Remembering Foxwall EMS Chief Anthony
Cuda
Last week, Western Pennsylvania lost an
incredibly important member of the community with the unexpected
passing of Foxwall EMS Chief Anthony “Tony” Cuda. Chief
Cuda’s career in emergency services began when he was 16, when
he joined the Swissvale Borough Fire Department and started his
training to become a paramedic. He later served as an EMT with
Wilkinsburg EMS, Seneca Area EMS, Penn Hills EMS, East Ambulance,
Medline Ambulance Service, Guardian Angel Ambulance Service, Northwest
EMS, and AHN Prehospital Services. Chief Cuda was also a life-member
of the Aspinwall Fire Department.
In addition to his work as
an EMT, Chief Cuda served as the program coordinator of ALS Programs
at the Public Safety Institute of CCAC. The lives he touched as an
educator are innumerable and the impact of him helping to create a
current and future generation of dedicated EMTs and paramedics will be
sorely missed.
Over the last five years, as a member of
the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee,
I’ve gotten the chance to meet many of the members of the EMS
and volunteer fire community– they have all been incredibly
generous with their time and their knowledge. And Chief Cuda was no
exception to that. I benefited greatly from his
expertise.
Back in May, Chief Cuda extended an
invitation to me to join the crew at Foxwall for EMS Appreciation
Week. This was the first time that I got to visit the Chief at the
station—we had talked over Zoom and by email numerous
times—but between the pandemic, his incredibly busy schedule,
and my schedule, we hadn’t connected at the
station.
I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed that
visit. I had the chance to visit with and to share a snack with the
many members of the Foxwell crew, including Chief Cuda. During that
time, we had a great conversation about the many issues facing EMS
crews. It was obvious to me then, as it is now, that this was more
than a job for him. It is a calling. It is a family. It’s both
deeply personal and meaningful, and something that he and all of our
EMTS do for the entire community.
Toward the
end of that visit, Chief Cuda gave me a Foxwall EMS challenge coin.
Since I became a Senator, I’ve received a few challenge coins,
and every one of them carries a lot of meaning to me—I know that
they aren’t given casually. But this one will always have a
special place on my desk and in my heart now, because Chief Cuda gave
it to me the last time I spoke with him. We never know when it’s
going to be the last time that we talk to someone—what that last
conversation will be. The kindness and the respect that he showed me
by honoring me with this challenge coin means even more now—and
that will never leave me.
Chief Cuda, you will not
be forgotten—we will all carry your spirit of service and
dedication forward with us in your honor.
Foxwall
EMS Chief Tony Cuda recalled as mentor, inspiration for departments
across the A-K Valley | TribLIVE.com
Upcoming Events
Thanksgiving on Every Table
Collection
October 16 - November 6
North
Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) is collecting items to make a
complete Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of families in our area who
are experiencing hardship. Our district offices will serve as drop off
sites for the following requested items:
- Large boxes of
stuffing mix
- Large boxes of instant mashed potatoes
- 15-ounce can of cranberry sauce or yams
- 16-ounce can of
vegetables
- Any dessert mix
- Corn muffin or biscuit
mix
- Turkey gravy mix
- Napkins
- Canvas
shopping bags
Food items will be accepted through
November 6th. Our district office locations and hours are:
Ross Township Office
5000 McKnight Rd.
Pittsburgh PA 15237
(412) 364-0469
Monday-Friday 9-5pm
Harrison Township
Office
1826 Union Ave.
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(724)
224-2131
Monday-Thursday 9-5pm
Thank you for helping to
make a family’s celebration complete this year!
Good News
Fall Senior
Fair at Ross Community Center
We hosted our
annual fall Senior Fair with
Rep. Emily Kinkead at the Ross Township Community Center on
October 26th and it was a phenomenal success with over 350 attendees!
We were so grateful to the 54 vendors who came to share information,
to the
Ross Township Community Center for being a wonderful host, Dunkin
Donuts in Etna and Eat
‘n Park for delicious refreshments, Pittsburgh
Regional Transit for issuing free senior bus passes, and
Waltmire Pharmacy for providing flu and COVID-19 shots to
attendees!
West View
Halloween Parade
I had a great time
judging West
View Borough’s annual Halloween Parade Costume Contest on
October 30th. Thank you to all the businesses and volunteers who
contributed to this year's parade and helped make it a
success!
Discussion
with Teen L.E.A.D.
On October 30th I also
spoke to Teen
L.E.A.D. at the Kingsley Association in Larimer about what it is
like to be a legislator in Pennsylvania. Our discussion was one of
many Teen L.E.A.D. (Leadership. Education. Assistance. Development.)
meetings where people from different occupations talk to youth about
what they do. I think I learned as much from them as they learned from
me! Thank you to Teen L.E.A.D. for helping young people recognize
their leadership potential and for helping them become better equipped
for post-secondary life.
Legislative Update
Water, Sewer, & Stormwater
Infrastructure Policy Hearing
On October 25th, I joined Democratic Policy Committee Chair Senator
Katie Muth and Senator
Maria Collett in hosting a policy hearing on water, sewer, and
stormwater infrastructure issues facing Pennsylvania
communities.
One of the top issues I hear about
from constituents and municipalities is the importance of funding
water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. That’s why Senator
Muth, Senator Collett, and I co-sponsored legislation last year that
resulted in $320 million in American Rescue Plan money being allocated
for projects like these. But over a billion dollars in infrastructure
projects had to be turned away – demonstrating that the need is
dire in Pennsylvania to fund projects that protect the health, safety,
and welfare of residents across the Commonwealth. I look forward to
taking what we learned and working to find more ways to fund these
critical projects.
Senate
Dems Discuss Water, Sewer, Stormwater Infrastructure at Capitol
Hearing (senatorlindseywilliams.com)
Election
Day is Tuesday, November 7th!
The 2023
Municipal Election is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7th. Whether you
ordered a mail-in ballot or plan to vote in-person, your vote is your
voice. Make sure you have a plan to complete the voting process before
Election Day deadlines so your voice is heard!
In-Person Voting
All 1,324 polling places in Allegheny County and polling places
across Pennsylvania will be open on Election Day, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m.
– 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
There are 36 polling places in Allegheny County that have changed
since the May 2023 Primary, but no polling places have changed in
Senate District 38. Note - if polling places change, voters receive
letters from the Elections Division advising them of the new
location.
To verify your polling place go to Polling
Place Information (pa.gov).
First-time voters at a polling
place will be asked to show identification. Accepted forms of
identification are listed here.
Mail-in Ballot Voting
Reminders
If you are voting by mail, read the
instructions you receive with your ballot carefully!
After completing your ballot, you must seal it in the inner secrecy
envelope that indicates "official election ballot." Do not
make any marks on the inner secrecy envelope. Your ballot
must be enclosed and sealed in the inner secrecy envelope that
indicates "official election ballot" or it will not be counted.
Seal the inner secrecy envelope in the pre-addressed outer return
envelope. Complete the voter’s declaration on the outside of the
outer return envelope with the date and your signature. If you do not
complete the declaration on the return envelope your ballot will not
be counted.
You must mail or drop off your ballot
in time to be received by the Elections Division downtown by 8 p.m.,
Tuesday, November 7th. When the Elections Division
receives your mail-in ballot, you will receive an email
notification.
Instructions for completing mail-in ballots are
available here.
Convenient Ballot Return Still
Available Downtown
If you waited too long to
return your mail-in ballot via the US Postal Service or need your
ballot reissued it is not too late!
Ballot return is
available through 8 pm on Municipal Election Day in the lobby of the
County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue in downtown
Pittsburgh.
Easy curbside pull-off for ballot return,
managed by staff, is in place at the Ross Street entrance (between
Fourth Avenue and Forbes Avenue) of the County Office Building. Voters
can briefly park in the sectioned off right lane of Ross Street and
return their ballot to Election staff directly inside the entrance
doors. Remaining days and hours of operation are listed below:
| Day/Date | Hours |
| Monday, November 6 | 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Tuesday, November 7 | 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
Remember:
- State law
requires that voters return their own ballot; they may not return the
ballots of others.
- Ballots must be placed in the secrecy
envelope; “naked” ballots will not be counted.
-
Voters should not mark the secrecy envelope in any way.
-
Voters must sign and date the declaration envelope; if either the
signature or date, or both, are missing, the ballot cannot be
counted.
The lobby will be staffed by Elections
Division workers and also has space for voters to complete their
ballot in private.
If you make an error on your
ballot, or have not received one you already applied for, the
Elections Division can reissue your ballot during regular business
hours, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
AARP
Volunteers Needed for the 2024 Tax Season!
The
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is looking for individuals to
volunteer virtually or in person in a variety of roles to provide help
to taxpayers. Volunteers come from a variety of industries & span
from retirees to college students. AARP provides the training,
support, and volunteers gain new skills while helping those in
need!
Volunteers can participate in-person or virtually for
the following roles:
- Client Facilitator
- Tax
Counselor
- Technology Coordinator
- Leadership &
Administrative Volunteer
- Communications Coordinator
- Bilingual Interpreter
Learn more about
volunteering
online or call 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669).
November Pittsburgh Regional Transit
Redesign Public Meetings
Pittsburgh Regional
Transit (PRT) needs your input for the Bus Line Redesign project to
ensure our region’s commuting system meets the needs of riders
now and in the future. The most important part of Bus Line Redesign is
public input!
PRT is hosting pop-up input stations on commuter
routes throughout November but, is also holding two online meetings in
November:
- November 14, 2023 @
5:30PM Online Public
Meeting
- November 16, 2023 @
11:30AM Online Public Meeting
Attendees can register at Bus
Line Redesign | Engage PRT (rideprt.org).
If you
don’t want to attend an online meeting or go to a pop-up input
station, you can share your input directly on the project website, Bus
Line Redesign | Engage PRT (rideprt.org), or take the NextTransit
Bus Line Redesign survey.
PRT needs to hear from current riders as well as non-riders!
Coats
for Kids Distribution!
Local No.1 Union Hall, 120 Flowers
Ave., Sunday, November 19, 10 am - 2 pm
It is
that time of year again and we are helping Pittsburgh
Fire Fighters get the word out to families or groups in need of
warm coats about the upcoming Coats for Kids Winter Clothing Drive.
Pittsburgh Fire Fighters have worked all year to raise the funds
necessary to provide warm coats to the City kids they’ve
dedicated their lives to protect.
Hats and gloves will
be available while supplies last and children must be present to
receive coats. If you have questions email [email protected].
Children’s Institute of
Pittsburgh Offers Back to School Therapies
For
students and young children requiring support during their return to
childcare, preschool, or school, The
Children's Institute of Pittsburgh offers a variety of outpatient
services in several convenient locations across the region, including
Squirrel
Hill, Bridgeville
and Irwin.
- The Physical
Health team assists students in person or virtually having
difficulty with common issues such as poor handwriting, voice
projection/articulation, or difficulty navigating the playground.
- The Behavioral
Health team is prepared to assist those children in person or
virtually experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health
concerns with talk therapy or if the family chooses, medication
management.
- For children newborn to age 3 experiencing
developmental concerns, early intervention in partnership with the Early
Learning Institute is available in a child’s home at no cost
to families.
The Children’s Institute’s
expert therapists are available to help with a variety of services to
assist physical and mental health wellness:
To make a referral for an
evaluation, contact the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh online
or call them at 412-420-2400.
Tree
Planting Events
The Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy is looking for volunteers for their TreeVitalize
Pittsburgh tree planting events. Planting trees is an invigorating
fall activity and a great way to meet like-minded volunteers that want
to make our communities greener!
Upcoming
Plantings in Senate District 38:
- Wednesday, November
1st, 9am: Harrison
- Tuesday, November 7th, 9am: Garfield
- Tuesday, November 14th, 9am: East Liberty
Sign up
for a shift here at Events
Archive - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
(waterlandlife.org).
Fun fact: Richland Township boasts
Allegheny County's oldest tree, 425 years old! You can read about it
at Richland
Township's Penn Tree oldest in Allegheny County |
TribLIVE.com.
As always, please
feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone
at 412-364-0469 (Ross
Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison
Office) or by email at [email protected].
My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours
(Monday-Friday).
Senator Lindsey Williams
