News For Constituents
From Senate Republican Policy Development & Research Office
Archive
September 1, 2011
Preparing For a Natural Disaster Takes Center Stage
With
earthquakes, aftershocks, and
hurricanes leading recent news reports, the
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is reminding residents of a wealth
of tips and information to help you and your loved ones to prepare for the
unexpected.
PEMA's
Ready PA emergency preparedness website recommends 3 easy steps to be ready
in the event of a disaster:
- Be
Informed
- Be
Prepared
- Be Involved
Consult the
National Weather Service for watches and warnings to remain informed of
pending weather conditions.
Recycle Bowl Set for Fall Kick-Off
The first comprehensive nationwide recycling competition
for elementary, middle, and high-school students,
Recycle-Bowl, is set to kick-off this fall in those Pennsylvania schools
accepting the opportunity to vie against schools and students from across the
state and country, according to
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and
Keep America Beautiful.
Cash prizes will be awarded to schools following the
October 17 through November 12 competitions, culminating around
America Recycles Day.
Participating schools will track and report how much recyclable material they
collect for a chance to win prizes through a successful four-week competition.
Find out how your school can
register to participate and view
answers to frequently asked questions. The Pennsylvania
Departments of Transportation and
of Environmental Protection
support this fun, interactive way to learn about waste reduction and
environmental responsibility through in-school recycling.
Time to Discuss School Bus Safety With Your Children
As the school buses begin to roll, the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
is encouraging parents to take a moment to discuss safety issues with their
children.
Engage your young bus riders to stay safe with the
Department's
School Bus Safety Activity Book through coloring pages, word scrambles,
crossword puzzles, hidden word games, and missing letter exercises.
Assemble the necessary items (listed in the activity book)
for a special craft idea – an egg carton school bus. Use the time together
cutting, painting, and pasting to review the lessons imparted through the
activities. Key safety measures to reinforce include:
1. Be on time.
2. Never run to or from the bus.
3. Stand back from the curb.
4. Don't push or shove.
5. Stay in your seat.
6. Don't yell or shout.
7. Always obey the driver.
8. Always cross at least 10 feet
in front of the bus.
9. Never crawl under a school bus.
Refresh your knowledge of
Safety Tips for Parents and Students, the
School Bus Stopping Law Fact Sheet and the
Drive Safe PA Bus Safety Tips Sheet
to help you prepare for your youngster's questions.
Tips to Help Your Students Walk Safely to School
Do your students remember which side of the street to walk
on? Do they know what to do if there is no sidewalk? The Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation is releasing reminders to help students
walk safely
to and from school.
Share the following tips:
- Walk on the sidewalk.
- If
there is no sidewalk, walk on the side of the road facing traffic.
- Only
cross streets at corners or marked crosswalks, looking left, right, and then
left again before stepping into the street.
- Make
eye contact with motorists before crossing the street.
- Always wear bright-colored clothes.
- Carry flashlights if it is dark or hard to see.
- Develop a buddy system for walking to school.
- Avoid shortcuts that include alleys or unfamiliar areas.
- Be
alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Avoid distractions such as
cell phones or headphones.
Reinforce the
Rules of the Road with printable kids' activities from PennDOT's website,
Pedestrian Safety in Pennsylvania: Walk Smart. Use the
Walkability Checklist to take a walk with your child for a review of the
rules.
Wear It Pennsylvania!
Each year, 80 percent of boating deaths in Pennsylvania are
the result of boaters not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device
(PFD), according to the
PA Fish & Boat Commission (PF&BC). Don't let the joy of autumn boating turn
into a marine accident; always remember to wear your
PFD while you are on the water.
Be ready to be safe this year while boating and make a
promise to yourself and others by taking the
Wear It PA Pledge. The pledge recognizes that drowning fatalities related
to boating accidents would be dramatically reduced if more boaters wore life
jackets. Key points of the PFD pledge include:
- Know how your life jacket works and keep it in good condition.
- Encourage others to wear a life jacket while boating.
- Tell
other boaters about new life jacket styles.
- Boat safely and responsibly at all times.
- And, “Wear It!” while boating.
In
a personal message from the Executive Director of the PF&BC, boaters are
reminded of the ease and comfort of
Inflatable Life Jackets.
Proper fit is critical to comfort and function. Life jackets that are too
small or large can ride up - or even come off when you are in the water.
Consult the Commission's
Boating Safety & Education webpages
to make yours a fun and successful experience on Pennsylvania's waterways.
Keystone International Livestock Exhibition and Horse
Show Kicks Off October
The largest livestock show in the eastern United States is
set to kick-off a
9-day schedule of events beginning on October 1 when the
Keystone International Livestock Exposition opens at the
Pennsylvania Farm Show & Expo Center
in Harrisburg, PA.
The Keystone International Livestock Exposition is expected
to feature 1,200 beef cattle, 700 horses, 1,100 sheep and 1,100 swine from 27
states and Canada. Both adults and youth will participate throughout the event
with Thursday, October 6 dedicated to the youth-oriented Farm City Day designed
to emphasize the importance of agriculture in students' lives.
The Keystone Classic Barbeque State Championship, replete
with $8,250 in total prize money, will be held on October 7 and 8. Profits from
the
2-day Barbeque and the Keystone Classic Craft Show
to be held from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on October 8 will be used for the Keystone
Livestock Association youth scholarship fund.
Consult
VisitPA
for Things To Do, Places To Stay, Trip Ideas and other Travel Tools to enhance
your trip to Harrisburg and other travel around the Commonwealth.
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