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May 21, 2010

Senator John Pippy E-News

News from Around Pennsylvania

One in 10 Pennsylvanians Have Unclaimed Property 

One in 10 Pennsylvanians have Unclaimed Property, according to the State Treasury.  In fact, over $1.5 billion in unclaimed property is ready and waiting for its rightful owners. 

Abandoned bank accounts, forgotten stocks, uncashed checks, certificates of deposit, life insurance policies, safe deposit box contents, and recovered stolen property are among the items waiting to be claimed.   

Gift cards and certificates with an expiration date also must be turned over to the Treasury, in its entirety or partially redeemed, two years after the expiration date or five years from the issuance date, if no redemption period is specified.  Items included among the tangible property include:

• Monies (cash, coins, coin collections, etc.)
• Cash deposits for beer kegs when returned to the distributor
• New video games, CDs & DVDs
• New toys (balls, games, dolls, etc.)
• Jewelry (costume or valuable) 
• Bullion, silver, gold, or platinum
• Antiques, rare items
• Collectibles
• Musical instruments

Begin your search online through the listings for millions of dollars in unclaimed property.  You may also call 1-800-222-2046 for assistance from a claims representative from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, or send an email inquiry to tupmail@patreasury.org.

 Paddle at the Point - June 5, 2010
Help Celebrate the United Nations World Environment Day in
Pittsburgh with World Record Attempt

As Pittsburgh and the world celebrate World Environment Day on Saturday, June 5, join Paddle at the Point and help put Pittsburgh's watershed on the map by setting a new Guinness World Record™ for Largest Raft of Canoes/Kayaks. 1,200 canoes and kayaks are needed to set a mark at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. Don’t have a boat? Don’t worry; you can sign up to rent a boat.  We’ll need everyone and anyone, clubs and groups welcome! Free parking will be provided on the North Shore, where will launch to paddle just across the river to Point State Park. Be part of history in the making and celebrate World Environment Day in Pittsburgh with Paddle at the Point!

In case anyone needs more incentive than breaking a world record, all participants are entered to win great prizes. For each boat that a person brings (with someone in it), they are entered to win two pairs of tickets each for the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, 2 pairs of tickets each for the Pittsburgh Opera, Ballet, and Symphony, plus 2 Season Passes to Kayak Pittsburgh and Venture Outdoors membership packages. And everyone receives a frameable certificate for being part of the world record attempt.

Visit www.paddleatthepoint.com for Registration information. 

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month 

Skin Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of the most common types of cancer in the U.S., according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. 

The American Cancer Society reports more than 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the country.  The two most common and highly curable skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.  The third most common skin cancer among young adults and the most dangerous is melanoma.   

Risk factors include: 

• Lighter natural skin color
• Family history of skin cancer
• Personal history of skin cancer
• A history of sunburns early in life
• Skin that burns, freckles, gets red easily or becomes painful in the sun
• Blue or green eyes
• Blond or red hair
• Certain types and a large number of moles
• Working outdoors

Preventative measures include avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; wearing sun-protective clothing during exposure; using sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater; avoiding artificial sources of UV light, and wearing sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV absorption to block damaging UVA and UVB light.  Provide the best protection for your head, ears, nose, and cheeks by wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a 3 or more inch brim or a legionnaire hat with attached ear and neck flaps. 

Good News about Pennsylvania’s Gypsy Moth Population 

This summer don’t expect to see aerial suppression campaigns targeting the gypsy moth population.  According to the Bureau of Forestry for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), gypsy moth defoliation declined significantly in 2009.   

A naturally occurring fungus, Entomophaga maimaiga, flourished in the cool, wet weather in the spring of 2009.  The fungus reduced insect numbers and their defoliation activities.  The gypsy moth is expected to return in greater numbers by 2012 due to the warm, dry springs in April and May and anticipated in June of this year.  If conditions remain conducive to the growth of the gypsy moth, DCNR will consider resuming aerial suppression treatment in 2011.   

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is watching the forest tent caterpillar, responsible for defoliating more than 371,000 acres, while the gypsy moth accounted for 239,700 acres of defoliation—far less than the 766,500 acres of woodlands stripped in 2008.   

If you are planting trees, avoid the over 300 species of trees targeted by gypsy moth.  Instead, go for variety and choose ash, butternut, black walnut, locust, sycamore, yellow poplar (tulip tree), ferns, mountain laurel, redbud and rhododendron to keep away the destructive gypsy moth.  Find out how a little burlap and twine or nylon cord secured to your trees along with a jar of detergent solution can spare your trees when used from mid-May through late July.