Finnegan Foundation Offers 2016 Summer Internship Opportunity
Eligible undergraduates attending accredited Pennsylvania colleges and universities and Pennsylvania residents attending accredited colleges and universities elsewhere, may secure an exciting internship in Pennsylvania state government by competing in the 2016 Finnegan Foundation Essay Contest on education funding proposals currently being debated in Harrisburg.
Winners will be assigned for the summer of 2016 to the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of Pennsylvania state government and earn a weekly salary paid by state agencies. Attendance at seminars will offer opportunities to meet leading elected and appointed public officials and key media personnel.
The Foundation will also present one recipient with $1,500 for the James A. Finnegan Award, as well as several $1,000 individual awards and honorable mentions.
Interested individuals should electronically submit an application along with the required documents listed on the form by February 6, 2016. Include an Essay Answer of at least 1,500 words but no more than 2,500 words in the requested format to the Finnegan Foundation at bbam200@aol.com.
Eligible undergraduates: http://finneganfoundation.org/internship.html
Finnegan Foundation: http://finneganfoundation.org/about.html
James A. Finnegan Award: http://finneganfoundation.org/internship.html
Application: http://finneganfoundation.org/cms-assets/documents/225618-163755.2016-instructions-and-question.pdf
PA LIHEAP Open for Business
The Commonwealth’s federally-funded Energy Assistance Program has begun taking applications before winter weather arrives, according to the PA Department of Human Services.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides qualified applicants financial help with paying home heating bills and weatherization expenses. Cash grants are sent directly to the utility company, while crisis grants are directed to households in immediate danger of being without heat.
The application form may be completed online, on paper, or in person at a local county assistance office. Approval of a LIHEAP application may require up to 30 days.
Energy Assistance Program: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/document/p_035672.pdf
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/heatingassistanceliheap/#.VkUB4SQo7F6
Qualified applicants: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/heatingassistanceliheap/homeheatingassistanceliheapeligibility/#.VkUELSQo7F4
Online: http://www.compass.state.pa.us/
On paper: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/document/c_214070.pdf
Local county assistance office: http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/findfacilsandlocs/countyassistanceofficecontactinformation/index.htm
Safety Tips for Preparing a Deep-Fried Turkey
Are you serving deep-fried turkey this holiday season?
The PA Office of the State Fire Commissioner is offering safety tips to ensure your main course is the highlight of your dinner table:
- Read the fryer’s owner’s manual.
- Thaw the turkey thoroughly.
- Use the recommended amount of oil.
- Never leave the fryer unattended.
- Keep children and pets away from the fryer.
- Use proper hand protection.
- Maintain an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby at all times.
- Use your deep fryer outside away from your home, garage, porch and deck, as well as trees, walls, fences, and other structures.
Across the country, nearly 4,300 fires occur on Thanksgiving, contributing to 15 deaths and $27 million in property damage. Many of these fires are due to deep-frying accidents.
Deep-fried turkey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsiAfyctZCk
PA Office of the State Fire Commissioner: www.osfc.state.pa.us
Safety tips: http://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Office-of-the-State-Fire-Commissioner-Details.aspx?newsid=19
Fire extinguisher: http://www.osfc.pa.gov/Prevention%20and%20education%20Programs/Pages/565674.aspx#.VkT-ayQo7F4
Fires: http://www.osfc.pa.gov/Prevention%20and%20education%20Programs/Pages/565642.aspx#.Vktn1yQo7F5
VisitPA for All Your Holiday Shopping
VisitPA for all your holiday shopping. Shop at PA’s premium outlets, specialty stores, holiday markets and historic districts for unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
Make it a weekend shopping road trip to Philadelphia and the Countryside, the Pittsburgh area, upstate PA, the Pocono region, the Lehigh Valley, Dutch Country, or Erie and the PA Wilds. Whether you prefer familiar shopping around the corner or further across the Commonwealth, you will find attractions and activities celebrating the holidays and warm welcoming lodging at the end of your day.
Request a copy of the PA Vacation Guide and the PA Official Transportation and Tourism Map to help you navigate our highways and byways during the holidays.
Holiday shopping: http://www.visitpa.com/articles/holiday-shopping-pennsylvania
Premium outlets: http://www.visitpa.com/node/51138
Specialty stores: http://www.visitpa.com/node/51139
Holiday markets and historic districts: http://www.visitpa.com/pa-shopping#1|6|||||||||||
Shopping road trip: http://www.visitpa.com/shopping
Attractions and activities: http://www.visitpa.com/pa-attractions-and-activities
Lodging: http://www.visitpa.com/pa-hotels-motels
PA Vacation Guide: http://www.visitpa.com/guide-order
PA Official Transportation and Tourism Map:
http://www.visitpa.com/pennsylvania-region-and-city-map
Data Breaches and You
Additional shopping around the holidays requires increased vigilance in monitoring bank accounts and credit reports for a data breach, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Hacked databases can expose names and home and email addresses. Stolen Social Security numbers, driver’s license information, military identification and passport numbers in the hands of an unauthorized party can lead to identity theft.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act entitles you to a free copy of your credit report from each company every 12 months. Routinely rotating through the credit reporting companies every four months provides you a snapshot of activity attributed to you. Detecting unusual activity on your credit report allows you to place a fraud alert or credit freeze on your account.
The three credit reporting companies are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Direct additional questions to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 or by email to Consumers@attorneygeneral.gov.
PA Department of Revenue: http://www.revenue.pa.gov/GetAssistance/Pages/Protect%20Your%20Identity/ID%20Theft%20Prevention%20and%20Victim%20Assistance.aspx#.VktIPSQo7F5
Identity theft: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/protectYourIdentity.action
Free copy of your credit report: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/yourRights.action
Fraud alert or credit freeze: http://www.experian.com/data-breach/t-mobilefacts.html?intcmp=tmdb#fraudalert
Equifax: www.equifax.com/CreditReportAssistance
Experian: www.experian.com/fraud
TransUnion: www.transunion.com/fraud
Additional questions: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Consumers/Identity_Theft/Identity_Theft_Frequently_Asked_Questions/
Hunters Successfully Sharing the Harvest in PA
Hunters Sharing the Harvest, in its 23rd year of operation, annually supplies approximately 100,000 pounds of processed venison through a network of 20 regional food banks and between 4,000 to 5,000 local provider charities, including missions, homeless shelters, churches, and directly to needy families.
Hunters are being encouraged to Share the Harvest. One average-sized deer can help feed up to 200 people. Today, more than 1.1 to 1.8 million families or approximately one of every eleven Pennsylvanian lives in hunger.
Deer can be donated to the HSH program through a participating processor. Monetary donations, whether at the individual or corporate sponsor level, will help reduce hunger in Pennsylvania.
Hunters Sharing the Harvest: http://www.sharedeer.org/
Share the Harvest: http://www.sharedeer.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HSH_Program_Overview2.pdf
Participating processor: http://www.sharedeer.org/meat-processors/
Monetary donations: http://www.sharedeer.org/wp-content/themes/hsh-theme/media/sponsorship-kit.pdf