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News You Can Use April 13, 2007 2007 Firefighter Federal Grant Availability Announced Local fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency management organizations have until Friday, May 4, 2007 to apply for grants to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will award more than $492.3 million across the country to support preparedness for the 21st Century, bringing the total distributed since 2004 to roughly $2.2 billion. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) are divided into 2 programs. Funding for activities such as training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities fall under the Operations and Safety Program. Grants for assets such as brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerials, foam units, and fireboats are covered through the Vehicle Acquisition Program. Find additional details and applications for the AFG program. Tax Extensions and Refunds If you legitimately require a little extra time to get those taxes filed, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue points out that an extension "does not extend the time for full payment of the tax, nor does it preclude the assessment of penalty and interest for underpayment of tax due." Form number REV-276, "Application for Extension to File", should be accompanied with payment in full of "the amount reasonably estimated as your PA tax" and must be submitted on or before the original due date. Access form number REV-276. The IRS "Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return", or Form number 4868, is required to request an extension for the filing of your federal income taxes. If you've already filed and are awaiting your return, with a few numbers and the click of your mouse you can check the status of your Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Refund. Then go to the IRS to check on your federal return. PA Students Will Preserve History Pennsylvania is offering students and recent graduates 12-week summer apprenticeships in the preservation and traditional building trades aimed at protecting and conserving the state's historic places. The free PA Historical & Museum Commission training program, to be held at locations throughout Pennsylvania, includes an introductory one-day seminar in historic preservation and several days of hands-on training by master craftsmen in various preservation and traditional trade skills. Imagine working on the restoration of Pennsylvania's world-class collection of locomotives and railroad cars. Picture yourself at the Daniel Boone Homestead engaged in historic masonry restoration. These, along with a variety of preservation carpentry projects like window sash and jamb repairs, shutter repairs, and flooring and porch repairs, are among those for which applications are currently being accepted. Hiring decisions rest entirely with the company or institution hosting the individual apprenticeship. Apprenticeship projects and contact information are available. The deadline to apply for an apprenticeship is April 30, 2007. Take a look at the preservation apprenticeships of 2006. Healthy Steps for Older Adults Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital stays for older adults and are often the precursor to admission to a nursing home, according to the PA Department of Aging. Statistics reveal one out of three people over age 65 falls at least once per year. The "Healthy Steps for Older Adults" program is a fall prevention program aimed at keeping older Pennsylvanians on their feet and out of the hospital. Workshops to be conducted around the state and a 64-page "Healthy Steps Guidebook" look at participants' medications, sensory deficits, home environmental safety, mobility exercise, health and behavioral status, foot care and nutrition/hydration. Classes will be conducted in the following counties:
Call your local Area Agency on Aging or toll free at 866-286-3636 for workshop details. Locate your local AAA with a clickable map to search by county or use a zip code search tool or search by city. The "Healthy Steps Program" is part of PA's Prime Time Health Program focusing on health promotion and disease prevention activities for older Pennsylvanians. Here is an excerpt from "Healthy Steps Guidebook." Prime Time Health Frequently Asked Questions Let's Pick It Up PA The 2006 Great Pennsylvania Cleanup brought out more than 132,000 volunteers who removed 6.7 million pounds of trash from all 67 counties leaving behind litter-free roads, parks, schools, waterways, wildlife areas, and communities. The 2007 Cleanup is gearing up for its kickoff on Saturday, April 21 in recognition of Earth Day – April 22. Nearly 650 groups are registered to cleanup communities and improve quality of life. Schools around the state will be participating in a new program agreeing to a weekly checkup and trash removal. The school campus initiative includes the promotion of all school events as litter-free. Find an event near you or call 888-548-8372 for more information. PA Facts Pennsylvania is adding 35 new historical markers to our roadside landscape denoting the people, places, and events that shaped the Commonwealth and contributed to the world as we know it today. Philadelphia's Wistar Institute of Biology is home to the oldest independent biomedical research institution in the nation. The "Wind Chill Factor" was formulated in Erie County by Dr. Paul Allman Siple. Allegheny County workmen built the keelboat critical for the transcontinental voyage of Lewis and Clark. Here is a list of the 32 other newest historical markers. Learn more about the state's Historical Marker Program. Visit ExplorePAhistory.com utilizing the state's historical markers as an entry point for the enjoyment and exploration of PA history and heritage.
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