The Board of Supervisors recognized, Michael Kotok, for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.  As a member of Boy Scout Troop 310, Michael Kotok earned 26 merit badges and was selected to be a member of the Order of the Arrow.  He served a number of troop leadership roles including Quartermaster, Historian, Den Chief, Troop Guide, Troop Instructor, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.  Mike refurbished parts of the Baker Baseball Fields in Moon Township as his Eagle Scout Service Project including installing a new bullpen pitcher's mound on Baker 1, scraped off the old paint and rust off of all sets of bleachers around the complex, applied a new coat of primer and paint, and constructed and installed the new front entrance sign to the fields complete with a small wood border garden with perennial plants.

The Township of Moon's Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) is looking for all photos of the Mooncrest area taken between 1943-1968.  The photos can include people, buildings, streetscapre, cars, etc.  The photos will be used in a publication featuring photos and the history of Mooncrest. The township will offer $100 for the best picture, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place. Judging will be done at the HARB meeting Wednesday, January 9, 2013. 

If you have any Mooncrest photos and are willing to loan them to the township contact Charlie Belgie at 412-262-5004 or Lora Dombrowski at 412-262-1700. Photos will be scanned and returned promptly.  Please submit all entries to the Township Administration Office by Tuesday, January 8.

• SwiftReach 911: Moon Township Police Department uses SwiftReach Reverse 911 to keep residents informed through phone calls in the event of an emergency or urgent notification. Sign up today at www.moonpolice.us to receive winter weather and related notifications. Both landline and cell phone numbers can be registered.
• Township Office: For questions related to snow removal or other maintenance services, call the Township Administration Office at 412-262-1700.
• MCA-TV: Tune in to Moon Community Access Television on Comcast channel 14 or Verizon FiOs channel 35 for local updates, including cancellations and delays.
• Local News: In the event of a power outage, keep a battery-powered radio at home to tune in to local news stations for information. The Township also posts cancellations on local news websites.  Residents should keep smartphones charged for internet access, recharge phones by use of a car charger if a vehicle is in safe reach.
• PennDOT: Check road conditions for interstates and some limited-access highways at www.511pa.com or call 511 for PennDOT updates. 

In all cases, Moon Township Public Works tries to avoid damage to anyone's property.  Mailboxes are placed in the Township's legal right-of-way; Moon Township is not liable for damage to them caused by snow removal operations.  Moon Township repairs or replaces only mailboxes and/or posts that are actually struck by the plow blades or damaged by impact from the plow truck itself.  Usually, a paint mark or truck tire tracks supply evidence of a mailbox strike.  Moon Township does not repair or replace mailboxes and/or posts that fall from the force of plowed snow.  Mailboxes and supporting post must be installed to withstand the rigors of snow removal, including the force of snow pushed from the street onto the road edge.  Please contact the Township Administration Office at 412-262-1700 if you have a plow damaged mailbox and a representative from the Public Works Department will investigate.

Moon Township and PennDOT allow property owners to place mailboxes within the limits of the legal right-of-way; because mailboxes are within the right-of-way, damages are the responsibility of the property owner.  To help avoid damage, be sure your mailbox has a strong support and use reflective tape or other material to make it easier to see during storms or dark hours.  View PennDOT's winter services guide including information on installing a cantilevered mailbox support at www.dot.state.pa.us.

The goal of the Public Works Department during plowing operations is to clear the roadway of snow from curb to curb (mailbox to mailbox), this includes all the cul-de-sacs in the Township.  During this operation, plow drivers push the snow up onto the grassy area behind the curb.  At times there may be some yard damage done to these areas.  If this occurs, we ask that residents report the incident to the Township Administration Office at 412-262-1700.  Public Works crews will roll the sod back, if possible, and when the snow melts in the spring crews will make a permanent repair.  This request also applies to any asphalt or concrete curbs along the roadways or parking lots maintained by the Township.

View a complete program schedule at www.mca-tv.org.

All shows aired on MCA-TV are available on DVD.  Call 412-269-1191 to order yours.

The Doctor's In - new episode!

Tune in for a new episode of MCA-TV's award-winning show, "The Doctor Is In" featuring Moon Township resident and producer, Dr. Marc Schneiderman and his co-host, Dr. Robert Skovira of Robert Morris University.   This one-hour show spotlights interviews with cardiologist, Dr. Robert Nitzberg of Heritage Valley Cardiology Group on congestive heart failure; rheumatologist, Dr. Atac Turkay of Heritage Valley on polymyalgia rheumatic; and cardiologist, Dr. Donal Warde of Allegheny General on atrial fibrillation and his special recipe for treating the common cold.  The episode concludes with an interview with Dr. Robert Skovira on end of life issues.  Tune in to the new episode of "The Doctor Is In" on Fridays at 11 a.m., 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.

SHINE - new show!

"SHINE" is produced by Moon Township resident, Frank Magnotta featuring hosts, Carra Wheat and Maureen Messersmith.  SHINE stands for: Sharing, Helping, Inspiring, Nurturing, Encouraging.  "SHINE" features  Wheat and Messersmith explaining how clipping and saving everyday coupons can be used to help subsidize the food bank and  soldiers overseas.   Tune in for the premiere of "SHINE" on Monday, December 10 at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7 p.m.  The show will continue to run on Mondays at those times.

Join MCA-TV this spring at their 12th Public Awareness Weekend!  PAW is a two-day, 20 hour, li

ve television event featuring interview broadcasts with Pittsburgh-area nonprofits.  Each group will 

ucate others about their cause and encourage the community to take part and volunt

eer.  All interviews will air live during the event and periodically following the event on MCA-TV's cable stations Comcast channel 14 and Verizon FiOs channel 35 reaching approximately 25,000 households in Moon Township and surrounding areas.

Any non-profit organization interested in participating in Public Awareness Weekend can contact Alexis Sergeant at asergeant@moontwp.com or call MCA-TV at 412-269-1911.  Interviews will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.  Check back to MCA-TV's website or Moon Township's website for more information once a date has been set.

Volunteer Requirements

1.  Current resident of Moon Township

2.  Individuals who are between the ages of 16 to 18 years old interested in becoming a Junior Firefighter must attend high school and be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Moon Township Volunteer Fire Company thanks residents for their support of the Fire Company through donations and attending their many events and activities.

Moon Community Center, Lower Level

1700 Beaver Grade Road

412-299-7446 

www.moontaxoffice.us

In 2010, I created the first Moon Tow

nship Property Tax Office website. The goal and purpose of this site is to provide Moon Township taxpayers with information, assistance, and the scope of the office. At any time, feel free to call 412-299-7446 

for assistance or questions. Online payments are also available through a local third party banking agency for convenience to the property owners.  The website lists when tax statements are mailed, payment periods, as well as office hours and holiday closings.  Currently, a link to the Allegheny County reassessment page is on the main page of my website for easy access.  Another important tab on the site is the qualifying tax relief section that provides information and forms for the homestead exemption, senior citizen tax relief, disabled veterans and more.  Deadlines for each of the various applications are listed as well. 

The 2012 property tax year is now closed, 2013 municipal tax statements will be mailed on April 1, 2013. Please remember, if you are a new homeowner, paid off your mortgage, or had any change in your billing address, you must notify my office and the county with the updated information.  As of November 2012 and the submission of this article, no new information is available from Allegheny County for the 2013 reassessment year and the county is still conducting appeal hearings with property owners. However, as information becomes available look for segments or announcements from my office on MCA-TV - Comcast channel 14 and Verizon FiOs channel 35, on my website, and through the Moon Township Monthly. 

Wishing you a safe & happy New Year - Catherine Tress 

The Property Tax Office will be closed for Christmas on December 24 & 25 and for New Year's Day on January 1.