Photo of a Stellar Sea Eagle Provided by Aviary so everyone can see what Kody looks like)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) The National Aviary of Pittsburgh said in a press release that they are continuing  to search for Kodiak, the Stellar Sea Eagle that escaped through a small whole in the netting of his outdoor enclosure over the weekend. The Aviary is asking for support from the community, as sightings of Kody are extremely beneficial to the success in bringing him home. Kody is a Steller’s Sea Eagle, which is a large brown bird, with a yellow beak, a white tail, and white feathers under his wings.  He is larger than a bald eagle. The Aviary  believes he is in the Northside or surrounding communities, and ask that any sightings be reported to the National Aviary by calling 412-323-7235. Please do not approach Kody if you see him. Do not open doors, windows, or make noise, as this will cause him to fly away. Maintain your position and your view of Kody and call the Aviary. The Aviary staff is extremely grateful for the community’s ongoing support during this very difficult time as they continue to focus on his safe return home.

(Photo provided by AHN)

AHN utilizes the latest innovative technology for minimally invasive head & neck surgery

PITTSBURGH (September 28, 2021) – Plastic surgeons at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), the flagship academic medical center of Allegheny Health Network (AHN), are the first in the region to perform a tongue reconstruction procedure utilizing the da Vinci® SP surgical system. The minimally invasive, robot-assisted technology is the latest advancement in the field of reconstructive surgery aimed at rebuilding hard-to-reach areas of the body often affected by aggressive cancer therapies.

 

After a stage three cancer diagnosis in the mouth and neck, a 50-year-old woman from North Huntington underwent the new robotic reconstructive surgical procedure on August 18 after a tumor was removed from the base of her tongue.

 

The da Vinci® SP surgical system’s three fully articulating instruments and camera allows AHN surgeons to perform complex cancer surgeries and reconstructions transorally. This approach eliminates the need to make large incisions to the lips, neck or split the jaw for surgical access—resulting in decreased scarring, shorter recovery times and hospital stays, reduced pain and less narcotic use. Compared to traditional methods, the technique also increases patient safety by reducing potential complications. These outcomes were recently documented in a 2021 study published in Cancers (“Current Advances in Robotics for Head and Neck Surgery—A Systematic Review” doi: 10.3390/cancers13061398).

 

The advanced procedure at AHN is performed by a team of surgeons at the hospital, beginning with the resection of cancerous tissue and tumors by AHN otolaryngologists Warren Swegal, MD,  Elias Hilal, MD, and Erik Interval, MD.  Once the tumor is removed, Daniel Murariu, MD, FACS, director of Microsurgery and Lymphatic Surgery at AHN, uses the robotic system to perform the tongue reconstruction using tissue from the patient’s thigh. This procedure improves the patient’s swallowing and speech post-surgery.

 

 

The improved surgical access afforded by the da Vinci SP enables the AHN team to treat cancers more effectively in the tongue, tonsils and voice box, among other areas.

 

“Very few surgical programs in the country have developed the expertise to perform reconstructive surgery with the da Vinci system, particularly transoral procedures like tongue reconstruction,” said Dr. Murariu. “The single-port robotic technique can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life post-surgery and that is immensely important to us.”

 

The da Vinci® SP robot is widely recognized as a pioneering technology in the field of laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. AHN surgeons have used the system for more than two decades to advance surgery across many disciplines, including heart surgery, urologic procedures, general surgery, gynecologic surgery and more. The new generation single port da Vinci technology is currently being used at AHN for urology, ENT, colorectal and plastic surgeries.

 

In 2021, more than 54,000 Americans were diagnosed with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers, which includes cancer in the tongue, tonsils, oropharynx, gums and other parts of the mouth[1]. Most patients in need of specialized reconstructive surgeries are currently undergoing cancer treatment that includes chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgical treatments. While head and neck cancers are rarer, making up about 4% of cancers in the U.S., AHN’s Cancer Institute has extensive experience caring for patients with these diagnoses.

 

AHN cancer patients are cared for by a compassionate, multidisciplinary team of oncologists and other caregivers from the AHN Cancer Institute. Clinicians from various cancer disciplines, including medical, surgical and radiation oncology, work together closely to determine the most effective course of treatment to meet a patients’ long-term health goals and needs.

 

For more information on the AHN Cancer Institute or AHN Plastic Surgery division, visit ahn.org.

(File Photo of Hopewell High School Paint the Plow from Nov. 2019)

 

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is inviting the public to attend a recruitment event on Wednesday, September 29 to learn about winter maintenance positions the department offers in Beaver County.

The recruitment event will be held at PennDOT’s Rochester Maintenance Building located at 155 Stewart Avenue Rochester, PA 15074 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29.

Recruiters will be available to discuss current and future openings within the Commonwealth. On the spot applications and interviews will take place for individuals with their CDL license for winter equipment operator positions. Individuals interested in winter clerk positions can also apply onsite.

Laptops and staff will be available to assist interested participants navigate the new electronic application system.

PennDOT is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer promoting workforce diversity. To learn more about jobs, please visit www.employment.pa.gov.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews and like the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot/.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell, Twp., Pa.) The Hopewell School Board approved the hiring of  Kathryn Lopez as head varsity swim coach effective, Wednesday, September 29, 2021. She will be paid a stipend of $4,432.00. Greater Pittsburgh Physical Therapy Services  was hired to provide assistant athletic trainer services  to support  AD/Trainer Don Short. The assistant will be paid $30,500.00 from August 1, 2021 through the spring sport season 2022.

(Photo Courtesy of AHN)

WEXFORD, Pa. (Sept. 29, 2021) – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced today that AHN Wexford Hospital will officially open to patients tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 30 at 9 AM. The state-of-the-art, all-private 160-bed hospital will bring a full range of high-quality, innovative health care services to residents of communities north of Pittsburgh.

Located along U.S. Route 19, the 345,000-square-foot hospital includes a 24-bed emergency department including pediatric capable rooms with dedicated pediatric hospitalists, state-of-the-art operating rooms with minimally invasive robotic surgery capabilities, a cardiac catheterization lab and hybrid OR for advanced surgical procedures, a short-stay observation unit, an adult intensive care unit, advanced diagnostic imaging, and more.

 

AHN Wexford will also provide comprehensive women’s and infants’ care, including the only labor and delivery unit based in northern Allegheny County, as well as high-risk obstetrical services and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit. Other services for women include gynecological oncology, advanced breast care, urogynecology and minimally invasive techniques for women’s surgical procedures.

 

The hospital will also offer specialty care in cancer, neurology, cardiology, radiology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, endocrinology and orthopaedics, among other disciplines. Its large, all-private patient rooms include recumbent sleeping options for loved ones and plenty of natural light. Patients also can control their own room temperature, lighting and entertainment with the touch of a button, and select their meals from a room service menu.

 

AHN Wexford is connected to the AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion which offers a wide array of outpatient health services, including primary care and multiple medical and surgical specialties. The pavilion hosts comprehensive centers for cancer treatment and women’s health. It also includes an ambulatory surgery center, breast center, comprehensive cardiovascular services, advanced imaging and laboratory testing, walk-in express care and an onsite pharmacy.

 

To learn more about AHN Wexford Hospital, visit www.ahn.org/wexford.

(Photo Provided by PSP-New Castle)

(Shenango Twp., Pa) Two people have been arrested in the assault that occurred Monday afternoon in Shenango Twp.
According to Pennsylvania State Police in new Castle, Shenango Township Police were dispatched to the scene of a possible assault a little after 1 p.m. on Monday in 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue in the township.
When police arrived and investigated they found that 38-year-old Vincent Perotta from New Castle and 38-year-old Charles Trot also of New Castle had been assaulted with blunt objects and edged weapons.
Trott was flown to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown and is in critical condition.

Perotta sought treatment at UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle and is in stable condition.

Troopers filed criminal charges and arrest warrants for 26- year-old Cassie Marie Lutz and 55-year-old Michael Caccia both of New Castle.

Troopers reported via release that both suspects were in custody as of 4:25 PM yesterday

eystone State News Connection

September 29, 2021

Emily Scott

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Congress is expected to vote on the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda, which includes creating clean energy jobs to tackle the climate crisis.

Leaders of small and large businesses, in Pennsylvania and beyond, are asking representatives to vote in favor of the plan.

A letter from the American Sustainable Business Council is signed by 300 companies in support of the overall plan that includes upgrading both physical infrastructure and social programs.

Bill Wollrab, founder of the e-commerce marketplace AllPeople, signed the letter. He said fighting climate change also falls on corporations, and customers can hold them accountable.

“The consumers hold the power,” Wollrab asserted. “Customers are the lifeblood of any company, and for corporations to not listen to feedback from their customers, and if their customers are saying, ‘We want you to reduce your carbon footprint,’ those companies will eventually lose.”

Also among Pennsylvania businesses that signed the letter, were the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia and BioEconomy Partners. Some Democrats have voiced their support of the Build Back Better agenda, including Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa., who represent the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions, respectively.

Wollrab pointed out his online marketplace is working toward being 100% owned by customers and employees. It also uses carbon-neutral shipping for its products. He thinks the letter shows, despite some large corporations lobbying against Build Back Better, many businesses are concerned about the impact the changing climate will have on their livelihoods.

“So, if you’ve got numerous companies and millions of consumers that all believe that climate change is real and that it should be addressed, then you’ve got a very powerful ecosystem that can demand that our politicians listen to us rather than ignore us,” Wollrab contended.

In the last month, the effects of climate change have cost Pennsylvania more than $100 million after Tropical Storm Ida caused major flood damage.

Pennsylvania eyes $500M from feds for environmental program
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state Senate committee in Pennsylvania is approving legislation to use federal coronavirus relief aid to revive a program designed to help clean up waterways, improve outdoor recreation and preserve open space. The bill, approved 10-1, on Tuesday, would inject the Growing Greener program with $500 million from the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden in March. The bill still requires approval from the full Senate and House before it could go to Gov. Tom Wolf. The money likely would have to come out of the $2.4 billion left over from the American Rescue Plan Act. That had been set aside to balance next year’s budget.