News You Can Use

August 15, 2008

Tips for Hiring Contractors

Following the announcement by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG) that consumer protection lawsuits were filed against 11 home improvement contractors across the state, the Office is reminding homeowners to protect themselves against unscrupulous contractors.

From general repairs to remodeling and all those jobs in between, the OAG urges consumers to take steps to protect themselves and their property:

Research contractors carefully before signing any contract.
Get multiple estimates.
Get references for recent work, and check those references (ask other consumers if they were happy with the work that was performed, if there were any problems and if they would hire that contractor again).
Verify that the contractor has a physical address, not just a business card or sign on a truck. You may need to locate the contractor if there is a problem with the work.
Don't feel pressured by "special offers" or deals on "left over" materials.
Be wary of contractors who approach you with unsolicited offers or stories of "just being in the neighborhood".

A written contract is recommended and should include all the major details for the project. Include all important responsibilities such as clean up of waste materials and debris. Starting and ending dates, warranties, permits, inspections, insurance, and payment schedules are a few of the particulars to be included in the contract.

Consumers with questions or problems regarding home improvement or home repair projects should contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or file an online consumer complaint using the Attorney General's website: www.attorneygeneral.gov

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary – A Showcase for Migration

Come for the hawks, return for the more than 18,000 birds of prey that are expected to fly over Hawk Mountain Sanctuary from late summer through mid-December.

The Sanctuary's 72^nd Annual Autumn Hawk Watch will set the stage for four months of bird watching following the late summer migration of ospreys, bald eagles, and American kestrels:

Mid-September – broad-winged hawks
Mid-October – northwest winds bring 16 species and the greatest diversity, including red-tailed, red-shouldered, rough-legged sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks, as well as northern harriers, peregrine falcons and merlins
November – ebbing migration, golden eagles and northern goshawks
December – solitude and an occasional bald eagle

The Center sponsors a variety of activities to attract the whole family. Festivals, lectures, native plants tours, and workshops await Hawk Mountain visitors. Don't miss a lecture on the history, mystery, status, and conservation of the cougar. Consult the Visitors page for hours of operation, trails, and more. The Sanctuary is located in Berks County at 1700 Hawk Mountain Rd, Kempton, PA 19529. You may contact the Sanctuary at 610-756-6961 or by fax at 610-756-4468 for additional information.

Quilts to Adorn Farm Show Complex

The PA National Quilt Extravaganza XV will spread out across the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center from Thursday, September 4 through Sunday, September 7, 2008 with over 600 quilts and garments on display. They will be joined by more than 200 vendors offering everything from completed quilts and garments to the supplies and equipment used in making them.

The event is considered the largest and most prominent textile arts event on the East Coast under one roof. The exhibit will feature traditional and innovative quilts, hand painted quilts, cloth dolls, and international entries.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center gets its first workout of the year with the state's largest annual agriculture show in January then it continues to offer opportunities for learning and entertainment throughout the year. Car enthusiasts, hobbyists, and dog breeders are among a much larger group of individuals that visit the Farm Show Complex located at Cameron and Maclay Streets in Harrisburg. Consult the Center's schedule of events for year around activities and events.

Getting Ready for a Big Event?

For those who will be hosting a special event in the coming weeks or months, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) offers special labels to personalize your liquor service. Whether it is a wedding, graduation, anniversary, birthday, or a class reunion, the PLCB customized labels program is applicable to a select group of products.

Most liquor selections arrive in 24 unit cases and must be purchased in case lots only. Labels cost $3.00 per case of 24 labels. Payment must be made by one of the four leading credit cards. The wine and label orders must be picked up at the Wine & Spirits Shop of your choice; the PLCB cannot ship the wine and labels out of state.

Review the selection of customized labels, then scroll down to the list of over 40 red and white wines the PLCB is prepared to personalize. Download a printer-friendly version of the order form. If you have questions contact the PLCB at 800-332-7522, Option 1.

The PLCB offers responsible hosting tips to help prevent guests from drinking irresponsibly. Guidelines for a safe and successful event include:

Make non-alcoholic beverages available.
Plan activities and encourage everyone to participate.
Serve plenty of good food, especially dishes that are high in carbohydrates.
Keep the salty foods to a minimum and not in the room where drinks are served.
Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends but continue to serve food and alcohol-free beverages; include coffee to send a signal the event is coming to an end.

Consult the PLCB's alcohol impairment guides for a look at levels of impairment for both men and women. See the PLCB's Alcohol Education website for more information.

Fall into Autumn Creatively

Whether you are looking to fall into autumn on a fun note or you've always wanted to try your hand at pottery, painting or another form of artistic expression, The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen is offering a broad selection of workshops in the coming weeks and months.

You will be able to get hands-on with pottery; learn Chinese brushwork with traditional cobalt blue stain; mold Precious Metal Clay into silver jewelry; then just before September ends learn to turn wood into spindles, plates, and bowls. A variety of classes continue through October offering opportunities for artistic expression.

Consult the PA Guild of Craftsmen for dates and locations of workshops, exhibitions, and PA Guild Fine Craft Fairs. For more information, contact the Guild at 252 N. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 or call 215-579-5997 or 717-431-8706 or send an email to: info@pacrafts.org.

Make a weekend of it with a little help from VisitPA.com. Find lodging and things to see and do.

Health Care Seminars Pop Up Around PA

Thanks to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, workshops focused on your well-being are being conducted on a year around basis across the Commonwealth. Click through the months of the Calendar of Events for topics and links to critical health-related information.

First aid and CPR, smoking cessation, cancer, and physical fitness are just a few of the topics covered across the state. Link to education and awareness campaigns like the Home and Sports Eye Safety Month, National 5 a Day Month and National Food Safety Education Month, to name just a few.

The Department's information on Health Topics A-Z is ready anytime to take on a wide cross-section of subjects. Whether its arthritis, meningitis, stroke, West Nile Virus, or other topics, the Department's clickable list contains information on more than 120 health topics.