My Kids Safety Event is Saturday, Aug. 1 — plus other important info

Rep. Mandy Steele July 31, 2026 | 2:01 PM

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My Kids Safety Event is Saturday, Aug. 1

Healthy kids and families are among my priorities as your representative, so every year we hold a fun and informative Kids Safety Event with my friends at Citizens Hose Fire/Rescue/EMS. It will be this Saturday from 11 AM to 1 PM at Citizens Hose Fire/Rescue/EMS at 965 Burtner Road, Natrona Heights. There will be activities for children, safety tips for parents, and resources for families. Kids’ boxed lunches will be provided. I hope to see you there!

Community forum on interacting with law enforcement

I’m partnering with the Pennsylvania State Police to host a community forum next month on First Amendment rights and interactions with law enforcement. These are timely issues, and I’m grateful that the State Police can help increase our understanding of them.

The forum will be held on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at the Highlands High School Auditorium. A State Police community ambassador will provide an informative video presentation and lead a question-and-answer session on a range of topics related to interactions between residents and law enforcement.

I hosted a forum on this topic in April, and you can read news coverage about it here.

A successful smoke alarm event

Thank you to the American Red Cross and Allegheny Valley V.F.C. for partnering with my office last week to install free smoke alarms in Cheswick, Springdale Township, and Harmarville. Working smoke alarms can reduce the risk of death in a home fire by 50%, and it’s very important to me to sound the alarm about fire safety in our communities.

PA State Police expands pathways to a career as a trooper

The Pennsylvania State Police is expanding opportunities for students and aspiring law enforcement professionals through partnerships with colleges and universities. Through the Academy Internship Program, eligible college seniors can complete their final semester at the PSP Academy, earn academic credits, and begin their careers as a trooper after successfully completing cadet training. Interested students must apply by Sept. 30, 2026.

The 2026-27 state budget provides funding for approximately 380 new cadet appointments, reinforcing efforts to strengthen public safety and recruit the next generation of troopers.

Learn more at https://patrooper.com/.

Get help removing lead from old homes

Lead is toxic to humans, especially children, yet the paint in many old homes still has it. If you have young children or a pregnant person in a home built before 1978, check out Allegheny County’s Lead Safe Homes program. It offers free lead-paint testing and treatment to qualifying homeowners, renters, and landlords.

For more information, call the Lead Safe Homes Hotline at 412-227-5700 or visit www.alleghenycounty.us/leadsafeprogram.

Stay safe and cool in Allegheny County this summer

?To help everyone stay safe when temperatures rise, I want to share some important tips and resources from state and county officials:

To find a cooling center, residents can call 211 or visit southwest.pa211.org/summer-resources/.
Older adults seeking a cool place can call Allegheny County’s SeniorLine (412-350-5460) and can also visit Allegheny Connect for a countywide list of senior centers.

Be sure to check on neighbors, friends, and relatives—especially older adults, those with health conditions, and those without air conditioning—and remember these additional heat-related tips from the Allegheny County Emergency Services:

Drink plenty of water.

Limit time outdoors, especially at midday.

Never leave kids or pets in a car.
If you need to be outdoors, be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, headache, or excessive sweating.
When in doubt, take a break, cool down and seek help.

Partnering with the county to help you with
tax and licensing matters

I’m offering a new service this year at my Cheswick office. Once a month through September, I will host a representative from Allegheny County Treasurer Erica Rocchi Brusselars’ office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents can take advantage of these special days and hours at my office, located at 1296 Pittsburgh St., to pay county property taxes, apply for the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion or Senior Citizen Tax Relief programs, or obtain hunting, fishing, or dog licenses.

Mark your calendars with the dates and times on the graphic above!

Veterans services at my office

Twice a month, a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) will be at my Cheswick office, 1296 Pittsburgh St., to assist veterans with a variety of services. The VSO will be available on the third Wednesday and Thursday of each month.

Call to schedule an appointment at (724) 826-5151.