Happy 2017, Northsiders! I hope all of you had a blessed Christmas and a Happy  New Year, and I am extremely excited to spend another year working for and with all of you! Thank you for a wonderful 2016; I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this year.

As we know by now, it is still winter. The temperatures for the rest of January will not be forgiving, so please be sure to bundle up! Watch out for children and pets in the cold, too, as they are easily prone to frostbite and hypothermia. Also, it’s important to be careful on the roads as black ice and snow can easily throw you off your course.

For those of us who are still in the giving spirit, please consider donating time to the Humane Society or the Sarah Heinz house this winter! The Northside Food Pantry also accepts donations year round and welcomes volunteers regularly. To those of us who can afford to help, please do. The cold weather is often a dangerous time for our fellow Pittsburghers, and although the holidays are over, we should still think about those in need.

Once again, I look forward to spending 2017 with all of you, and thank you for such a wonderful 2016. If you have any questions or concerns, never hesitate to contact me at darlene.harris@pittsburghpa.gov or 412-255-2135.

Darlene M. Harris

City Council, District 1