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News You Can Use December 21, 2007 2008 PA Farm Show Set for 1st Weekend in January Mark your 2008 calendar for January 5 - 12 before you get swept up in the holiday hustle and bustle. The annual Pennsylvania Farm Show rolls into the Harrisburg arena, located at Cameron and Maclay Streets just off of Interstate 81, the first weekend in January. The annual event will showcase nearly 8,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, and 270 commercial exhibitors. More than 400,000 people are expected to visit the 25 acre complex and partake of the PA Preferred Foods served in the Food Court. Last year, visitors were estimated to have consumed the following:
Consult the Visitor Information webpage for directions, food, and lodging. You will also find daily schedules and arena maps on the 2008 PA Farm Show website. Ice, Wind & Insurance If the recent ice and wind storm caused damage in and around your home, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department recommends a review of your homeowners and auto insurance policies before cleanup and repairs begin. Contact your insurance agent or company immediately to start the claim process. The Insurance Department advises against repairs and replacements until receiving instructions from your insurance adjuster. Keep all damaged property until your insurance adjuster looks at the destruction. Make only temporary repairs to your home; permanent repairs before an adjuster's inspection could trigger a denial of your claim. Keep a log with notes and instructions from your insurance
company. Take pictures of the damage, as possible. A denied claim may be
appealed to your insurance company's claim manager. Direct related questions
and concerns to the PA Insurance Department at 877-881-6388 or one of the
regional offices for the Bureau of Consumer Services: Consult the PA Insurance Department for additional tips related to storm damage. The Department's Bureau of Consumer Services webpage offers tools to help you with insurance-related questions and decisions. Home Heating Safety Fireplaces, heaters, and furnaces bring welcomed relief from the elements when used properly. However, the improper care and operation of fuel-burning appliances is responsible for the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning death of almost 300 people in their homes every year, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Carbon monoxide is released when any fuel source burns, including fuel-burning appliances in the home. Appliances kept in good working condition produce little CO. However, the CPSC points out, ovens and stoves are not designed as an alternative to heaters and furnaces. Grills and camping heaters are intended for outdoor use only, as are portable generators. The CPSC brochure, The Invisible Killer, points to sources of and clues to a possible carbon monoxide problem in your home. The National Fire Protection Association focuses on CO poisoning symptoms based on concentration of the gas in the air. Carbon monoxide detectors are recommended by the CPSC and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. Authorities recommend placing one carbon monoxide detector in each bedroom, at a minimum. Responsible Hosting & Entertaining Alcohol served at holiday parties adds a special dimension to responsible hosting. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is reminding hosts to monitor alcohol consumption and observe a few tips promoting safe entertaining. Planning activities and encouraging everyone to participate can prevent over-consumption by guests who might become restless, shy, or have little in common with other guests. Serve plenty of good food, especially those high in carbohydrates that stay in your stomach longer, allowing the alcohol to absorb at a slower rate. Avoid salty foods that increase thirst. Make alcohol-free beverages available and openly visible. The PLCB offers a series of hosting tips to prevent guests from drinking irresponsibly and driving. Consult PLCB quantity guidelines and alcohol impairment levels for males and females in consideration of Pennsylvania's .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws. Broadcast Weather Alerts -- Know the Difference If the recent storm warnings left you wondering what to expect next, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) wants to make sure you are prepared for the next radio and TV broadcasts announcing changing weather conditions. Each of the warnings issued on radio and television carry a specific designation indicating poor weather conditions. The four broadcast winter weather alerts are intended to help residents make informed choices on travel and activities:
PEMA recommends preparing a Family Disaster Supplies Kit to sustain your family through storms and disasters. Time to Apply for Second Spring Gobbler Tag Pennsylvania hunters interested in harvesting a second spring gobbler may apply between January 1 and April 1 for the April 26 through May 26, 2008 spring gobbler season, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). Hunters are allowed to take one spring gobbler through a general hunting license. In order to take a second, hunters must apply to the PGC for a second wild turkey license. A Resident license costs $21 while a Nonresident license fee is $41. A copy of the application is available on page 38 of the 2007-08 PA Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations. You may also print the application and instructions for a second wild turkey license for the 2008 spring gobbler season or pick up a copy through a Game Commission Licensing Agent. Applicants will subsequently receive a second spring turkey tag and report card, in addition to the one included with the general hunting license. Applications postmarked before January 1, 2008 will not be accepted. For information from the PGC on the PA wild turkey click here.
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