DILIGENT DETECTIVE WORK The Law Enforcement Agency Directors (LEAD) of Western Pennsylvania recognized Mt. Lebanon detectives Lt. Dan Hyslop and Steve Shipe for their investigative collaboration as part of a team composed of the Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI, investigating a series of crimes against children.

WHEN IT SNOWS When we get an inch or more of snow or ice, residents have 24 hours and businesses have four hours after the end of the snowfall to clear the sidewalk in front of their property or be subject to a citation. If you’re a snowbird, sitting out the winter someplace warm, you still need to make arrangements to have your property cleared of snow and ice.

And while you are gone, remember that the Mt. Lebanon Police Department is happy to check in on your home. Stop by the Public Safety Building, 555 Washington Road, to pick up a request form. If you have any questions, call 412-343-4143.

AND SNOWS SOME MORE When snow is in the forecast, move your car off the street between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Even if you previously received permission to park on the street, that permission is suspended when the plows need to get through.

FREE THE HYDRANTS Kids home on a snow day? Have them do a good deed by shoveling around your neighborhood’s fire hydrants. This will save precious time in the event the fire department needs access to water.

HOLIDAY SAFETY Got a cool gadget for Christmas? Be sure when you’re charging it to only use the cord that came with it, and only use batteries that are from or recommended by the manufacturer.

KEEPING WITH THE SNOW THEME When shoveling your driveway,  shovel to the right of your driveway if you’re facing the street; otherwise, the snowplows will push it right onto your own sidewalk. As you cross the street in snowy weather, be sure to give cars some extra time to come to a complete stop.

LIGHTING THE TREE Chestnuts are the only things that are supposed to be roasting on an open fire. The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has some tips to keep it that way.

Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that don’t fall off when touched. Before placing the tree in the stand, cut two inches from the base of the trunk.

A heat source too close to the tree causes more than one in every five tree fires. Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.

Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.

Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.

Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.

Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Mt. Lebanon will be collecting Christmas trees the weeks of January 6 and 13. Trees will be picked up similarly to leaf collection — on the day before scheduled trash collection, with Monday’s picked up at the end of the week on Friday.