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News You Can Use January 12, 2007 Freezing Your Credit Are you aware you can now prevent credit bureaus from releasing credit information without your express permission? According to the PA Office of Attorney General, consumers in PA can place a "freeze" on their files maintained by the national credit reporting bureaus by sending a written request to each of the bureaus by certified mail. If you suspect you are or have been a victim of identity theft, imposing a credit freeze will prevent new credit accounts from being opened in your name until the freeze is removed. However, as a consumer with frozen credit, you will have to temporarily remove it for certain transactions. Applications for cellular phone service, a loan or new credit card require permanently or temporarily removing the freeze. Access a complete explanation of the Credit Reporting Agency Law and contact information for the 3 major national credit reporting bureaus. The PA Office of Attorney General offers a series of tips on avoiding identity theft and what to do if you have been the victim of identity theft. Access the PDF brochure, "How to Avoid Identity Theft," published by the Bureau of Consumer Protection for the PA Attorney General. Ask the PA Game Commission The Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will host two state Game Commission officials in an hour-long call-in program set for 7 p.m. Thursday, January 25, 2007. Dr. Christopher Rosenberry, Deer Management Section Supervisor and Jerry Feaser, PGC press secretary will respond to viewer concerns. Viewers can call in questions to PCN toll-free at 1-877-PA6-5001 (726-5001). PCN is a nonprofit, nonpartisan cable television network airing unedited live and same-day coverage of PA House and Senate sessions, press conferences, speeches and other public forums where the business of the state is debated, discussed, and decided. PCN is available on nearly 150 cable systems throughout the state. Consult PCN for political debate, historic discussion and sightseeing. Pennsylvania Cuisine Each year, award-winning recipes are discovered at the PA Farm Show. Tabletops laden with PA Preferred fruits and vegetables produce pots full of soup, salads, casseroles and more. Traditional dishes like apple pie and vegetable soup compete for attention against grilled Portobello mushrooms with couscous and greens and lean & spicy baked pork chops. For tradition with a twist there is cheese steak pizza or carrot cheese quick bread. These PA Preferred recipes are available year around, courtesy of the PA Department of Agriculture. Eager cooks may select one or two new recipes for family and friends or start with the appetizer and run through a full course dinner, relying on new recipes to carry you right into dessert. Start planning your next menu. Radon Action Month Sometimes it can be difficult to find things that are good to do in the winter. Add testing for trapped radon to the list. According to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), radon can build to unhealthy levels during the colder months when your home is closed. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. and is responsible for an estimated 22,000 deaths every year. A $25 radon test kit, available through many home improvement, hardware, outdoor supply, lawn and garden, and department stores, can detect if your home requires a radon mitigation system. Testing and installation in PA must be performed by a certified radon contractor. DEP can assist in locating a contractor by calling 1-800-23- RADON or online. Access DEP's radon homepage for more on the risks, testing, mitigation and laboratory analysis of this colorless, odorless gas. Good Times Indoors If winter leaves you cold, warm up over a cup of coffee and a book discussion group or take in a photographic exhibition. Discover a symphony, become absorbed in a lecture, or get lost in a stage performance of a classic tale while winter runs its cycle. The PA Humanities Council (PHC) has a complete lineup of indoor entertainment scheduled for winter and early spring 2007. A number of PHC events scheduled throughout the state for January and February 2007 explore African American history. Topics include the evolution of blues, the black soldier of the Civil War, and black heritage. From bagpipes and Ben Franklin to the music of WWII and the ethnic traditions of the Welsh, the PHC schedule has something for everyone. Improving Pedestrian Safety Pedestrian fatalities account for roughly 10 percent of those occurring on PA roads. According to the PA Department of Transportation (PA DOT), 162 of the 1,616 roadway fatalities in 2005 were pedestrians. A PA DOT study reveals with the use of crosswalk signs, motorists are 17 to 34 percent more likely to yield to pedestrians. Municipalities are being encouraged by PA DOT to request, at no cost, the fluorescent yellow-green, free-standing crosswalk signs designed to rest in the center of a roadway. Interested municipalities should contact their local district office. Pedestrians and motorists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with related laws.
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