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News You Can UseJuly 25, 2008 Keep Children Learning - Free Summer Learning Opportunities Following release of findings from a Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning study that concluded children lose nearly a month of knowledge over summer vacation, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) is offering children age 17 and under free admission during August to 24 historical sites. Children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult. Participating historical sites listed by region include:
Access details on PA's Trails of History, the State Museum, and regional sites to plan a well-rounded learning opportunity. Click on regional sites to locate a calendar of events, visitor information, and an exhibit guide. Consult VisitPA.com for recommended regional sites, food, and lodging to complement your child's summer learning experience. PA State Parks and Campgrounds Invite Exploration As "staycations" increase in popularity, opportunities for fun are close enough to be convenient and yet offer a special getaway. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), the state boasts 117 state parks and 2.1 million acres of lush state forestland. Visitors can strut across smooth lands, roll over undulating terrain, or scale a mountainside. Waterways create options for swimming, boating, and fishing. Overnight accommodations in Pennsylvania State Parks range from primitive camping to cabins to address your family's needs. Whether you will be watching wildlife or whitewater rafting, there's something for everyone in a PA State Park. Vacation Plans Not a Problem for PennDOT If your vehicle registration or driver license will expire during busy summer plans, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is reminding motorists not to fret. PennDOT offers driver and vehicle online services 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, including driver license renewal, photo ID, vehicle registrations, driver-history services, change of address, and exam scheduling. See "News, Facts & Stats" on PennDOT's Bureau of Driver & Vehicle Services Information page for a conveniently located license center, hours and holiday closings. Find answers to questions about laws, regulations, and safety. Consult PennDOT's Traveler Information page to make the most of your travel time. Locate travel advisories, interstate road closures, highway construction, traffic cameras, and weather, as well as a direct link to tourism information from VisitPA.com. Passport Renewals If your upcoming vacation will take you to another country and you already have a passport, the U.S. Department of State reminds travelers that individuals who were 15 or younger when their passport was issued will find it is valid for 5 years. For those who were issued a passport at 16 or older, their passport remains valid for 10 years. According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs for the Department, a passport should be renewed approximately 9 months prior to expiration. Some countries require a passport to be valid at least 6 months beyond the dates of your trip. Whether you are renewing your passport or will be required to carry one for future travel, the U.S. Department of State offers Frequently Asked Questions and applications in an easy-to-use format. Should you require a birth, death, marriage or divorce certificate, click on the webpage for the National Center for Health Statistics then access the state or territory of birth for specific guidelines by state. The Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records maintains records of births and deaths that occurred in Pennsylvania from 1906 to the present. These vital records are not open to public inspection. The Division of Vital Records issues only certified copies of birth and death certificates with the raised seal that are acceptable for numerous uses including passports, Social Security, employment, insurance benefits, etc. Consumer Reference Guide to Avoid Scam & Fraud Does your driveway need a little tar? Perhaps your garage is due for a coat of paint, or maybe its storm debris you have been unable to remove from your property? The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General offers a 43-page booklet on avoiding scams, schemes, and fraud from strangers and unscrupulous home contractors offering these and other services that sound too good to be true. Advice on detecting a swindles is outlined on page 6 of the OAG's Consumers Guide. Telltale signs may include the following conditions and stipulations:
The OAG's Consumer Guide is available to help detect and prevent deceptive practices and thievery. Telemarketing scams, door-to-door scams, mail fraud, con games, investment cons, work-at-home schemes, insurance cheats, and others tricks are relied upon to separate you from your money and assets. Locate additional consumer protection brochures focusing on an array of issues from estate planning, loans, home security, credit cards, identity theft, and much more. Report elder and consumer abuses and other complaints to the OAG's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The Battle with the Beetle Exotic pests execute a heavy economic impact on agriculture, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The Japanese beetle, first detected in the U.S. in 1916 near Riverton, New Jersey and appearing in PA just four years later, spent the next 37 years cutting a swath across the state. By 1957, the Japanese beetle infestation had spread from county to county devouring fruits, vegetables, nursery stock, and sod. Today, Japanese beetles are not the only "grubby" little creatures that continue to wreak havoc on farmland and backyards alike. These and a number of other beetles first appear as those dirty white, soft bodied grubs with a head and 6 well-developed legs lying around in a C-shaped position. The 12-month life cycle begins with the adult beetle laying its eggs in the ground during the summer. As soon as the grubs hatch, they start feeding on the roots until cold weather drives them two to eight inches deeper into the soil where they overwinter. When warm weather arrives in the spring, the grubs move up from the lower soil regions and resume feeding near the surface until they become mature and pupate from May through early-June. Japanese beetles can emerge in central Pennsylvania from mid-June through mid-July. Later emergence can occur and is dependent on local weather conditions. The Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural Sciences – Cooperative Extension of Penn State University offers the fact sheets "White Grubs in Home Lawns" and "Japanese Beetles on Ornamental Plants" to help you identify and control Japanese beetles on your property. Find a complete description and photos of the pest's lifecycle from egg to adult and methods of control appropriate at specific stages. Control options include chemical and non-chemical methods.
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