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News You Can UseJune 6, 2008 Juneteenth Commemoration Set for PA As the birthplace of the American dialogue on emancipation, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office will commemorate the end of slavery and recognize Juneteenth in the United States through Quest for Freedom Live & Learn Weekends. Juneteenth is the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery. Events scheduled for Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Pittsburgh will be held on June 20-21, 2008 and August 15-16, 2008 and will include scholar-led conversations based on books about emancipation and reconstruction from the Civil War to civil rights. The Quest for Freedom Live & Learn Weekends are rooted in the state's Underground Railroad and Civil War Communities and will include historical site tours, museum exhibits, living history, re-enactments, restaurant outings, and special room rates. Quest for Freedom Weekends are part of an educational and engaging effort by the State's Tourism Office within the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Warm weather means more motorcycles on major highways and country roads and more vehicle traffic sharing those roadways. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is reminding all motorists to curb aggressive driving, use common sense, and obey the law for the benefit of all motorists. Safe driving tips for motorists:
Safe driving tips for motorcyclists:
Take a free PennDOT approved motorcycle safety course. The Basic Rider Course is designed to prepare riders for entry into the complex world of traffic. The course consists of 15 hours of classroom and riding instruction. PennDOT also offers an Experienced Rider Course to address the skills needed for low-risk, enjoyable on-street motorcycling. This course consists of 6 hours of riding instruction. Consult more motorcycle-related resources and safety tips. Summertime Child Labor Law Reminder Issued School is out but child labor laws are still in, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I). Whether you are an employer, a parent, or a student, L&I would like you to familiarize yourself with Pennsylvania’s child labor laws covering those 18 and younger, which limits the hours and types of work to be performed. The law recognizes 3 age groups & conditions for summer employment. Less than 14 years old:
14-15 year olds:
16-17 year olds:
Minors may not work in dangerous occupations that threaten life and limb or are harmful to their morals. A work week must not extend beyond 6 days. At or before 5 consecutive hours of work, a minor must be allowed a 30-minute meal period. Call L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance toll-free at 800-932-0665 for more information or go to State Required Employee Notices relating to child labor for free posters that must be posted in a conspicuous place for easy reading. Access the Abstract of the Pennsylvania Child Labor Law Form No. LLC-5 (Rev 7-06) and Hours of Work for Minors under Eighteen Form No. LLC-17 (Rev 2-07). Property Tax & Rent Rebate Deadline Extended Pennsylvania senior citizens and residents with disabilities eligible to submit a claim form for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2007 are being notified that the deadline to apply has been extended until the end of the year. The extension beyond the previous June 30, 2008 deadline will allow for additional eligible Pennsylvanians to qualify for a rebate through the state’s expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, according to the PA Departments of Revenue and of Aging. Act 1 of Special Session 2006, otherwise known as the Taxpayer Relief Act was enacted on June 27, 2006 and delivered the largest property tax cut in Pennsylvania history. Eligible Pennsylvanians include those who are age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The program expansion in 2006 increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raises the maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The 2007 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Forms were mailed to those who qualified for the 2006 rebate program and received a rebate in 2007. If you have not received the rebate forms you may have a form mailed to you or download one on online. Draft Fisher Management Plan The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is extending to June 11, 2008 the deadline for comment on Pennsylvania’s draft fisher management plan. Comments submitted electronically through the PGC website prior to May 19 were not received due to technical difficulties. The fisher is one of North America’s rarest and most interesting furbearers. Once found from Maine to North Carolina and forested regions of Canada and the northern United States, the house cat-sized furbearer freely roamed Pennsylvania into the 1800’s when unregulated trapping and timber cutting essentially eliminated the species by the early 1900s. Reintroduction projects have restored fisher populations in West Virginia and New York's Catskill Mountains. Fishers reintroduced in West Virginia have spread out to Maryland and crossed the border into Pennsylvania. The first known West Virginia fisher to expand into PA occurred in 1994 when a trapper in Somerset County accidentally caught one. Restored fisher populations in the Catskills are also expected to expand into northeastern PA. In 1994, 22 fishers were introduced in Sproul State Forest in Centre and Clinton counties. To date, 190 fishers have been released as part of the reintroduction effort. Fishers maintain low population densities and large home ranges. Contrary to its name, the fisher’s diet focuses on mice, shrews, squirrels, chipmunks, porcupines, and carrion. They will also forage on apples, nuts, and other fruit when available. The reintroduction and bolstering of marginal wildlife numbers has been successful in PA with the bald eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, and river otter. Access the draft fisher management plan for further information and to comment on the PGC effort. Debut of Hurricane Season Prompts Flood Insurance Reminder Early hurricane predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC), forecast 12 to 16 named storms, including 6 to 9 hurricanes for 2008. The North Atlantic outlook indicates a 90% chance of a near- or above-normal hurricane season. NOAA is quick to note that it takes but one hurricane or tropical storm to cause a disaster. Combined with the fact that Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, residents should be prepared for spring and summer flooding, including contacting an insurance agent to discuss flood insurance coverage. The National Flood Insurance Referral Center is available at 800-427-2419 to assist in locating a nearby agent if you do not have one. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Fact Sheet on Floods & Flash Floods offers valuable disaster information and assistance to help you prepare for possible flooding, to safely navigate the storm, and to execute a safe follow-up plan.
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