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News for Constituents – November 2, 2009
LIHEAP to Begin Accepting Applications November 2 Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will begin accepting applications from eligible individuals and families on November 2, 2009. The PA Department of Public Welfare (DPW), in administering the federally-funded program, will open the cash grants portion of LIHEAP first. Cash grants, aimed at helping low-income households pay for heating costs, are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel, and region. The income limit is $16,245 for a single-person household and $21,855 for a two-person household. Household sizes and income limits exceeding two people and $21,855 for LIHEAP’s 2009-10 season are as follows: 3 -- $27,465 DPW will also oversee the crisis grants program, which provides funding to resolve heating emergencies, such as furnace failures or unexpected fuel shortages. Applicants meeting income and household size requirements must provide a recent bill or a statement from their fuel dealer verifying their customer status and the type of fuel used. January 4, 2010 is set for the opening of the crisis portion of LIHEAP. Applications are available online at COMPASS or at county assistance offices, local utility companies, and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. ---------- Safe Driving in Amish Country Autumn in Pennsylvania lends itself to road trips in search of beautiful scenery and historic farmhouses. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is alerting day trippers to the possibility of slow-moving traffic on rural roads. That traffic may include dark colored, horse-drawn vehicles moving at less than 8 miles per hour. Low visibility and the possibility of an unpredictable horse call for cautious driving while in search of a striking countryside vista. Slow down when approaching a buggy and avoid spooking the horse by blowing your horn. Motorists may pass only when there is plenty of room and it is legal to do so. PennDOT illustrates braking time and distances when following a buggy traveling at 5 miles per hour. Vehicles moving at 55 miles per hour and 500 feet from a buggy traveling 5 miles per hour will be within 44 feet of that buggy after just 6 seconds. See PennDOT’s Safe Driving in Amish Country and the Amish Horse & Buggy Driver’s Manual for a closer look at driving from the perspective of the modern driver and that of today’s Amish. For more fall driving tips and other highway safety information, visit Drive Safe PA. ---------- Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program Opens Up to New, Healthier Food Choices Pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under the age of five served by Pennsylvania’s Women, Infants and Children, or the WIC program will see significant improvements in the nutritional value of new offerings, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH). New guidelines are intended to increase the quality and quantity of foods to help support the nutritional needs of breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children up to five years of age who meet the program’s income guidelines. The changes include:
The new choices are expected to help consumers overcome major health and nutrition risks associated with obesity and diets lacking in fiber and whole grains. The program is aiming to reduce high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes in children and adolescents. For more information, consult the WIC Program website, the Bureau of Family Health Services, or call 1-800 WIC WINS (1-800-942-9467). ----------
DCNR Website Makeover Features Fall & Winter Fun The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) website just got a make-over to help better serve a public eager to enjoy one of Pennsylvania’s 117 state parks and three conservation areas. Pennsylvania annually plays host to more than 35 million visitors on the state park system’s nearly 300,000 acres. PA state parks offer an abundance of activities, including camping, hiking and rock climbing. Consider picking a region, a state park or forest, a trail or one of the Commonwealth’s many splendid geologic wonders along the state’s Trail of Geology for an insider’s view of our scenic and unique geologic features. As autumn marches on, PA State Parks prepare for the 2009 – 2010 winter. Our Parks will host snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, sledding, ice fishing, ice boating, and ice skating. For more information about state parks call 1-888-PAPARKS (727-2757).
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Fluorescent Orange Requirements for Hunters The “wearin’ of the orange” is no laughing matter with the Pennsylvania Game Commission; it’s the law for those hunting in the Commonwealth. With a few exceptions and variations to the orange rule, the PGC 2009 – 2010 Hunting Digest contains a 2-page chart depicting fluorescent orange requirements for those afield. Differences arise with the various types of hunting legal in PA. During all small game seasons and deer, bear & elk firearms seasons, hunters are required at all times to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on their head, chest and back, combined, visible from 360 degrees. Meeting the PGC requirements during the autumn wild turkey seasons necessitates knowing in which Wildlife Management Unit one will be hunting. In Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5C & 5D, (Shotgun, Archery Areas), hunters must wear a hat containing a minimum of 100 square inches of solid fluorescent orange material, visible from 360 degrees at all times when moving. It may be removed while at a stationary calling location. Autumn turkey hunters in all other Wildlife Management Units (Shotgun/Rifle Areas) must wear a minimum of 250 square inches on their head, chest, and back combined, visible from 360 degrees at all times when moving. It may be removed at a stationary calling location, provided a minimum of 100 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange material is posted within 15 feet of the location and is visible from 360 degrees. Deer and bear archery season overlapping with the fall turkey season and with the October Muzzleloader/Special Antlerless Firearms Seasons each carry special requirements as does the Early Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Season in October. Those hunting waterfowl, doves, spring gobblers, crows, and furbearers during an overlap with turkey seasons and during the early muzzleloader deer season/special October antlerless firearms season must also meet minimum fluorescent orange requirements. ----------
Senior Center Members Will Create Capitol Christmas Tree Ornaments The Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) is issuing its annual invitation to senior center members to begin creating handmade Christmas ornaments to adorn the 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree that will grace the State Capitol Rotunda from early December through early January Seniors participating in the activities of more than 600 senior centers will create the angels, candy canes, stars, toy cars, Santas, and so much more that will delight visitors to the Capitol throughout the Holiday season. The handmade ornaments should be mailed by the senior centers to the PDA, Press Office, Forum Place, 555 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, Pa. 17101-1919 no later than November 24, 2009. Sturdy, handmade, donated ornaments cannot be returned and may appear on a Christmas tree in successive years. Pennsylvania’s senior centers serve more than 200,000 visitors annually. Independent older citizens get together at senior centers for social activities, recreation, education, creative arts, and physical health programs. Centers also serve more than 83,000 nutritious meals to participants each year. For more information, visit the Department of Aging website or call Jane Crawford at 717-783-1549. ----------
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