Health and wellness fair a hit in New Kensington

They came looking for answers to any number of questions about services they needed: transportation, physical therapy, shelter to escape abusive relationships, hunting licenses, how to deal with bears and coyotes on their property, or help filling out the required forms to replace their hard-to-read license plates.

Hundreds of people were able to engage with someone face-to-face and find answers to their questions from more than 40 exhibitors at a community health/wellness and career fair on Saturday in New Kensington.

The event, sponsored by the recently elected state Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, took place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It was originally scheduled to be held outdoors between Barnes and 10th Street. But rainy weather forced the event indoors to the Knead Community Cafe banquet room on Barnes Street.

“The purpose is to connect our constituents with all these services,” Cooper said. “We’re excited to do this, to try to bring people here so they can connect with services that can make their lives better that either are state related, or CareerLink, or the health folks that are here that are willing to do screenings.”

Cooper’s legislative aide, Debbie Pfeiffer, said she learns something new every time she attends an event like this.

“We get a lot of phone calls in our office,” Pfeiffer said. “People just want to know where to turn if they need help with their utilities, and a lot of these places have things that they can do to help people that we don’t even know about.

“So this is why (Cooper) likes bringing everybody together. It’s a one stop shop right?”

Pfeiffer mentioned the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center booth. The HOPE Center is largely known for helping women that need shelter from abusive situations.

““But when you go to their booth, they can tell you what more they have to offer that normally you wouldn’t know about unless you have these kinds of opportunities. Instead of talking on the phone to somebody, be face-to-face with somebody.”

Pfeiffer pointed out the booth occupied by Pennsylvania Game Commission Warden Group Supervisor Mike Papinchak.

“Today, we’ve had questions about shooting range permits,” Papinchak said. ‘We’ve had a lot of people mention bear and coyote sightings. I tell people to take the food sources away. Bears are easy to live with if you don’t give them a reason to end up on your porch.”

Jeanette Lendl, 88, Delmont, grabbed a map at the Westmoreland Transit booth for a friend who doesn’t have a car and needs information on bus routes. She also spoke with representatives from Lifeline Physical Therapy.

“I started physical therapy two weeks ago because I’ve had real bad pain in my hip. They gave me some good advice,” Lendl said. “They were very nice and very helpful.”

Lifeline marketing representative Leslie Giannetta said people had plenty of questions.

“A lot of people want to know where specialized therapy is available, whether it’s vestibular for concussions, cardiac, pulmonary, hips,” Giannetta said. “Those are a little bit different therapies than are (normally needed). It’s more difficult to find them in the community.

”We provide free transportation, which is huge and schedule them within 24 hours. You need to start physical therapy quickly. So, we get them in.”

There were also plenty of questions for state Tpr. Jim Long, who seemed to be enjoying interacting with the public.

“It’s face time with the public. It’s a situation which isn’t stressful for them. Anytime you have a chance to be out in the community and talk and discuss, it’s a worthwhile afternoon for me,” Long said. “Gun questions are very popular these days. A lot of traffic questions, especially (about) distracted driving. I have a lot of literature here about distracted driving.”

Cooper said she plans to make the fair an annual event and will move it around her district, which includes 15 communities in northwestern Westmoreland County. Those in the Alle-Kiski Valley are Arnold, New Kensington, Upper Burrell, part of Lower Burrell, Washington Township, Oklahoma Borough, Avonmore and Bell Township.