community and celebrating diversity,
both in music and in area youth. It aims to
establish a lifelong relationship with and
respect for quality music in the singers’
and their families’ lives.
SHCC receives funding support
through a generous grant from the
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state
agency funded by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, and the National
Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
COUNTY LAUNCHES
ALLEGHENYVOTES.COM
WEBSITE FOR RESIDENTS
The Allegheny County Elections Division
has launched a one-stop website for
residents seeking information on the
elections. AlleghenyVotes.com contains
information on the new voting system,
voter outreach efforts, and instructional
videos, plus links to additional
information on voter registration,
becoming a poll worker and the county
elections website.
In early December, the county entered
into a contract with Election Systems &
Software, LLC, for voting equipment,
software and services and began receiving
equipment shortly thereafter. To date, the
county has received all 1,650 DS200
precinct scanners and 1,650 ExpressVote
ballot marking devices, along with four
of the eight DS850 high-speed digital
image scanners that were ordered. The
division recently ordered two additional
DS850 scanners.
Public voting system demonstrations
are being held in locations throughout the
county, thanks to partnerships with the
Allegheny County Library Association,
AlleghenyVotes.com
the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, local
shopping malls and other organizations.
While demonstrations are still being
finalized, the website contains a list of ones
that begin March 15. As new locations and
dates are confirmed, they will be added to
the website calendar.
Voters throughout the county will soon
be hearing a lot about the new voting
systems through targeted advertising and
outreach. Residents will see the campaign
on local television, billboards, movie
theaters, in print, and on transit. There are
also radio and digital spots planned.
The county could establish satellite
centers for in-person voting of absentee
and mail-in ballots. Act 77 of 2019, which
contained a number of election reforms,
provides general information on the
initiative that includes a requirement that
locations be in county-owned or county-
leased properties, and that such centers
be located outside of the municipality
in which the county seat is located. For
security reasons, only locations that are
hardwired to the county’s system can be
considered.
Elections staff was asked to report
to the board at its next meeting with
recommendations on the use of satellite
centers in advance of the April 28, 2020,
election.
In addition to updates on
AlleghenyVotes.com and the county’s
election webpage, constituents can also
receive information related to the election
on the county’s Facebook and Twitter
sites, as well as through Allegheny Alerts.
FREE TAX ASSISTANCE
BY VITA
Free tax assistance by VITA will be
provided at The Bible Chapel, 300 Gallery
Drive, McMurray, weekdays through
Apr. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. No
appointments; help is on a first-come, first-
served basis.
You must bring your previous year’s
tax return; ID for yourself and spouse;
Social Security numbers and birthdates for
yourself, spouse and dependents; all W-2
and 1099 tax documents (including Social
Security 1099); 1095 health care statements
and property tax receipts. Both spouses
must sign joint returns.
Federal, state, local and property tax/rent
rebate forms will be prepared. If you have
questions, call the IRS at 800.829.1040 or
search “VITA” at irs.gov.
(Please do not contact
The Bible Chapel.)
STATE
FUNDING
STATE GRANT FUNDS
RELEASED FOR SOUTH
FAYETTE FIRE &
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES
State Senator Pam Iovino announced
that $454,458 from the Office of
the State Fire Commissioner will be
distributed to 35 fire and emergency
medical services departments
throughout the 37th Senatorial District.
“This state funding supports our local
fire and EMS departments in protecting
residents and property by ensuring they
can maintain top-notch facilities, procure
equipment, maintain training and readiness,
and remain financially stable,” said Iovino,
Minority Chair of the Senate Committee
on Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness. “I am proud to work with
our local fire and EMS departments and the
Office of the State Fire Commissioner to
keep 37th District communities safe.”
Local grant awardees include:
• Fairview Volunteer Fire Department
Inc, Fire Department Grant, $12,741.81
• Oak Ridge Volunteer Fireman’s
Association, Fire Department Grant,
$12,057.17
• South Fayette Volunteer Fire
Department, Fire Department Grant,
$12,878.74
• SouthBridge Emergency Medical
Service, EMS Grant, $9,192.44
• Sturgeon Volunteer Fire Department,
Fire Department Grant, $12,878.74. n
SOUTH FAYETTE
❘
SPRING 2020
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