IN West Mifflin Fall 2016 | Page 8

WHAT’S NEWS IN WEST MIFFLIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT UNVEILS NEW PLACARDS The Allegheny County Health Department has unveiled new placards, which will be on display in food establishments in the county. The new design features a QR code that provides a quick link to allow consumers to use their personal digital device to view inspection reports right at the front door. The Inspected & Permitted placard indicates that a food establishment has passed the mandatory inspection by the health department’s Food Safety Program and is permitted to operate. The Consumer Alert placard serves as a notification to the public that conditions identified at the time of inspection may pose a health risk to the customer. The Closed placards are posted for one of three reasons: • Conditions identified at the time of inspection pose a serious health risk to the customer. • A facility is operating without a valid health permit. • Food safety conditions remain uncorrected after opportunity for a hearing or after reaching the maximum days allowed to operate with a consumer alert, which is 10 days. “At the Allegheny County Health Department, we take our responsibility to ensure safe eating establishments very seriously,” said Director Dr. Karen Hacker. “The updated placards will provide county residents with a clear and easy-to-read status of the facilities they’re considering when making dining choices, while also providing easy access to the reports behind each status. It is our hope that people will make healthy choices and live well!” 6 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Mifflin THE 6TH ANNUAL ‘TENNIS PAIRS FOR FREE WHEELCHAIRS’ CHARITY TENNIS EVENT Join the Lady Vulcans of Cal U Tennis Team for a day of tennis, food and fun... and to transform a life. What: Tennis Doubles – Round Robin Format, Cardio Tennis with Marcy Bruce and Megan Foster, and MORE! (Singles welcome; we’ll match you with a partner.) When: Sunday, September 11 Registration: 12:30 to 1 p.m. Tennis Activities: 1 to 4 p.m. Dinner, Exhibition Match & Prizes: 4 to 5 p.m. Where: Upper St. Clair Municipal Tennis Courts (McLaughlin Run Rd., Upper St. Clair) Cost: $80—the cost to TRANSFORM A LIFE with a free wheelchair from Free Wheelchair Mission (freewheelchairmission.org) The event is sponsored by the Greater Pennsylvania Education Foundation and the Professional Compounding Pharmacists. For more information or to reserve a spot (space is limited), visit freewheelchairtennis.com to register by Monday, Sept. 5. HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFERS FREE SHINGLES VACCINE The Allegheny County Health Department is offering the Shingles vaccine free of charge, for a limited time, to uninsured or underinsured people, 50 years of age and older. While supplies last, Shingles vaccines are available at the health department’s Immunization Clinic located at 3441 Forbes Avenue in Oakland. No appointment is necessary; however, individuals are asked to call 412.578.8062 in advance to ensure that supplies are still available. Clinic hours are as follows: • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Wednesday, 1 to 8 p.m. The risk of getting shingles begins to increase around the age of 50. Anyone that age or older should get the vaccine, regardless of whether they recall having chickenpox. Studies show that 99 percent of individuals 40 and older have had chickenpox. People who have already had shingles can still receive the vaccine to prevent future occurrences of the disease. The vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by more than 50 percent, and it reduces the risk of pain after the rash by 67 percent. WIC PROGRAM INCREASES INCOME LIMITS The Allegheny County Health Department announced that income limits for its Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program has increased. The new 2016-17 income limits for eligibility start with an annual gross income of $21,978 for a family of one; $29,637 for two; $37,296 for three; $44,955 for four; and $52,614 for five. Unborn children are counted when the woman is pregnant. Allegheny County residents with family sizes larger than five should contact the health department directly for benefit information. WIC is a federally funded program for pregnant women, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers, infants and children under the age of 5. Eligibility is based on income and nutritional risk. For information about WIC and how to apply for benefits, please call the Allegheny County Health Department WIC Program at 412.350.5801. BISHOP ZUBIK CALLS FOR NEW CLASS TO BEGIN DIOCESAN DEACON FORMATION PROGRAM The Diocese of Pittsburgh is initiating the nomination and application process for admitting a new class of interested and qualified Catholic men into the Deacon Formation Program, according to Bishop David A. Zubik. In addition, as previously announced in 2014, the bishop said he intends to continue calling additional classes into the formation