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April 18, 2008

2nd Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest Seeks Entries

From mans' predilection for dumping waste and hazardous materials into the ocean to the indiscriminate use of pesticide, Rachel Carson brought attention to the key environmental disasters of our time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

As we approach the 101st anniversary of the birth of Rachel Carson in Springdale, PA, less than 20 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, she is being honored with a poetry, essay, and photography contest.  The 2nd Annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder contest is seeking submissions by Monday, June 16, 2008 from intergenerational teams expressing the feelings evoked when observing the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and natural beauty of the environment.

"Sense of Wonder" is taken from her book of the same title.  In it, Ms. Carson wrote that she would endow every child with "a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life."  However, "if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in." 

Learn more about Rachel Carson and share a love of nature with a child and others around you by entering the contest.  An expert panel of judges will pick finalists from which the public will select the winner online in July and August.  Winners will be announced on the EPA Aging Initiative Website in October 2008 during Children's Health Month.  Sponsors include the EPA, Generations United, and the Rachel Carson Council, Inc. 

2008 PA Travel Guide Debuts

The 2008 Pennsylvania Travel Guide is ready to help you plan a superb spring roadtrip or a full-blown summer vacation, according to the state's Tourism Office.

The free, 192-page guide provides a comprehensive listing of 2,489 accommodations and 1,450 attractions, outdoor recreation and visitor services; information on major events and fun festivals, as well as regional must sees.  Turn to the "On the Road in Pennsylvania" section and explore the major arteries that crisscross the Commonwealth.

Travel guides are available at the Independence Visitors Center in Philadelphia, the state's 15 welcome centers, or by calling 1-800-VISITPA.  You may also obtain a copy by logging onto VISITPA.com.  While you are there signup for a free subscription to "Pennsylvania Pursuits", a quarterly magazine presenting outdoor escapes, off-the-beaten-path small towns, big city adventures, festivals and much more.  Add your email address and receive monthly travel ideas, seasonal highlights, and information on other happenings.

Participate in the 2008 Great Pennsylvania Cleanup

If you are looking to participate in a local Earth Day project, the 2008 Great Pennsylvania Cleanup will conduct "Pick It Up PA Days" from April 19 through May 3.

Participation in the 2007 Cleanup increased by 7,235 people for a total of 139,480 volunteers.  They cleaned 13,565 miles of roadway and 3,238 acres of park land, collecting 372,096 bags of litter weighing more than 7.4 million pounds -- 1,194,002 pounds more than in 2006.

The project website can help you find information including the location for events, how to volunteer, and how local businesses can help sponsor a community cleanup.  Find an event:  http://www.greatpacleanup.org/events/findanevent.asp

Energy Management Workshops for Business

Business owners looking to reduce soaring energy costs and help improve the bottom line are encouraged to attend one of seven free workshops offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Workshops will focus on energy-supply options, identifying energy-saving opportunities, and developing an energy action plan.  Information on financial and technical resources is available for energy efficiency upgrades including easily implemented, cost-effective changes for manufacturing facilities.

The workshops, which are free and open to the public, will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on the following dates at these locations: 

• April 24, Small Business Development Center, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh

• May 6, Penn State - Great Valley Campus, 30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern

• May 15, Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, William J. Douglass Conference Center, 764 Bessemer St., Meadville

• May 22, Electrotechnology Applications Center, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem

• May 28, Bucknell University, Elaine Langone Center, 701 Moore Ave., Lewisburg

• June 3, Lancaster County Career & Technology Center, 432 Old Market St., Mount Joy, Lancaster County

• June 12, SMC Business Councils' George Westinghouse Science & Technology Center, 1382 Beulah Road, Pittsburgh

Access the DEP website for more information and registration.

When Weather Threatens Your Livelihood

The best seed, chemicals and management practices may produce magnificent crops but it can all be lost with just one weather disaster.  The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) is reminding farmers with most crop insurance policies to report 2007 yields for spring planted crops by Tuesday, April 29, 2008 to ensure accurate payment in the event of a crop disaster.

Determining the amount of protection for multiple peril and crop revenue coverage policies is dependent on reports of actual production history.  Absent the yield report, a percentage of the average yield of the county will be used, a number generally lower than the actual production history.

Uninsured growers are encouraged by the PDA to learn more about crop insurance and contact a crop insurance agent to get the details for your farm.  The Risk Management Agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers tools to help you locate a crop insurance company, an agent by program specialty, and livestock price insurance.

Prepare Now for Flooding

Are you ready for spring showers and summer storms?  Before you answer, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) wants you to look around your yard and neighborhood.

Downed tree limbs, brush, and other debris collect around bridges, culverts, and storm drains blocking the flow of water and contributing to flood conditions during periods of heavy rain.  PEMA recommends individuals and municipal officials conduct pre-flood inspections and remove possible impediments.

PEMA reports ours is one of the most flood-prone states in the country and encourages families to plan accordingly.  Determine if you live in a flood-prone area and examine the history of regional flooding.  Those in frequently flooded areas can take two key steps in response to possible flooding.  Keep disaster supplies on hand, develop an emergency communication plan understood by all family members and include an out-of-state relative or friend to act as the "family contact." 

Disaster supplies to keep on hand include:

• Flashlights and extra batteries

• Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries

• First aid kit and manual

• Emergency food and water

• Non-electric can opener

• Essential medicines

• Cash and credit cards

• Sturdy shoes

For guidance in developing your family's emergency communication plan and tips to follow during a flood and evacuation see the PEMA Fact Sheet – Floods & Flash Floods

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