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December 2, 2011

Senator John Pippy E-News

STATEWIDE NEWS YOU CAN USE

ADD PENNSYLVANIA PREFERRED PRODUCTS TO YOUR HOLIDAY MENUS

If each of the approximately 5.5 million households in the Commonwealth devoted $10 per week of their total food dollars to purchasing Pennsylvania grown products, it would result in over 2.9 billion food dollars being reinvested back into the state, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

You can begin your reinvestment by using PA Preferred Products on your holiday dinner table this year. Turn to the 2011 PA Preferred Culinary Connection Recipe Book for tried and true recipes.

Shipping fresh produce from distant states and countries can take up to 14 days before it arrives on a store shelf. Instead, look for the blue keystone with a gold checkmark to choose products grown, harvested, and, if applicable, processed in Pennsylvania. The program strives to achieve what 93 percent of Pennsylvanians desire – to buy and consume local products. 
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URLs for Links Above
Pennsylvania grown products: www.papreferred.com
Food dollars reinvested: http://www.papreferred.com/program/consumer
PA Preferred Products: http://www.papreferred.com/seasonal_calendar
2011 PA Preferred Culinary Connection Recipe Book: http://www.papreferred.com/Content/doc/papref_recipes.pdf
Blue keystone with a gold checkmark: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/http%3B/10.41.0.36/AgWebsite/ProgramDetail.aspx?name=PA-Preferred%c2%ae&navid=12&parentnavid=0&palid=80&
93 percent of Pennsylvanians: http://www.papreferred.com/about_us

DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING IN PENNSYLVANIA

Let VisitPA help you shop for homemade, handcrafted, or uniquely Pennsylvania keepsakes to give this holiday season.

Turn to Main Street this year for your holiday shopping and find revitalized downtowns. From small towns like Butler, Bedford, and Bloomsburg to those quaint communities that dot Bucks County and the Philadelphia countryside, you will be greeted with lights and local traditions to enhance your shopping experience.

Choose gifts from among the selection of antiques, ceramics, ironware, jewelry, decorative arrangements, gourmet foods, furniture, and much more. Consult the Events & Festivals webpage for things to do while on your PA shopping excursion.
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URLs for Links Above
VisitPA: http://www.visitpa.com
Main Street: http://www.visitpa.com/celebrate-holidays-main-streets?CMP=EMC-Nov11
Butler: http://www.visitpa.com/butler
Bedford: http://www.visitpa.com/Bedford
Bloomsburg: http://www.visitpa.com/treefest
Bucks County: http://visitbuckscounty.com/shopping_dining/landing.asp
Philadelphia Countryside: http://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/main-streets-trail-of-philadelphia-countryside/
Events & Festivals: http://www.visitpa.com/events-festivals

CHECK TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE

Whether you are a hunter headed out for a day afield or a holiday shopper about to scout the mall, a quick trip to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s PA 511 website will help you properly prepare for the day ahead. 

PA511 holds the key to reliable traffic and winter road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of roadways. Pennsylvania’s official travel information website can help you reach your destination in the most efficient manner when traveling in state.

Traffic, weather, and links to other transportation services, including airports, are available for those who will take to the skies this holiday.

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URLs for Links Above
PA 511: http://www.511pa.com/
PA511: http://www.511pa.com/PDF.aspx?fileName=faq
Traffic: http://www.511pa.com/Traffic.aspx
Winter road conditions: http://www.511pa.com/Traffic.aspx?ShowWinterLayer=true
Other transportation services: http://www.511pa.com/TravelLinks.aspx

HUNTERS SHARING THE HARVEST

Local food banks, soup kitchens, and needy families will again benefit this year from hunters and meat processors who support the 20-year-old "Hunters Sharing the Harvest" program, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

"Hunters Sharing the Harvest" annually contributes enough venison to deliver nearly 200,000 meals to food banks, churches, and social service feeding programs for needy Pennsylvanians.

Generous hunters take a deer to a participating meat processor and identify how much of their deer meat - from an entire deer to several pounds - that is to be donated to HSH. If the hunter is donating an entire deer, they are asked to contribute a tax-deductible co-pay of $15, and HSH will cover the remaining processing fees. A hunter may choose to cover the entire costs of the processing, which is tax deductible as well.

To participate in Hunters Sharing the Harvest, email info@sharedeer.org or call toll-free: (866) 474-2141.
 
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URLs for Links Above:
Hunters Sharing the Harvest: http://sharedeer.org/about-us/
Pennsylvania Game Commission: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us
Meat processor: http://sharedeer.org/resources/meat-processors/
Donating: http://sharedeer.org/contribute/
Participate: http://sharedeer.org/resources/
Hunters Sharing the Harvest: http://sharedeer.org/

STOP THE TEXTS - STOP THE WRECKS

Teens and adults who text and drive may think they are multi-tasking but highway statistics reveal those drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than non-texting motorists, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Pennsylvania is joining other states in launching a national safety campaign, "Stop the Texts – Stop the Wrecks." The campaign stresses that using a cell phone delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.

According to the campaign, five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 miles per hour, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field. In 2009, distracted driving contributed to nearly 5,500 deaths on U.S. roadways and an estimated 448,000 injuries from motor vehicle crashes. Distracted driving has become the number one killer of American teens.

Pennsylvania’s new law banning texting while driving makes it a primary offense and carries a fine of $50. 
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URLs for Links Above:
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=6241
"Stop the Texts – Stop the Wrecks": http://www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org/#home
Campaign: http://www.stoptextsstopwrecks.org/#facts
New law banning texting: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=1208131&mode=2

PREPARE NOW TO AVERT FROZEN PIPE DAMAGE THIS WINTER

With winter upon us and freezing temperatures starting to arrive, Pennsylvania American Water reminds residents that cold air can cause pipes to freeze and burst, potentially causing flooding and severe water damage.

To illustrate precautions that homeowners can take to prevent frozen pipe damage, the company posted a brief video on YouTube.

"We encourage homeowners to take precautionary measures now before the very cold weather sets in, so that you can prevent frozen water pipes and costly repairs, as well as save water and energy," said William Kelvington, vice president of operations for Pennsylvania American Water.

Pennsylvania American Water also offers the following tips to get your home ready for winter:

• Search for pipes that are not insulated or that pass through unheated spaces, such as crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores.
• Before freezing weather sets in, make sure the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that lines are drained.
• Nearly 15 percent of an average home energy bill goes to heating water. Wrapping your water heater in an insulation blanket can help reduce heat loss.
• To save wear and tear on your cooling system, drain any hoses and air conditioner pipes and check for excess water pooled in equipment. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly. Close them when water appears.
• Add extra insulation to the attic to prevent warm air from creeping into your roof, causing ice damage to the roof and gutters.
• Keep water temperature around 120 degrees and install inexpensive low-flow showerheads to reduce hot water use. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees would reduce water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts to remove debris that could freeze and cause clogs during cold weather. Know where your water main is located in case you need to turn it off during an emergency.

You can find additional winter weather tips at and other water information at the Pennsylvania American Water website. 

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URLs for Links Above:
video: http://youtu.be/5tIxfG_iJo0
Pennsylvania American Water Website: http://www.amwater.com/paaw/customer-service/customer-communications.html
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Consumer Alert provided by Pennsylvania American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK). PAWC is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.2 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

In 2011, American Water is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a yearlong campaign to promote water efficiency and the importance of protecting water from source to tap. To learn more, visit www.amwater125.com.

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