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    14Jun, 2018
    Health Department Announces Five New Live Well Allegheny Designations

    June 14, 2018

    PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced five new members to the Live Well Allegheny campaign, including one community, two restaurants and two workplaces. Now participating in the campaign are 59 communities, 44 restaurants, 18 workplaces and 14 school districts that are making health a priority in Allegheny County.

    “When this program was first introduced, we hoped that it would quickly gather steam and that we would see more and more organizations involved in these efforts,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “I’m thrilled to see that there are five more entities that are partnering with us to improve the health of our community and am grateful for this shared vision.”

    Live Well Allegheny Community

    The Borough of Aspinwall has resolved to promote and encourage involvement with community volunteer activities, including the utilization of web sites and social medial to provide information on physical activity, nutrition, stress management, tobacco cessation, and other health and wellness related initiatives.

    “I’m very pleased that an additional community in my district, the borough of Aspinwall, has earned the Live Well Allegheny status,” said Anita Prizio, the County Council Member representing District 3. “I look forward to seeing the borough implement its plans and how the community members respond to these great initiatives.”

    Live Well Allegheny Restaurants

    Eggs N’at Diner will offer vegetarian fare options, healthy side dishes, and half portions on select menu items. They have also resolved to use plant based oils for cooking and baking.

    Parkhurst Dining on the campus of Chatham University will provide low-calorie salad dressings and healthy side dishes, and will use plant based oils for cooking and baking. Additionally, they will offer vegetarian and vegan fare options, brown rice and other whole grains, and low-fat milk as an alternate to cream for hot beverages.

    Live Well Allegheny Workplaces

    Vanadium Woods Village will provide healthy cafeteria and vending options, a private area for employees to breastfeed, and access to water fountains, water dispensers, and water coolers. Vanadium Woods Village will also ensure well-lit, safe stairwells, and access to an on-site space for physical activity. In addition, the workplace will locate safe and accessible outdoor walking or running paths and trails for its employees, provide access to a secure bicycle storage area, provide standing/walking desks, and provide a space for a workplace garden that employees can build and maintain.

    Heritage Valley Health System (Sewickley) will provide healthy options in the cafeteria, vending machines, and during work meetings, and will issue health and wellness educational resources to employees. To encourage physical activity, Heritage Valley will promote weight-loss competitions or events, provide access to an on-site area for physical activity, and locate safe and accessible outdoor walking or running paths. Additionally, Heritage Valley will promote tobacco cessation through support groups, resources, and services, and will highlight success stories of employees who have successfully quit smoking, lost weight, or achieved personal health goals.

    “It’s exciting to welcome five more members to the Live Well family,” said ACHD Director, Dr. Karen Hacker. “This new group is committed to making health a top priority and will implement great plans for its citizens, employees and patrons. If you haven’t yet earned the Live Well Allegheny designation, we urge you to apply now.”

    Live Well Allegheny was launched in January 2014 by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald as a comprehensive and innovative strategy on wellness that embraces a broad concept of living well to include physical health, mental wellness, personal and community safety, prevention and preparedness, and much more. The effort is being led by the Allegheny County Board of Health and Dr. Hacker.

    Participants in the Live Well Allegheny campaign work with the Health Department’s staff. While monetary resources are not part of the initiative, participating workplaces can receive materials, information and collateral items to promote the campaign and their individual efforts to live well.

    7Jun, 2018
    Moon Township Earns Designation as a Live Well Allegheny Community

    June 7, 2018

    PITTSBURGH – The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced that another community, Moon Township, has earned the Live Well Allegheny Community designation. Now participating in the campaign are 58 communities, 42 restaurants, 14 workplaces and 14 school districts that are making health a priority in Allegheny County.

    “We are excited to see so many of our partners in this county sign on as participants in the Live Well Allegheny initiative, and delighted to welcome Moon Township to the program,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Our region is most successful when we work together and improving the health in our county is no exception. We welcome Moon Township and look forward to seeing the great activities and offerings in their community.”

    In its formal submission, Moon Township committed to improving the health and wellness of its residents by promoting physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco cessation. The township will develop walking maps, and indoor and outdoor wellness trails that will be accessible to residents of all ages and abilities, and will encourage multi-modal transportation of residents by providing facilities that encourage walking, ride-sharing, public transportation and bike riding. In addition, the township will promote and support farmers markets, smoke-free buildings and perimeters, and provide health information across a variety of platforms

    “I am thrilled that Moon Township has earned the status of a Live Well Community,” said District 1 Council Representative, Thomas Baker. “Moon Township is a pinnacle of good government and provides such amazing programming for residents. This designation and commitment will add to the already excellent assortment of activities and events for Moon residents, while also making sure that best practices are being focused on in the township.”

    Live Well Allegheny was launched in January 2014 by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald as a comprehensive and innovative strategy on wellness that embraces a broad concept of living well to include physical health, mental wellness, personal and community safety, prevention and preparedness, and much more. The effort is being led by the Allegheny County Board of Health and Health Department Director, Dr. Karen Hacker.

    “I was very pleased to notify Moon Township supervisors at their meeting last evening that their community earned Live Well status,” said Dr. Hacker. “Moon Township is dedicated to making health a priority for its residents, and has put together some great plans to achieve that goal. Earning the Live Well designation is easy, and we encourage those communities that have not yet applied to do so.”

    Participants in the Live Well Allegheny campaign work with the Health Department’s staff. While monetary resources are not part of the initiative, participating workplaces can receive materials, information and collateral items to promote the campaign and their individual efforts to live well. For more information on the campaign, including details on how to earn the Live Well designation, visit the Live Well Allegheny communities page.

    5Jun, 2018
    Red Lantern Bike Shop and ACHD promote Bike Safety with Helmet Distribution!

    As the calendar turns to June, the temperatures rise, and opportunities for physical activities pop up all over Allegheny County. With a variety of parks and trails, Allegheny County boasts endless opportunities for residents to get outside. While being active this summer, it is important to remember to be safe. June is the perfect time to focus on safety because it is National Safety Month. Did you know injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 40? This month, we encourage everyone to learn more about important safety issues, and ways to prevent injuries. To celebrate National Safety Month, we are spreading the word about one of our Live Well Allegheny Community Partners, the Red Lantern Bike Shop, and their work providing bikes and safe biking equipment to children.

    The Red Lantern Bike Shop operates with a team of volunteers to repair bikes for free, and provide free bikes to kids in the community. Working out of a repurposed shipping container, Red Lantern Bike charges only for parts that need to be ordered, but bike repairs are done for free by volunteers. The organization is so much more than repairs, as part of its mission is to provide free bikes to kids whose families may not be able to afford a new bike. Volunteers collect used bicycles, fix them, and on Saturdays opens the shop for families with children to stop and pick up a free bike for their kids.

    This summer, the Red Lantern Bike Shop will be providing a helmet along with a bike to children through a partnership with the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD)’s Chronic Disease Prevention Program and Traffic Safety Education Project. The helmet distribution is part of ACHD’s mission to prevent injuries while encouraging kids to be physically active. Funding for this program is provided by the PA Department of Health.

    For more information on the Red Lantern Bike Shop, check out its website or Facebook page. Bikes are for any child, but parent and child must be present. Bikes are on a first-come, first-serve basis with typically 12 bikes available each Saturday from 10 AM to Noon. If they can’t find a bike for your child in the right size, you can come back again. The Red Lantern Bike Shop is located at 420 Braddock Avenue, in Braddock, next to Braddock’s Free Store.