that means it's time to think about ticks. The spurts of unseasonably warm weather this .... real property for ad valore
ERIE COUNTY
connection Spring 2017
What’s inside Dispose safely page 2 Find out where you can dispose of outdated medications.
TICK Talk page 2 Learn how to prevent tick bites this spring.
girl POWER page 3 Kathy Dahlkemper tells us about a female leader who inspires her.
government GIGGLES page 4 Two county employees took to the stage.
safety first page 4 Find out what is new at Public Safety.
spotlight page 5 Meet Amy Francis, of the Assessment Office.
A cleaner, greener erie county After months of preparation, Erie County is now the newest affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful network. During a luncheon ceremony March 2 at the Erie County Conservation District, Keep America Beautiful’s Cecile Carson officially presented Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper with the designation of Keep Erie County Beautiful. “On behalf of Keep America Beautiful, it is my honor to present this certificate recognizing Keep Erie County Beautiful as an official affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, helping to promote our mission to engage individuals to take action every day to improve and enhance their community and environment,” said Carson, vice president for litter and affiliate relations at Keep America Beautiful. Keep Erie County Beautiful, a program of the Erie County Department of Planning coordinated by the Erie County Recycling Program, aims to inspire the citizens of Erie County through education
and collaboration to preserve our natural environment. “We are fortunate to have an abundance of natural beauty here in Erie County, and it is important for us to protect that environment,” Dahlkemper said. “Through this affiliation, we are strengthening our network and enhancing the work of our nonprofits and neighborhood groups, who work so diligently to keep our landscapes and waterways clean.” The affiliation not only gives Erie County access to the resources of the Keep America Beautiful and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful networks, it also offers an opportunity for extra funding, thanks to grants that are available only to affiliates. As part of the official launch ceremony, attendees – including nonprofit partners, elected officials and members of the Keep Erie County Beautiful advisory committee – signed a poster pledging to do their part to keep Erie County beautiful. CONTINED on PAGE 6
smile page 7 Learn about the county partnership with Amazon.
ERIE COUNTY
coming up page 7 What is going on this spring in Erie County.
KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AFFILIATE
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Did you know ... ... that you can safely dispose of unwanted medications in Erie County?
Med Return Unit Locations:
Leaving unused prescription drugs in medicine cabinets mean they could potentially be used to feed addictions. And improper disposal of medication can harm wildlife and contaminate water. But Med Return Drug Collection Units, stationed at 12 locations around the county, offer an opportunity to turn in your medications in a secure location, where the drugs will be safely disposed of. To see the list of locations, visit https:// www.eriecountypa.gov/media/341560/ med-return-flyer-_1.pdf.
Albion Police Department Corry City Police Department Edinboro Borough Police Department Edinboro University Campus Erie County Courthouse Lobby Girard Borough Police Department Lake City Police Department Lawrence Park Police Department Mercyhurst University Main Police Mercyhurst North East Police North East Borough Police Wesleyville Borough Police
tick talk: what to watch for outdoors It’s spring in Erie County – and that means it’s time to think about ticks. The spurts of unseasonably warm weather this winter have made ticks more active, said Breanna Adams, environmental protection specialist at the Erie County Department of Health. Winter doesn’t kill ticks, so they became more active during warm stretches in February and March. If you’re headed outdoors to enjoy the spring, be sure to know what to look for. If you’re just out for a hike or bike ride, Adams advises that you stay on a trail and avoid brushy areas with leaf litter, which is just the kind of dark, humid material that ticks love. If you can’t avoid the tick-prone areas, consider using a repellent. Adams suggests trying products with DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin, and she said there are even products available that you can use to treat your clothing. Wherever your outdoor travels take
you, be sure to check for ticks when you come home, Adams says, focusing on the backs of knees, armpits, groin area and hairline – any dark or warm place that might be enticing to ticks. She also suggests that you shower once you get home and also put your clothes in the dryer right away to help kill off any ticks that might be hiding away. What if you find a tick on your skin? Adams says to use tweezers to firmly grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and then pull it straight out. “You don’t want to try to burn it out, or smother it with Vaseline or nail
polish, or some of the other things you hear about,” she said. Be sure to check your outdoor pets, too, she says. Ticks are a concern because some kinds can be carriers of Lyme disease. The Erie County Department of Health routinely identifies ticks for members of the public, to help people know what their risk of exposure to Lyme disease is, Adams said. And ticks already have been making their way into the Department of Health. “We’ve seen more in the past few weeks than we have in past years at this point,” Adams said.
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A note from the County Executive Dear Friends, A few months back, we added a photograph to the lobby of the County Executive’s Office in the Erie County Courthouse. The photograph is of Helen M. Stone Schluraff, a Fairview Township native who served as Erie County Commissioner (a precursor to the position of Erie County Executive) from 1932 to 1944. Not only was she the first woman elected to the post of commissioner in Erie County, she was the first female county commissioner in the entire state of Pennsylvania. The photo, along with a small informational plaque, had been hanging in an easy-to-overlook spot in a courthouse stairwell. Once I heard more about Commissioner Schluraff, however, I was convinced that she needed a more prominent spot. Thanks to our friends at the Erie County Historical Society, we know quite a bit about Mrs. Schluraff and her contributions to our county. She was a community leader long before she held elected office. She was a charter member of the Erie Chapter of the League of Women Voters, which formed shortly after women gained the right to vote in 1920, and she was active in Republican politics not just locally but on the state level as well. Also notable was her background as a businesswoman. When she found herself the single mother of two children, she took over her husband’s flower shop in order to support her family. Under her ownership, the business – including greenhouses on West Lake Road and a shop in the Masonic Temple Building – grew into a leading floral business in the city. She was an advocate for businesses, and she took a special interest in helping women make inroads in the workplace. She was an early leader in the local Business
and Professional Women’s Clubs as well as in Zonta International’s local chapter. Her interests in politics and business intersected after the stock market crash of 1929, and she was called to public service. After her election as Erie County Commissioner in 1932, she turned her attention to advocating for the unemployed and to improving efficiency in county government. She lobbied for an improved airport and was instrumental in constructing the Erie County Tuberculosis Hospital, which is the same building that formerly housed Pleasant Ridge Manor East. All of that history cannot be conveyed with a single photograph, of course. But we find that it is a conversation starter in our office. When guests come in, they inevitably stop and look at Helen’s photo. “Who is this?” they might ask. “I’m glad you asked,” I’ll reply, and then I’m off, giving them the in-a-nutshell story of Helen Schluraff. And to me, that story matters. Helen Schluraff’s story is part of the history of Erie County. More than that, though, it is a lesson for all of Erie County’s present-day citizens. We can look to her devotion to her family that led her to step outside her comfort zone and take over a business. We can look to her dedication to her fellow citizens that led her to be engaged and active, helping other women and business owners. And we can look to her determination to help her community not just survive economic turmoil, but thrive. It’s a story that I’m proud to showcase, and one that I strive to emulate every day.
Kathy
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LAUGH IT UP Two Erie County employees stepped into the spotlight for a good cause recently. Public Defender Pat Kennedy and Coroner Lyell Cook were among a slate of eight local celebrities doing brief standup routines for Laugher in the Limelight, a fundraiser for the Mental Health Association of Northwest Pennsylvania, at Jr.’s Last Laugh Comedy Club. Kennedy started off the show with witty remarks about the job of public defenders, and Cook closed out the performances with his observations on his career. We’re proud of these Erie County employees not just for their clever routines that left the crowd laughing, but for their willingness to help support a valuable community organization. Bravo, comedians!
What’s new at public safety? The Erie County Department of Public Safety is seeing improved communications with first responders thanks to the early deployment of a new dispatch console system. The Zetron dispatch console system is improving the reliability and audio quality of communications in the county’s 911 center, and is also saving the county $210,000 per year. The console system, which was installed in February, represents the completion of the first phase of the Next Generation Public Safety Radio System. Meanwhile, work continues on the overall radio system upgrade, including progress on finalizing design of the equipment and securing land/ property agreements to construct new communications towers. The system is on target for completion and full implementation by March 2018.
Employee spotlight
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Meet Amy Francis
What is your job title, what does your job entail and why do you enjoy it? GIS Coordinator/Appraiser. My job includes assessing real property for ad valorem purposes. My job allows me to work outside of the office when collecting data throughout Erie County. I currently manage Erie County’s Clean and Green Program, which includes approximately 7,000 parcels. I am responsible for assisting the other staff members with their GIS needs, creating files to assist with the Assessment process, and I produce data files upon the public’s request. I love what I do! I’ve always been in customer service and I enjoy working with people to serve their needs.
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If you had to pick another job to start doing tomorrow, what would it be? I would be a lawyer.
What do you do in your free time to relax and recharge? I enjoy yoga, repurposing and upcycling furniture, spending time with my family and friends at the beach and going camping.
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What is your biggest pet peeve? Laziness.
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If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would spend the money on? I would pay off my student loans and my mortgage.
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What is your favorite type of music? Genre, style, decade? I love all music including: Motown, country, hip hop/R&B, alternative! The ’90s are probably my favorite!
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What are three things left on your bucket list? I don’t really have a bucket list. I try to live each day to the fullest and love a great surprise when it happens.
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What is the last movie you saw, and what did you think of it? ”The Accountant,” I love Ben Affleck movies.
If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Anything with shrimp in it!
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And that work is already underway, said Brittany Prischak, Erie County sustainability coordinator. Grant money through Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful enabled Erie County to purchase litter cleanup equipment – including tools, buckets and waders – that can be loaned out to area groups. Keep Erie County Beautiful is also gearing up for the Great American Cleanup of PA program, which promotes neighborhood and park cleanups, from April 18 to May 8, Prischak said. The effort is a collaboration of
area landfills, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, “as well as so many great organizations throughout the state that are conducting cleanup or beautification activities,” Prischak said. During the cleanup period, area landfills customarily offer reduced cost or free trash disposal to assist organizations in their cleanup efforts. That collaboration among volunteers, nonprofits and businesses is one of the hallmarks of the Keep America Beautiful program – and something that
Above from left to right: Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful; advisory committee members John Villa, Sarah Galloway and John Buchna; Cecile Carson, of Keep America Beautiful; Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper; Brittany Prischak, Erie County sustainability coordinator; and advisory committee members Doris Gernovich, Gary Diley, Maria Liggett and Renee Wagner.
county official expect to build on here in Erie County. “We know that together, we can all help create a cleaner, greener and more beautiful Erie County,” Dahlkemper said.
every Friday morning. Visit the site to read about the companies, and browse through photos from Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper has been telling in fifty their operations. In some of her visits so far, she the stories of Erie County’s has seen frozen pizzas coming businesses, one week at a time. off the line in North East and learned about In 2017, she set a goal to visit 50 Erie County e-commerce in Fairview. She’s seen machines businesses in 50 weeks – both to highlight the punching out tiny plastic parts in Millcreek wide range of companies that call Erie County home and to hear directly from employers about Township and watched welders build giant steel trailer frames in Albion. what advantages and challenges they find by There are plenty of more weeks in the year, so planting their roots here. be sure to check back every Friday morning to She has been blogging about her visits at explore a new Erie County company. 50in50.eriecountypa.gov, with updates coming In case you missed it …
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shop your way to charity Did you know that you can help children in Erie County every time you shop on Amazon? SOS 4 Kidz, a nonprofit created to help abused and neglected children in Erie County participate in school and community activities, is a registered charity with Amazon. com’s AmazonSmile program. SOS 4 Kidz funds activities, supplies, gifts and more for children involved with the Erie County Office of Children and Youth. The nonprofit, which is run entirely by volunteers, spends money to give these children some of the opportunities and memories that their peers take for granted. Through the AmazonSmile program, a portion of the price of items you purchase are donated to the charity of your choice. Amazon’s
regular products, at their regular prices, are offered through the program. To get started, go to smile. amazon.com and search for SOS 4 Kidz to choose it as your charity. From then on, shop by going to smile. amazon.com. While you can support SOS 4 Kidz through AmazonSmile year-round, you’ll have more chances to support the nonprofit this spring. The organization is planning two events in April, which happens to be National Child Abuse Prevention Month. On Sunday, April 23, at 1 p.m., a bingo benefit will be held at the East Erie Moose Club, 6060 Iroquois Ave. in Harborcreek. On Thursday,
April 27, you can join SOS 4 Kidz with headliner Matthew Broussard at Jr.’s Last Laugh Comedy Club, 1402 State St. in Erie. The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets cost $15. When ordering tickets, you must mention SOS 4 Kidz.
even more things going on April is … National County Government Month – This year’s theme is “Brilliant Ideas at Work.” Keep America Beautiful Month – Now, we can celebrate with Keep Erie County Beautiful. National Child Abuse Prevention Month – Join us for a ceremony Monday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. in front of the Erie County Courthouse.
And don’t forget: National Library Week, April 9-15 – Visit your favorite Erie County Public Library branch.
Help us celebrate National County Government Month this April! Follow Erie County on social media.
May is … Foster Care Month – We recognize our dedicated OCY staff and area foster families. National Mental Health Awareness Month – We shine a light on the needs of our community and the work of our Department of Human Services.
@ErieCountyPennsylvania
And don’t forget: National Nurses Week, May 6-12 – We thank our hard-working nurses at the Erie County Department of Health.
@CountyofErie
