HEIDELBERG BOROUGH POLICE UPDATE 4/18/16

The Heidelberg Police Department (HPD) wants to remind everyone that with summer approaching and the return of warmer weather, many people have a tendency to driver faster than in winter weather’s snowy and icy road conditions. Be aware and be careful. With the warmer weather also comes children at play throughout the Borough. Heidelberg has three parks where children play and extra care should be taken while driving near the Borough’s parks. Children playing baseball, soccer or hockey often run into the street, commonly running between parked cares to get on to the street. Parents need to take extra vigilance over their children at this time of the year and know where they are and what they are doing daily, on a regular basis. It's easy to blame someone else when a child is injured by a motor vehicle, but a better solution is for parents to know where a child is and where he/she is playing. Let us all teach the young the proper way to cross a street, look both ways first.

Keep in mind that unless otherwise noted, the speed limit within the Borough is 25 MPH. We all know that we all drive too fast and many of us do not obey speed limit signs. However, we all need to share the roadway with cars, motorcycles, bicyclists and children. For our mutual safety and welfare, let us all try and be courteous and smart as we negotiate the roadways of the Borough.

Remember your state bicycle laws which are found in the motor vehicle code manual. Always keep in mind that state law dictates the proper, safe distance that a motor vehicle driver must maintained between a bike rider and a motor vehicle on a roadway. In the same respect, cyclists are required to obey the same traffic laws as motor vehicles while riding bikes on a roadway, and cyclists can be issued citations for violating the same traffic laws as a motor vehicle driver can.

Even through texting and driving is against the law, and is treated as driving while impaired by state law, drivers still do it on a daily basis. Keep in mind all the state laws regarding the use of social media while driving. New technology is in the works and will be available shortly whereby police, while investigating a motor vehicle accident, can plug a cell phone into a police vehicle laptop to determine if a driver was texting at the time of an accident. On a similar note, many vehicles are equipped with digital dashboard cameras as a means of documenting who was at fault during an accident, road rage incident and other criminal activity.

Families going on vacation during the summer months can stop at the Police Station and fill out a “Vacation Watch” form prior to leaving. This form informs the HPD as to when you will be away and empowers them to make extra checks of your residence while you are gone. In addition, you can list emergency contact numbers on this form should you need to be contacted while away.

One last Note, the Heidelberg Police Department’s Annual Fishing Derby will be August 6th, 2016 in Chartiers Creek along the border of the Borough. Registration will begin at 7:30AM at the Heidelberg Park Pavilion. PA Fish Commission Regulations Apply in regards to Licensing. This is a Family Fishing Derby, parents or guardians must remain with children or young adults during the entire derby, including the awarding of plaques and prizes for best fish caught in a number of categories. A registration fee required to participate.

Chief Vernon M. Barkley .

IF YOU NEED THE POLICE, CALL 911

Heidelberg Business District Garden Adoption Program

Made possible by the revitalization of Route 50 in Heidelberg, there are now a series of ten garden areas along our core business district that need tending to.  Heidelberg Borough is seeking interested volunteers to become special Garden Tenders for the public garden beds along Route 50.

The duty of the Garden Tenders will be to routinely weed, water and provide simple upkeep such as litter-getting of their adopted garden bed.

To recognize your garden adoption, a sign will be placed in your respective garden stating that this garden is adopted by you, your family or business.

The gardens that are available to adopt include the following:

• 1900 Block Billboard Garden
• 1800 Block Billboard Garden

Sites that have already been adopted:

• First Street Traffic Island Garden – Thomas and Walpurga Allen
• Third Street Steps and Clock Garden Bed – Al and Dolly Kosol
• 1700 Block Hillside Groundcover Garden – Thomson Landscape & Design, LLC
• 1700 Block Billboard Garden – Al and Dolly Kosol
• Second Street Bumpouts – Apple Printing
• Third Street Bumpouts – Hinnebusch Family
• Fourth Street Bumpouts – Lindemann Family & Ernesto Carmona
• Gas House Garden – Rebecca Stanhope and Mayor Ken LaSota

If you are interested in volunteering to become a Heidelberg Garden Tender, please contact Joe Kauer, Borough Manager at 412-276-0363 and let him know what garden area you are interested in adopting.

Photos of our current Garden Adoptions! - https://heidelbergpa.tripod.com/business_district_garden_adoption_program

Heidelberg Community Room Now Equipped with Life-Saving A.E.D.

Thanks to an $1,800 grant from St. Clair Hospital, the Heidelberg Community Room located at 1639 East Railroad Street is now equipped with a life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

“Our Community Room hosts many public gatherings including town meetings, community events, social activities and is also home to our Historical Society, and now with the help of St. Clair Hospital it is now properly equipped and ready for a sudden cardiac emergency,” stated Council President Rick Pattinato.

Heidelberg Borough thanks St. Clair Hospital for their support and generosity. 

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*IMPORTANT INFORMATION*

REGARDING YOUR

LOCAL EARNED INCOME TAXES

Make Sure Your Local Earned Income Taxes Go

To Work for You and Your Community!

As a resident of Heidelberg Borough your PSD Code is 730503.

This must be used on your Residency Certification Form filed with your employer and on your Final Local Earned Income Tax Return which must be filed by all taxpayers annually. If you use the wrong PSD Code, there will be a significant delay in your taxes reaching your home municipality and school district! 

Forms are available at www.jordantax.com/forms.

ONLINE Filing at www.jordantax.com/eitfinal.