Changes around Tarentum

There have been a number of changes around Tarentum while I have been blogging less frequently over the last couple of months.

The biggest of the changes is that the James E. Wolfe Skatepark is open. The VND published a few pictures of skaters doing tricks on the new equipment at the park, but the few times I was able to drive past the park, I was not able to get in to park my car and take any pictures. Finally, I have some pictures, and here they are.

It is great to see the kids having a place to skate.

They have done a nice job of putting a street-level facelift on the building at the corner of Lock and Fifth where Russellton Pediatrics has their offices.

And across Lock Street, Superior Sports Cards has some new artwork in the window. Superior Sports Cards is becoming one of the places where some of the young people in town stay out of trouble by playing card games like Yu-Gi-Oh.

Another recent change around Tarentum is that the Tarentum Exxon is now being run by the Exxon company. Gone is the sign that announced for months "WE FILL PANE". Now there is a sign announcing a "Tobacco Outpost."

I am not sure what the "Outpost" name is supposed to convey. Does it say something to smokers arriving inTarentum from Westmoreland County to suggest that they are now deep in a tobacco-free wilderness and these are the last cigarettes they'll be able to buy for forty miles or something?

Meanwhile the family that used to run the Tarentum Exxon has opened the "Tarentum Mart" just a couple blocks away on 6th Avenue in the building that used to house Tarentum Uniform. They have plans to open an ice cream shop in the left side of the building.

The Tarentum Mart is also advertizing cigarettes at state minimum pricing. Does this competition to sell cigarettes in Tarentum have something to do with Allegheny County's smoking ban? Will sales of cigarettes in Tarentum outpace the sales of motorcycles? Stay tuned.

Last year Tully's closed. That was the bar that used to have a neon sign in the window announcing "Where beer is good food."

In its place a new bar, Winston's, has opened.

File under : Tarentum, business, skateboard park

The angina lecture

This week I had my fourth and fifth sessions of cardiac rehab at the Alle-Kiski Medical Center.

They have increased the length of time I work on each piece of equipment, and today they started me on a new piece of equipment that works upper body muscles.

Today they also gave me the angina lecture, part of the educational component of the rehab program. People experience angina with different symptoms. My symptoms before I had my heart attack in November were tightness in my chest, shortness of breath after minor exertion, pain in my right shoulder and arm, and fatigue.

(Of course, denial is a very powerful force. For a few days I had been telling myself very hopefully that each of the symptoms were unrelated: that I must have indigestion, that I must be out of shape, that maybe I pulled a muscle, etc.)

It is important to recognize angina because it is a signal that my heart is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. If I experience angina again and don't get treatment, it could lead to another heart attack.

They gave me a handout that also included information about nitroglycerin. I should talk with my doctor about whether he should prescribe nitroglycerin for me. It is an inexpensive medication that increases the blood flow to the heart muscle.

They warned me about the side-effects from nitroglycerin, but I already knew about those. When I was in the middle of my heart attack at the emergency room they gave me nitro tablets and then a nitro patch. Before long I had an absolutely splitting headache.

The handout also described how to take the nitroglycerin tablets when I experience angina, how to store it, and how often to get the prescription refilled even if I have not used it.

File under : Natrona Heights, health

Junk

Some of the buildings around Tarentum have been getting facelifts and the results have been quite nice. There are also some new businesses in town.

Yesterday I discovered that even the "junk store" was getting some kind of improvements. I think it might be new windows in the upper story of the place that has advertized for years that they have windows for sale.




Until I saw the pile of rotting boards on the sidewalk and the work site cordoned off with scrap lumber leaning against the lamp post, I had not imagined that this corner of Fourth and Corbet could look more junky than it usually does.

I look forward to when they finish the work.

File under : Tarentum