Patch: Drugs a Major Problem for Area Communities

Drugs and alcohol are public enemies numbers one and two in the Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon communities, according to district Judges Robert Wyda and Blaise Larotonda.

The judges spoke to community members during an event Wednesday night called "Straight Talk: A Discussion With Our Local Magistrates," sponsored by the Upper St. Clair Youth Steering Committee. Deputy Chief of Police Douglas Burkholder came to the meeting to represent the Upper St. Clair Police Department.

Read the full article:

• chartiersvalley.patch.com/articles/drugs-a-major-problem-for-area-communities (Chartiers Valley Patch)

Smith And Gastgeb Hosting Drug And Alcohol Awareness Event

From Representative Matt's Smith's office:

I'd like to invite you and anyone else who'd be interested to attend a drug and alcohol prevention and awareness event I'm hosting next month with Allegheny County Councilman Vince Gastgeb, R-Bethel Park, and several local officials.

The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at Mt. Lebanon High School’s auditorium, 7 Horsman Drive in Mt. Lebanon. This event is open to the public.

We've arranged for several speakers from the county Health Department and local groups such as the Mt. Lebanon Police Department, and a question-and-answer period will follow their presentations. We'll also have several resource tables from the county, state and teen outreach organizations.

Councilman Gastgeb and I are hosting the event along with Dr. Bruce Dixon, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, and Pat Valentine, deputy director of the Allegheny County Department of Health and Human Services.