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News You Can Use December 1, 2006 Shopping in PA During the holidays, shopping becomes an art and Pennsylvania provides a rich canvas of options. Hundreds of venues offer shopping amidst a cityscape, factory outlet centers, and unique shops that line small town sidewalks across the Commonwealth. Put your limited time to good use — consult "Shopping In PA," managed by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. The website offers valuable information to shoppers with little time to devote to the endeavor, those interested in turning the excursion into a lovely weekend of shopping and sightseeing, and everyone in-between.
PA Preferred Christmas Trees Pennsylvania Christmas trees are making an early debut in a number of prestigious locations. Courtesy of the award-winning Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Carbon County Pennsylvania, the White House will display an 18˝ foot tall Douglas fir in the Blue Room throughout the holiday. The Oval Office and the President's family quarters will each display smaller trees from that same family-run tree farm located in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. Not to be out done, the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda is overflowing with a 22-foot Douglas fir donated by the same PA tree farm. The official public tree lightning for the state Capitol Christmas tree, scheduled for Noon on December 11, 2006, will reveal 7,000 mini-lights and more than 350 handmade ornaments created by seniors from across the Commonwealth. Crystal Spring Tree Farm joins a select group of growers and producers worthy of the distinction as PA Preferred products. The PA Preferred program helps consumers identify and purchase quality products grown in the Commonwealth. Purchasing PA grown Christmas trees supports a $14 million industry spread across 44,905 acres covered with 2,164 tree farms. Ranking number one in the number of farms, PA produces 1.7 million cut trees annually. The Real Tree Agricultural Census highlights the significant economic contributions of the Christmas tree industry: Before heading out for your PA Preferred Christmas Tree, consult the National Christmas Tree Association's guide for selecting your family's favorite conifer: "Keep Pa Growing -- Buy PA Preferred" is a slogan that continues beyond the traditional growing season. The Pa Department of Agriculture is spotlighting the availability of a vast selection of seasonal agricultural products meeting the world's highest quality and safety standards Capitol Christmas Ornaments Available Pennsylvania is making available a selection of seven ornaments depicting the grand structure of the Capitol and its architectural wonders. Imagine giving the 2000 Millennium Ornament featuring a gold finished depiction of the Capitol Dome exterior, with a cut-out center that reveals an etched and enameled view of the interior. It measures 4" x 2.75" and is packaged in a gift box with an informational card detailing the dome structure, history, and artwork. Choose from the "Angel of Light", a stained glass reproduction, or jump ahead and select the 100th Anniversary ornament. Order one or all of the commemorative ornaments. Check out the commemorative postcards, souvenirs, note cards, posters, videos, and books located on the same webpage for convenient shopping. For ornaments more representative of the federal government, choose Air Force One, depicted under the Presidential Seal and elaborately decorated. For a more traditional look, select the Mount Vernon Sleigh Ride ornament depicting George and Martha Washington arriving by horse-drawn sleigh at their Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. That's just the beginning. View the 2006 and previous Official White House Ornaments: 2006-07 Snow Ski Report No need to wait for that syndicated TV reporter swooshing down the slopes once a week to keep you informed on snow-making and open ski slopes throughout Pennsylvania. Bookmark "Making Snow/Who's Open?" now for easy consultation when you want to hit the slopes. A quick click will reveal the state's major slopes and lead you directly to the conditions, courtesy of the PA Ski Areas Association. Need help selecting which slope to hit, go to VisitPA.com and enter the word "ski" in the ">ready>set>go" search box and you are on your way. Find hundreds of selections for lodging, dining and other entertainment in any of PA's seven regions. Get started with "Things To Do—Skiing & Winter Sports." Find more on "Winter in PA" Bookmark the PA Ski Areas Association for conditions. Responsible Hosting Tips Hosting a holiday event requires more than decorating and preparing food. Responsible hosting requires careful consideration when choosing the liquid refreshment to serve friends and family. Supplying sufficient drinks for your guests takes on special importance if alcohol is to be served. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) offers guidelines for safe and successful entertaining during the holidays, including:
Consult additional tips to ensure a safe and responsible holiday for your family and friends: U.S. Postal Service Holiday Schedule Getting those holiday cards and packages in the mail for timely delivery through the U.S. Postal Service (U.S.P.S.) just got a bit easier. A holiday website is announcing deadlines and tips for getting your holiday shipping and mailing needs addressed with time to spare. The following U.S.P.S. schedule sets deadlines for domestic mail shipping for December 25 deliveries:
Order holiday stamps online, arrange for the redelivery of a missed package, get the scoop on specially-postmarked cards, and arrange free package pickup through the U.S.P.S. Holiday website. The Postal Service can also help you once you are off for the holidays, whether you are gone for 3 days or 3 weeks. Visit the U.S.P.S.'s "Hold Mail Service" page to have your local post office notified to hold your mail for a specified time period not to exceed 30 days. Let the U.S.P.S. website smoothly carry you through the holiday
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