leader in both CTCC and the and committee staff. Township’s own municipal government, has been tirelessly promoting the “All their drawings will be returned to the The finished playground is students with comments and Official Playground almost secondary to the Designer membership cards, to “A number of groups have already community engagement confirm that they’ve helped to design stepped forward in providing manpower Kids Castle. Then, as a thank-you, for this project, but we do need more,” which its development is and before the playground’s formal Mazzoni said. dedication, we would open it up for intended to bring about. For example, Erin McClymonds, a two days to let anyone with one of the project Ambassador, has been Official Designer cards come in and blogging regularly about the playground concept. It is an idea in which the use it for two days – to enjoy what they on Cranberry Patch. Some other finished playground – a multi-purpose built, and to be eligible for certain committee members will be entering the park area featuring thematic play merchandise discounts.” 5K fundraising race on April 20 – the spaces – is almost secondary to the A hands-on project last weekend of Playtime Palace and the community engagement which its formal groundbreaking of Kids Castle. development is intended to bring about. The playground concept includes three And Cranberry Township’s government is That involvement ranges from initial separate play areas: a retro Cranberry also involved in site preparation and in design to construction labor, and from of Yesterday area, a current Cranberry coordinating different volunteer aspects promotion and material preparation Today space, and a futuristic Cranberry of the project, including cleaning bricks to fundraising. Tomorrow. The Yesterday and Tomorrow from the Johnston School House. areas will be built by a contractor. But At the outset, for example, a local its ‘Today’ area will be community-built Businesses are involved, as well. Moe’s citizens committee was formed to during a five-day event with three 4-hour Southwest Restaurant has offered work with a professional design firm in shifts a day – the same way Playtime to feed a shift of volunteer workers. creating the initial playground concept. Palace was built in 1991. Westinghouse employees will help Although the committee’s active role disassemble Playtime Palace on Earth has now concluded, the refinement A parallel effort applies to the Day, Monday, April 22. The Cranberry of its work is continuing. playground’s promotion and fundraising. Eagle will list donors of $500 or more A major part of it involves recruiting “Kids from Kindergarten to sixth every Sunday. Streets of Cranberry 100 neighborhood-based Ambassadors, grade in Seneca Valley and St. contributed $3,000, and is placing whose work includes relating the Kilian’s art classes are preparing two signs prominently announcing playground story to their neighbors drawings on what they want their support. and seeking financial the community-built contributions – “I don’t just want a donation; I want portion of Kids above and beyond people to help promote Kids Castle,” Castle to look the major support Mazzoni said. “Including our student like,” Mazzoni already pledged by playground designers, we expect over said. “We got Cranberry CUP and 5,000 people to become involved in 3,500 drawings in CTCC. this project; that’s how you build a at the end of February. community playground.” ˜ www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 17 PUBLIC WORKS Going Green: Cranberry’s Rebecca Auchter Uproots Turf Maintenance Rituals Cranberry’s park athletic fields take a typically just half to three-quarters of Putting down roots. The key to a beating. During their nine-month playing an inch. When it’s put down on bare high-quality playing field is the depth season, when you add together all the soil, it has the same effect as playing and density of its grass roots system. games, practices, and related field uses, on a scatter rug. Strengthening that system in the Township’s it comes to more than 3,000 a year – athletic fields is the goal of Cranberry’s So how do you repair a field and make turfgrass management program. or an average of 160 to 200 events it playable in less time than it takes per field every season. to grow grass? The solution, Township Crummy tires That much traffic is hard on natural Grounds Maintenance Manager A similar issue affects baseball fields, grass, making it very difficult to Rebecca Auchter discovered, is to where the movement of team coaches maintain the high quality playing grow your own sod. is restricted to an eight by ten foot box conditions which the Township and near third base. Following a season of its partner athletic associations have pacing in such concentrated areas, come to expect. However, the wear Using a specialized their grassy surfaces seldom survive. isn’t distributed evenly across a field’s piece of equipment Here, though, Auchter is attempting a playing surface. field maintenance different solution. In lacrosse for example, the 18-foot crews go into areas “We tried something else,” she circle that includes the goal, or crease, explained. “We actually installed crumb is the focus of the highest intensity around the perimeter rubber, which protects the crown of the play. Creases roughly correspond to the of a field and serve plant, which is the growing point; the 20 yard lines on a football field. And roots grow down from the crown, the in Cranberry, lacrosse actually shares up deep-dish slices leaf blades grow up. The crumbs are the three Graham Park football fields of grass and soil. made of shredded tires which are very with Seneca Valley Junior Football specifically sized. And we apply it with Association. So by the end of the a top dresser. lacrosse season in June, there are Using a specialized piece of equipment typically two areas of dead grass in purchased last year, her field “Crumb rubber applications have been the goal creases. maintenance crews go into areas used at the Little League International Grow your own around the perimeter of a field – well Complex in Williamsport, PA, where outside its lines of play – and serve up they host the Little League Baseball Of course, turfgrass can be regrown, but deep-dish slices of grass and soil. Then World Series,” she said. “But there are not in the three-week hiatus between they transplant the homegrown sod only a handful of trials going on in the the end of lacrosse and the start of – which is essentially identical to the United States, and we’re doing one of football season. Buying segments of sod fields’ own playing surface – onto the them here in Graham Park. So we’re won’t work either; the soil properties areas which had been damaged. And on the cutting edge in trying out this seldom match those of the field, and voila! By football season, it looks and new technology. And so far, we’ve the amount of native soil that comes works as though it had always had tremendous success on with each section of sod is very thin – been there. baseball Field I.” ˜

Parking In The Parks. Cranberry’s three major parks are getting plenty of use these days. That means parking is always at a premium. In response, over the past two years, the Township added new parking areas to Graham Park, just north of the football campus, and to Community Park, near the Lindner Practice Field area. This year, North Boundary Park is getting its turn. Approximately 80 new spaces are being added in the northwest area of the park – near the soccer fields in the direction of Sled Riding Hill. Eventually, the additional parking spaces in all three parks will have permanent asphalt pavement. In the meantime, the hope is that parents will no longer feel the need to park on grassy areas near the fields where ruts from tires can damage the turf.

PAGE 18 Cranberrytoday PUBLIC WORKS Cranberry’s Custom-Crafted Pole Dance You might think that traffic light poles “But it’s not a perfect world out there. reluctant to deliver products which may and signal fixtures would be pretty well An underground water line in the or may not pass the test – whenever standardized by now. But you might drawing may be a foot or two off. one is finally established. want to think again. Only certain So until we can go on site and get On top of that, traffic signals are components are standard. Just about everything laid out exactly where vulnerable to damage from wrecks. everything else is made to order. And it’s supposed to be and make sure Several mast arms in Cranberry sometimes that can take a while. there’s no overhead or underground have been whacked by dump trucks obstructions, we can’t order those poles. “I can’t just go down to Home Depot or driving down the road with their load Lowe’s and buy the light bulbs that go “And it gets worse, because when I want beds raised. Others have been taken in there; they won’t work,” according to buy this part, I have to buy it from down by speeding drunks. Cell phone to Marty McKinney, Cranberry’s traffic the approved distributor in this district,” reports from passing motorists typically he noted. “In the state of Pennsylvania, lead to arrests, citations, and major you’re required to buy all your traffic driver’s insurance claims for damage “I can’t just go down to signal poles from one of three to traffic devices. companies – one of which actually Home Depot or Lowe’s and On occasion, when a pole has to be no longer makes traffic signal poles. buy the light bulbs that go placed where it’s likely to be damaged, So it’s really just two companies.” it is installed using a breakaway in there; they won’t work.” Passing the test attachment. When hit by a normal vehicle, it would fall apart and not cause With 39 signalized intersections as much injury to the driver as it might signal guru. “Everything is custom to currently operating in Cranberry, and at otherwise. For the most part, however, the traffic signal industry. least a half dozen more in the pipeline, signal poles are designed to be rigid and that poses a challenge. It’s one which Part of the need for custom tailoring meant to withstand impact. Even so, was recently compounded by new grows out of the peculiar circumstances their exposure to traffic, weather, and federal regulations on signal structures of each intersection. “The length of the fatigue over time can lead to failure. – regulations which PennDOT, in turn, mast arms are customized; they don’t adopted and applied to municipal “The first thing we do when a signal actually get ordered until things are governments. Its goal was to require pole goes down is to make sure nobody pretty much ready on site,” McKinney more substantial poles and to have gets hurt because there’s electricity in explained. “They want to make sure that tests performed documenting their this apparatus. Then we assess what the elevations and the lengths and the strength. Problem is, no test protocol it’s going to take to make the repair,” foundation placements all fit perfectly was ever provided. So pole makers are he said. “If it’s something our internal with the drawings. staff can handle, we just do it. We keep an inventory of standardized parts on hand. But for customized parts – that’s a problem. If a pole arm gets knocked down, I need to place an order and wait several months to get a new one. They make temporary signal equipment on trailers with arms that reach out so we can get some signals back up. So, in the meantime, we just do the best we can.” ˜

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 19 PUBLIC WORKS Powell Road Bridge Gets Skinny On Its Way To Disappearing Altogether The 75-year old concrete span over cart lanes from 24 to Brush Creek along Powell Road is down 28-feet will bring it into to a single lane these days, with compliance with current traffic taking turns moving in alternate PennDOT engineering directions. The County-owned bridge, standards. Construction which had already been scheduled for of the new bridge replacement as a result of deterioration, is expected to be suffered additional damage last fall in completed by the end accident where an SUV heading east on of this year. Powell hit the southbound side of the Until then, its currently summer, will affect motorists as well. A structure, damaging its abutment and posted 15-ton weight restriction will new traffic roundabout being built at the creating a safety concern for motorists. continue in effect. The bridge will intersection of Glen Eden and Freshcorn However, lane restrictions are only the remain open to all forms of traffic, Roads as part of a major housing beginning; in June or July, the bridge through a single 14-foot lane defined development along the east side of Glen will be completely closed and then by jersey barriers and stop signs, until Eden, together with resurfacing of the demolished in preparation for a new it is taken down. Turnpike bridge nearby, are expected one which will include a pedestrian/ to create coordination challenges for At the same time, however, two other bicycle sidewalk in addition to lanes for builders as well as navigation issues projects in the immediate vicinity, motor vehicles. Widening the bridge’s for drivers. which are also scheduled for work this ˜

Low Scores Mean High Priority For Resurfacing Approximately 1. Bayberry Lane from St. Phillips Court to Glen Eden Road seven miles of 2. Burke Road from Peters Road to Lakevue Drive roadway, including 3. Commonwealth Phase II – from Pennwood to Township line segments of 19 4. Chaparral Drive from Farmington to Huntington Drive separate Township roads, will be treat- 5. Dolores Circle from McDonald Drive to the dead end ed to a new asphalt 6. Ehrman Road from I-79 to Old Ehrman Road surface this year. 7. Ellen Drive from Bayberry to the dead end Cranberry’s goal is 8. Graham School Road, the entire length. to have the work 9. Hillcrest Drive from Glen Eden Road to the dead end completed before 10. Laporte Drive from Freedom Road to Rolling Road the official start of summer. 11. Mars Road from Cranberry Springs Drive to Franklin Road 12. McDonald Drive from Katherine Drive to the dead end All roads scheduled for work were selected through 13. Meadowbrook Drive from Glenbrook to the cul de sac Cranberry’s 12-year pavement review program, based on the age and condition of each roadway’s 14. Old Freedom Road from Rt. 19 to the new Sheetz surface – a program in which every Township road 15. St. Andrews Court from Bayberry to the cul de sac is assigned a score. The ones which get highest 16. St. Phillips Court from Bayberry to the cul de sac priority are the ones that score lowest. 17. Spring Valley Drive from Rolling Road to Greenwood Drive The street segments scheduled for resurfacing this 18. Unionville Road from Ogle View to Progress year include: 19. Waterford Court from Ravenscroft Ct. down to the cul de sac

PAGE 20 Cranberrytoday PUBLIC WORKS Battling The Evil Twins, Underground Late at night, when businesses are Even relatively new, well-constructed identify and shut down the sources of closed and practically everyone is systems will exhibit a certain level of unwanted water entering the system – in bed, the volume of water flowing I&I activity. But in some communities, a hidden municipal asset with a value through the Township’s sanitary sewer it’s totally out of control. in the tens of millions of dollars. lines ought to be very low – at least Storm surge Under Zellhart’s supervision, Cranberry during dry weather. But what if it’s not? is systematically mapping, monitoring, Does that mean trouble? “Typically, with I&I getting into systems, inspecting, repairing, and analyzing you’ll see flows jump from maybe 3.1 “Theoretically, every sewer line that system to keep its ratio within million gallons to 7 million gallons a day. should go down to zero at night acceptable limits. In Cranberry Township, that’s typical,” when everybody’s asleep,” Cranberry she explained. “There’s a ratio DEP Dirty data Pretreatment Administrator Rhonda looks at. If your peak flows are going Zellhart explains. “The fact that there’s One key aspect of that effort is to in a 2:1 ratio or a 3:1 ratio – which is flow higher than zero shows that there’s determine what’s really normal. That’s about where Cranberry is – that’s not infiltration and inflow.” not as easy as it sounds because, as bad. But some municipalities out there the system ages, more I&I is expected to Infiltration – the industry term for occur. A previous Township study, done ground water entering into sanitary a number of years ago to establish a sewer lines through cracks – and When it starts raining, baseline of flow data, offers a starting its companion problem, Inflow – the in some municipalities, point. But it lacked some essential term for stormwater entering through control features. So resetting her unauthorized connections to the their flows will go from database to capture the new normal sanitary system – are the twin scourges 1 million gallons to using industry standard methods, and of municipal sanitary systems. Together, then updating it on a regular basis to they’re known as I&I. They have the 15 million gallons a prioritize those parts of the system ability to quickly overwhelm the design day. No system can requiring attention, are fundamental capacity of municipal systems, causing handle that. to her assignment. untreated sewage to spill over into local streams. And that makes DEP very All of that matters because a more angry. are going 10:1 or 15:1. So when it precise understanding of what’s happening in the collection system “During high groundwater times, when starts raining, their flows will go from translates not only into a better we have rain, we’re getting a lot of extra 1 million gallons to 15 million gallons functioning system, it also results in flow in there,” Zellhart pointed out. “And a day.” No system can handle that. significant savings on future line repairs it’s not just a small amount; we could Tracing the sources of water coursing and in the wastewater treatment plant see 20,000 to 80,000 extra gallons through underground sanitary sewer itself. within a 24-hour period going into a lines is not an exact science. But every single sewer line in just one little area.” year it gets closer to being one. And in “We have a very proactive program,” Cranberry, the she notes. “It extends the longevity of tools of science, the system and adds an extra level of coupled with protection. We’re mitigating problems a well-defined and their impact on our customers. management That should serve the Township well process, are for many more years.” helping to ˜

Smile. A tractor-drive robotic TV camera is lowered into a manhole to show candid images of Township sanitary sewer lines. Video data is part of a comprehensive system used to evaluate conditions and prioritize repairs in the 170-mile underground network.

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 21 PUBLIC WORKS Cranberry Township 2013 Water System Flushing Schedule Cranberry Township’s annual fire hydrant and distribution system flushing program gets underway on Monday, April 8. It is a routine maintenance operation designed to flush sediment from the water system, check fire hydrant operation, and test chlorine levels in the water lines throughout the Township. Flushing is conducted Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM. A week-by-week schedule is provided here; for detailed information on the date for your own street, call the Township’s Customer Service Center at 724-776-4806. Here are the water line areas to be flushed during the weeks beginning:

APRIL 8 Pennwood Place, Redmond Place, Old Towne Garvin Road, Mystic Ridge, McKinney Warehouse, Apartments, Scenic Ridge, Foxmoor, Ehrman Farms, Keystone Drive, Gateway Peters Road between Franklin Oakview Estates, Unionville Building, Commonwealth Drive, Road and Burke Road, Forest Road, Springfield Manor, Residence Inn, Freedom Road Knoll, Lakeview Estates, Cranberry Business Park, from Commonwealth Drive to Windwood Heights, Crystal Winchester Lakes, Winchester Route 19, Marriott Complex, Springs, Walden Pond, Burke Farms, Old Route 19, Settlers Knockout Development – Road. Grove Phase 1 & 2, Glen Eden Rochester Road from Road, Glen Eden Phase 1, Robinhood Drive to Alps Longtree Way & Garden View, APRIL 22 Rowan Road Settlers Grove 3, Antler Ridge. Avenue, Bellevue Park, Graham Westinghouse, Cranberry between Marshall Road and Park, Valleybrook, Deer Woods - MSA Complex, Old Farm Road, La Grande MAY 6 The Maples, Run, Sun Valley, Cranbrook, Cranberry Mall, Old Mars Drive, Rowan School, Rowan Cedarbrook, Glen Eden Phase Kirkwood Drive. Road between Route 19 Towers, Leonberg Road, 2, Glenbrook, Glen Eden and McElroy Drive, UPMC Route 19 between Freedom Townhouses, Manor Creek, May 28 Woodlands Medical Center, Fairfield Inn, Road and Rochester Road, Freshcorn Road, Glen Eden Townhouses, Swift Homes, Norberry Court, Dutilh Road Cranberry Shoppes, Walmart, Road west of Powell Road, Woodlands Houses, south of Route 228, Dutilh Cranberry Square, Streets of Briar Creek, Cranberry Heights, Clearbrook, Cranberry Estates, Road between Freeport Road Cranberry, Doyle Equipment, Kingsbrook, Madison Heights, Ashford Manor, Cranberry and cul-de-sac at Turnpike, Ogle Station, Boston Market, Glen Rape Road, Wakefield Pointe, Cranberry West, Candlewood Suites, Route 19 Jerry’s Car Wash, Home Depot, Estates. Rochester Road from Haine south of PA Turnpike to Bravo’s Smith Drive, Walgreens, Route School Road to Powell Road, MAY 13 Rochester Road Restaurant, Hyatt Hotel, Brush 19 from Butler Auto Auction Alps Drive, Rochester Village from Route 19 to Robinhood Creek Commons, Red Roof north to Kenny Ross, Victory at Park Place, Kimberwicke, Drive, Thompson Park Drive, Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Family Church, Penn Detroit, Harvest Drive, Holiday Drive, Executive Drive, Costco, Brandt Marguerite Road, Emeryville YMCA, Century Business Powell Road from Rochester Drive, Commerce Park Drive, Drive, Old Mars Road between Park, Route 19 from Butler Road to Blue Ridge Drive, Cranberry Corporate Center, McElroy Drive and Franklin Auto Auction south to former Orchard Park, Creekwood Hampton Inn, Laurelwood, Road, Cranberry Crossroads, Northland Lincoln Mercury. Commons, Creekwood, Sherwood Oaks, Fernway. Cranberry Commons Mall, Wiegand Drive, Route 19 from Freedom Woods. Grandshire, Spring Meadows, MAY 20 Freedom Road Smith Drive north to Goehring JUNE 3 Forest Park,The Franklin Road between Old from Commonwealth Drive Rd, Goehring Road from Crossings, Mystic Pine Trail, Mars Road and Beacon Hill to Thorn Hill Road (RIDC), Route 19 to Marshall Road, Blue Ridge Estates, Berkley Drive, Hazelwood, St Kilian’s WESCO, Rolling Road Wisconsin Avenue, Ogle View Manor, Hampshire Woods, School. Regency Apartments, Iron Road, Alcoa/TRACO, Progress Autumn Hill. APRIL 15 McElroy Road, Avenue, Park Road, Ernie Mountain, Freedom Road, JUNE 10 Powell Road Fox Run, Canterbury Heights Mashuda Drive, Marshall Road, Freedom Square, Freedom between Rochester Road and - Buckingham Trail, Franklin Geohring Road, Preserve East Road Car Wash, Haine Fire Glen Eden Road, Park Place, Road, Peace Street, Franklin and West, North Boundary Station, Freedom Road Chatham Commons, Highland Ridge, Shadow Creek, Bristol Road, Marshall Woods, from Georgetown Square to Village, Havenwood, Hunters Creek, Washington Farms, St Marshall Heights, Pinebrook Parkwood Drive, Parkside Creek, Stonefield & Farmview, Leonard’s Woods, Timberline, Manor, Cranberry Waterpark. Place, Carriage Drive, Kira Circle, Haine School Road, Greenfield Estates, Avery’s Peters Road between Franklin APRIL 29 Pinehurst Estates, Haine School, Pine Ridge, Field, Woodbine Estates. Road and Old Farm Road, Ehrman Road, Grace Estates,

PAGE 22 Cranberrytoday FINANCE Fun New Ways To Pay Your Water, Sewer And Trash Bill Most households in Cranberry pay underlying cost structure. their water, sewer and trash bills by So instead of revising its personal check, including a number price schedule upward who do it online, through their bank. for everyone, Cranberry But customer requests, driven in part now permits use of most by the growing popularity of credit card credit cards online, but incentive programs including points then adds on what the toward merchandise and frequent flyer financial industry refers to mile promotions, prompted Township as a “convenience fee” of officials to offer customers additional $2.95 for its use. American utility bill payment options, including the Express, which charges a use of most credit cards. They have also much higher convenience introduced an all-electronic program fee for the use of its which can actually earn customers a cards, is not eligible for modest credit toward their payment. this program – only Visa, Digital dollars. Cash and checks are sooo last century. Cranberry is now offering several new online options for MasterCard and Discover But there are caveats. its water/sewer/trash customers including credit card cards are. payment, eChecks, and fully-automated billing with While credit card transactions are The small print bank debit. free of charge to consumers, there is actually a fee paid by the merchant for For Cranberry, however, Automatic payments differ from the convenience of accepting payment the use of credit cards is restricted to conventional online banking which that way. It is normally charged by a online payments; customers dropping actually requires the bank, or its payments processor – the middleman off or paying their bill in person at the payment processing contractor, to in most credit card transactions. In Customer Service desk will still be write a check and then mail it to the Cranberry’s case, it’s Official Payments limited to using cash or checks. That’s Township. Corporation. For Visa – which accounts because Visa bars merchants from for a major share of credit card sales charging convenience fees for their If, however, the customer wants to pay – the company’s fee to Cranberry for over-the-counter transactions. Also, online without using either a credit processing transactions is $2.95. It because the security functions which card or traditional online banking, is a service charge most merchants are required for merchants to store it’s still possible to pay electronically are willing to accept as a cost of doing customer credit card numbers are not and have the money taken directly business. currently in place here, that information from an account at their bank or credit union. An eCheck option, which But for utilities like the Township’s will need to be keyed in at the time of authorizes immediate transfer of funds water, sewer and trash services – which each payment. to the Township, is also available now, are priced as close as possible to the At the same time, though, more and although it too involves a processing actual cost of providing those amenities more households are electing to receive convenience fee of $2.95. – absorbing that fee could affect their their bills, as well as to pay them, entirely online. If a customer elects to Enrolling in the fully-automated bill receive their bill electronically and, at payment program, as well as selecting Instead of revising its price the same time, to make their payment other options, is easy to accomplish schedule upward for everyone, automatically – where the amount due online. The Township’s website, www. is automatically withdrawn from the cranberrytownship.org/PaymentOptions, Cranberry now permits use of bank account of their choice without any includes a link to the sign-up page, most credit cards online, but intervention on their part – then they as well as information about all the are given credit for the paper, printing, other payment options available to with a “convenience fee” from and postage which didn’t need to be Cranberry’s 10,000-plus water, sewer its payments processor of used in sending them their bill. That and trash collection customers. cost to the Township is about 60 cents, ˜ $2.95 for their use. and it is automatically credited to the customer’s account.

www.cranberrytownship.org PAGE 23 PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #25 Cranberry Twp., PA

724-776-4806 www.cranberrytownship.org 2525 Rochester Rd, Ste. 400, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 Board of Supervisors Bruce Mazzoni, Chairman Mike Manipole, Vice Chairman Richard Hadley / David Root / John Skorupan POSTAL PATRON Jerry Andree, TOWNSHIP MANAGER CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA 16066

Shelley Notaro Layout and Design Peter Longini Editor

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Recycle Old TVs, PCs, Etc. For Free RECYCLINGSaturday, April 20, 10 AM - 2 PM, Cranberry Public Works Building