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Billed as the largest indoor agricultural event in the country, the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show kicked off with a 2-hour "PA Preferred" Reception on Friday, January 8 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center on North Cameron Street in Harrisburg. More than 400,000 people are expected to visit the 94th Farm Show from January 9-16. Visitors will have the chance to see nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, and 270 commercial exhibitors. Exhibitors can hope to tap into more than $561,000 in prize money. Look for the best in youth livestock shows, cooking demonstrations, educational displays, celebrity contests, and much more. See "Just for Kids" activities at special learning stations. Visitors will find the Farm Show Food Court located in the Expo Hall and Main Hall of the Complex filled with everything from apple cider and beehive products to grilled portabella mushrooms and deep-fried mozzarella sticks to pork barbeque sandwiches and homemade vegetable soup. Consult the daily schedule to ensure you don't miss your favorite events. If you are considering staying overnight in the Harrisburg area, consult the Farm Show website's Lodging, Restaurants, and Attractions page.
Understanding Electric Choice As electric rate caps are lifted on January 1 in some areas of the Commonwealth, consumers are seeking a new understanding of how to control 2010 electric costs, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA). While officials predict a 30 percent increase in costs, consumers can choose the company from which their electricity is generated or remain with the current provider. A Residential Consumer's Electric Shopping Guide is available to help you compare rates as you decide which company will generate your electricity. Generation is the production of electricity. Transmission is the movement of that electricity from where it is produced to a local distribution system. Distribution is the delivery of purchased power to the consumer. Faced with the expiration of generation rate caps, consumers are free to choose the company from which their electricity is generated (EGC) while continuing to receive one billing statement including costs for generation from one company and transmission and distribution from their current company (EDC). OCA is offering answers to a number of frequently asked questions to assist consumers in making the most of their electric generation choice. Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Can you detect potential sources of carbon monoxide in your home? Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless deadly gas produced by incomplete combustion in fuel-burning devices. Carbon Monoxide is capable of killing you before you are aware it is affecting you, according to the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). An annual average of 480 deaths is attributed to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The average daily number of CO-related deaths is greatest during the months of January (2.07 deaths) and December (1.97 deaths) and lowest during the months of July (0.67 deaths) and August (0.67 deaths). With the cold months leading in the number of unintentional CO deaths, it is important to identify potential sources. Fuel-fired (non-electric) appliances such as gas and oil furnaces, space heaters, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters, charcoal grills, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves all produce CO. Exhaust fumes from generators, vehicles, lawn mowers, and snow blowers also contain high levels of CO. Absent proper venting, the presence of cracks in a furnace or blocked vents and chimneys can cause CO to build inside your home. Protect your family with the installation of CO detector
alarms on each floor of a residence, especially on each sleeping floor. Install
additional detectors near but not within five feet of major fuel burning
appliances. Understand the
symptoms of CO poisoning and what to do if you suspect its presence.
Dog owners are reminded the deadline for licensing "man's best friend" is January 1, according to the PA Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Dog Law. All dogs three months or older must be licensed in accordance with state law. The $8 fee for an annual license is only $6 for a spayed or neutered dog while the $51 lifetime license fee is dropped to $31 for sterilized canines. Licensing fees support the Bureau's mission of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of dogs. During 2009, more than 930,000 dogs sported licenses that frequently assist in returning a lost animal to its family. Complete the license application and return it to the office of your County Treasurer to obtain your dog's license tag. Pa Game Commission Website Changes to Omit Certain Features Changes on the horizon for the PA Game Commission website, the second such format change in less than 10 years, may leave you unable to find certain features, according to the PGC. In the adoption of the new website format intended to eventually encompass all Administration websites, popular information, such as the Hunter/Trapper Scrapbook, is on hold. The PGC's news release archives will also take a hit. Releases published prior to January 1, 2007 will be missing from the new website. The PGC indicates the website will have a greater emphasis on wildlife management efforts and the agency's mission. Site users may direct questions and comments regarding the website transition or the inclusion of specific information to 717-787-4250 or pgccomments@state.pa.us. PA Slides into Snowmobiling Season December snowfall is enticing the snowmobiling community to get out and enjoy Penn's Woods, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Snowmobile riders in Pennsylvania's state forests and parks have access to 3,140 miles of marked joint-use state forest roads, closed roads, and trails in 18 of the state's 20 state forest districts, which include 243 trail miles and 93 road miles available in 34 state parks. Take a few moments to review the PA Snowmobile and ATV Guide to ensure compliance with PA laws regulating the operation, registration, titling, and insuring of snowmobiles and ATVs. Find related safety tips and training information. For additional details on registration, call toll-free 1-866-545-2476. DCNR is providing condition updates on its toll-free,
snowmobile hot line at 1-877-SNOMBLE (1-877-766-6253). DCNR also provides
weather and condition reports online for state parks and forests. | |
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Time to Apply for 2010 Dog Licenses 