A weekend spent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comes with no shortage of creative arts & culture, historical centerpieces, regional culinary experiences, and nightlife. Visiting Philadelphia, the fifth largest city in the United States, is a great chance to step back into pivotal moments in the nation’s history, while also embracing its current flare for modernity. With just one weekend to tap into the feel of the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia easily shows its true colors of vibrancy on each face and personality that makes the city tick.

Philadelphia’s mix of modern streets and old world charm of cobblestone walkways paves the way for an easily approachable and walkable city. Taking a stroll around the famed Independence National Historical Park is a must when visiting for the first time. Whether a history buff or a visitor wanting a taste of the city’s rich historical past, this one square mile of Philadelphia showcases nationally important aspects of the country’s foundation.

Located within the area is the Liberty Bell Center, where people can read their way through an informative museum of its importance as an icon of American independence. This eventually leads visitors to the Liberty Bell itself; the bell is surely one of the most well known and visited attractions in the city.

Just across the street from the Liberty Bell Center is Independence Hall. Widely important in American history, Independence Hall is the spot where American forefathers created both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. A tour of this area allows visitors to get a sense of how the country began to take shape in the very room where these important documents were created. While tickets are required to visit Independence Hall, admission to both Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center is free.

After walking around the historical section, a stop for lunch at one of Stephan Starr’s many restaurants can give a visitor a local sense of current Philadelphia food trends. As one of the leaders in Philadelphia’s thriving culinary industry, Stephen Starr has created a host of modern restaurants, each with a distinct atmosphere and equally impressive menu.

For a taste into this restaurateur’s vision, head over to Continental Midtown where Starr has taken an approach with the retro décor of America’s past, along with a menu that fuses America’s favorite dishes with international flavors. The swanky, stylish approach of the restaurant’s space matches the menu. Located just steps away from Rittenhouse Square, Continental Midtown is an ideal spot to enjoy a lunch of lobster mac and cheese, a Muffaletta sandwich, or Asian chicken salad. More of Starr’s famed restaurants dotting the city are Buddakan, Alma de Cuba, Morimoto, and El Rey.

With a delicious meal under your belt, it could be time to walk it off, or in this case, run it off, on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. These famous steps, made widely known from a scene in Rocky, brings in visitors and locals alike to not only enjoy the backdrop of the popular movie, but also the large collection of art within the museum’s walls.

With artwork spanning over 2,000 years in history, the Philadelphia Museum of Art stands as one of the largest and most important art collections in the United States. Over 200,000 objects are held in the museum in collections coming from all reaches of the world, including Medieval Europe, Asia, and the United States. The museum showcases galleries of modern and contemporary art, costumes & textiles, and arms & armor as well. With adult admission at $14, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a huge masterpiece of work that simply should not be overlooked.

Reading Terminal Market is a hub of local Philadelphian food and flavors, and a perfect place to have a more casual dinner. With over one hundred food stands and merchants in the famed market, it is an excellent way to sample the region’s popular dishes. Opened in 1893, Reading Terminal Market offers a wide range of meat, seafood, poultry, baked goods, and Amish specialties. Taking a walk through the market’s bustling aisles is an exploration of Philadelphia’s diverse culinary selections from Asian to Middle Eastern, Indian to Italian.

One spot which is almost impossible to miss from its wrap around line is DiNic’s. Centrally located within Reading Terminal Market, DiNic’s recently won the title of best sandwich in America. Crowned this special award by Travel Channel’s Adam Richman, people eagerly wait in the lengthy line to taste DiNic’s famed roast pork sandwich. Juicy cuts of the meat are stuffed in a hoagie and served with a choice of cheese, peppers, and greens. For sweet treats after devouring DiNic’s, head over to Sweet as Fudge Candy Shoppe or Flying Monkey Patisserie for a sugar lover’s dream.

After a night out in Old City, a neighborhood in Philadelphia known for its nightlife and bars, spending a relaxing morning walking around Philadelphia is a great way to start the day. A unique art exhibit that can literally be seen all around the streets of Philadelphia is the Mural Arts Program. Started in 1984, this program set out to create and design large murals on the sides of buildings across the whole city. Through this creative program, Philadelphia has become the number one city of mural art in the world, with over 3,500 murals in the area. Donned the “City of Murals,” a walk around Philadelphia will surely lead any local or visitor to spot some of these large paintings, and is considered a free and fun way of exploring the city’s creative side.

For a family friendly approach to Philadelphia, a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo is a must. Running until November 25, 2012, the Philadelphia Zoo is showcasing the Trail of the Lorax, in partnership with Dr. Seuss. Using 3D glasses, children are able to follow a trail around the zoo and ultimately find a 3,000 square foot learning center and play environment.

In conjunction with the zoo spending 2012 focusing on the “Year of the Orangutan,” the Trail of the Lorax incorporates educational opportunities for children to learn about the future of this animal. The Philadelphia Zoo is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon spotting out monkeys, zebras, and giraffes, among dozens of other animals. Children can hop on a camel or pony for a ride, while the whole family can enjoy a swan boat ride. Admission for adults is $18 and tickets for children over age two are $15.

But let’s face it, a trip to Philadelphia wouldn’t quite be complete without a taste of possibly its most famous culinary claim to fame: the cheesesteak. The two legendary big players in the world of cheesesteaks are Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, conveniently located just across the street from each other. Since 1930, Pat’s King of Steaks has been serving up their mouthwatering cheesesteaks and holds the title of the first cheesesteak in town. A main difference between the two popular cheesesteak spots is the way each establishment prepares the meat.

While Pat’s King of Steaks chops its meat, Geno’s Steaks slices its meat. With choices of cheese, including provolone or whiz, and the option of having it topped with onions, there are some variations to how the cheesesteak can be ordered. The sandwich undeniably stands as one of the most favored local eats. Philadelphians often claim allegiance to either Pat’s King of Steaks or Geno’s Steaks, but with such close proximity, it is easy for a visitor to taste both at the same time and decide for themselves which is truly their favorite.

The city of brotherly love combines a flavor of local cuisine, historical importance, and arts & culture to make a diversely rich cosmopolitan city. Located in close proximity to both New York City and Washington D.C., Philadelphia is a world class destination that is easily accessible and welcoming. Whether staying for a week or just a weekend in this city, it is easy to see its unique character in the people and kind of thriving energy they bring together make up the city as a whole.

Image Courtesy of  spirit of america / Shutterstock.com

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For a first time traveler or a seasoned visitor to Philadelphia, a stay at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel hits all the right spots in terms of hospitality and comfort. Centrally located just a stone’s throw away from Rittenhouse Square, the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel embraces the historical and cultural heritage of Philadelphia while offering a modern and luxurious atmosphere. As one of the landmarks in the city, the hotel was built in 1926 and is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A building with such a distinct personality is the perfect spot to rest after a long day of sightseeing throughout the city of brotherly love.

Upon entering the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel, it is easy to be taken aback by its grand lobby. Its nearly all-white, elegant entrance gives way to high ceilings, painted sky blue to imitate the clear skies outside. A single, stunning chandelier hangs as a centerpiece in the lobby, giving visitors a sense of luxury while still making them feel welcome.

The lobby gives hints to the stylish and modern décor found in all of the hotel’s 301 guest rooms. One of the most apparent features of the guest rooms at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel is the sheer size. While a large size room is sometimes hard to come by in other well known hotels, there is no shortage of space here. Standard rooms come with an array of modern amenities, including a 32 inch LCD HD television, complimentary wi-fi, coffee maker, alarm clock with iPod docking station, in room safe, and bathroom toiletries, among many other features that make a stay at this hotel very comfortable.

The Radisson Plaza-Warwick doesn’t hold back, making sure all its guests feel welcome and taken care of during their stay. For those who don’t want to miss out on their daily workouts, a new state of the art, 2,000 square foot fitness center is available. Including ellipticals, bikes, and treadmills with personal LCD televisions, as well as weight machines and free weights, a visit to the fitness center is a great place for anyone looking to get a good workout. Additionally, the hotel takes its smoke free policy seriously, making sure all rooms and suites are smoke free as well as its outside grounds. Smoking is only permitted 50 feet away from the building. If traveling with a favorite four legged friend, pets are openly welcome at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel. The hotel has designated one floor of its building for guests who want to bring their pets with them, for an extra charge of $50, plus $10 per night occupancy rate.

Aside from the elegant comforts of the guest suites, the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel also boasts three restaurants within the building. With choices from a quick grab and go coffee bar to more sophisticated dining options, the hotel gives its guests a variety of places to choose from when hungry. The Coffee Bar’s menu focuses on light snacks and meals that guests can take with them on the go, including a breakfast of bagels and croissants, smoked salmon or California turkey sandwiches for lunch, or sweet cakes and brownies as a sugary treat. Aside from the delicious food, The Coffee Bar also stocks great morning cups of coffee to get the day started, as well as a beer and wine selection.

Located right off of the lobby is Tavern 17, the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel’s contemporary restaurant, offering a breakfast buffet, brunch, and dinner. The chefs at Tavern 17 take pride in using only the freshest ingredients to create mouth watering dishes, including a wild mushroom and goat cheese omelet for brunch or a barbeque salmon with mashed potatoes and roasted tomato salad for dinner. The restaurant’s happy hour is one not to be missed, with $2 off all draft beers, as well as $2 cheeseburger sliders and $5 crab and avocado. Tavern 17 has an extensive wine and beer menu to choose from, as well as small plates to snack on while having a cocktail.

For the steak lover visiting Philadelphia, the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel’s business casual restaurant, Prime Rib, is one not to be overlooked. Philadelphia Magazine awarded Prime Rib a “Best of Philly” recognition for its juicy menu, including a USDA prime filet mignon and a 32 ounce prime rib. Fresh seafood is also available on the menu, and with a pianist tickling away at a piano nightly, Prime Rib is sure to give an elegant and sophisticated meal and ambiance.

Not only does the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel make sure guests are completely taken care of in terms of amenities and dining options, the hotel also takes positive steps towards maintaining its Eco-friendly environment. Awarded a 4 key rating from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel continues to utilize its Eco-friendly hospitality and service to better the local community and environment.

With its centralized downtown location near shopping and entertainment, award winning recognition for its services and dining, as well as its combination of modern and elegant features make a stay at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel a comfortable and memorable time. Visitors can enjoy the history and charm of Philadelphia while knowing they have a restful night’s stay waiting for them at the hotel when they return from a day of sightseeing.

For more information on making a reservation, visit Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel.

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Pennsylvania, U.S.A. – The 2011-12 fiscal year was the Pennsylvania Lottery’s most successful year in its 41-year history, as the Lottery set new records for annual sales and profits, generating more than $1 billion for programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.

Fiscal year 2011-12 Lottery sales totaled $3.48 billion, which was $273 million, or 8.5 percent, above the previous year and prior all-time sales record.

Net revenue to the Lottery Fund for fiscal year 2011-12 totaled $1.06 billion, which was $100 million, or 10.4 percent, more than the previous year and $85 million, or 8.7 percent, more than the previous profit record achieved in fiscal year 2005-06.

“The growth in sales of instant tickets, continued efforts to expand Lottery’s retailer base, growth in the multi-state games Powerball and Mega Millions as well as many other variables all played a role in the Lottery’s tremendous success this year,” said Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci.

The Lottery ended fiscal year 2011-12 with more than 9,100 retailers, a record for the modern-era Lottery that simultaneously sells terminal-based products and dozens of instant games. Lottery retailers, many of them family-owned small businesses, earned $183.9 million in commissions in fiscal year 2011-12.

“The funds generated by the Pennsylvania Lottery this fiscal year helped support programs that provide services such as Older Adult Protective Services, in-home personal care, free transportation, meals, tax rebates and prescription drug assistance to thousands of older Pennsylvanians aimed to protect their independence, preserve their health and improve the quality of their life,” said Secretary of Aging Brian Duke. ”We are grateful for the support and commitment we receive from the Lottery.”

As an example of Lottery’s renewed focus on the programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians, Rucci pointed to the advertising campaign Lottery launched this year with the goal of raising awareness of the specific programs that Lottery funds.

Instant games sales for the fiscal year totaled $2.13 billion, which was $212.5 million, or 11.1 percent, higher than the previous year. Instant games accounted for 61.3 percent of fiscal year 2011-12 sales, as compared to 59.9 percent in 2010-11.

Sales for terminal-based games – including The Daily Number, Big 4, Quinto, Treasure Hunt, Cash 5, Match 6, Millionaire Raffle, Powerball and Mega Millions – totaled $1.35 billion for the fiscal year, which was $60.5 million, or 4.7 percent, more than the previous year.

Powerball sales of $277.7 million were $63.5 million, or 29.7 percent, more than last year, indicating enhancements made to the game this year to offer larger jackpots, better odds and more million-dollar prizes were welcomed by players.

Mega Millions sales of $151.2 million were $25 million, or 19.8 percent, more than last year, illustrating the significant sales impact of a world-record jackpot in March and suggesting Mega Millions continues to gain popularity with players.

In fiscal year 2011-12, the Lottery’s administrative costs decreased from 2.3 percent of total sales to 2.1 percent through a new contract with the independent drawing auditor, reductions in printing costs and fleet management changes.

“We are committed to improving efficiencies to maximize the dollars for programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians, we embrace our unique mission and we are working to push that profit number even higher in the future,” said Rucci.

“This tremendous success is welcome good news for programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians, and it sets the bar even higher for potential bidders on a Lottery private management agreement. While this growth is not unexpected, it is difficult to predict,” Rucci added. “A private management agreement could help mitigate this unpredictability and provide security and stability in budgeting for years to come.”

Image Courtesy of  sameold2010

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Harrisburg, U.S.A. – Governor Tom Corbett announced on July 18 the investment of $87 million in 18 non-point source, drinking water, and wastewater projects in 18 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).

“The projects funded at today’s PENNVEST meeting will bring both environmental improvements and much needed new jobs to areas all across our state,” Corbett said. “This funding is an investment in the future health of our citizens and our economy, both of which are of critical importance to me and my administration.”

Of the $87 million total, $77 million is for low-interest loans and $10 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $131,000 grant to eliminate nutrient discharges from a stream in Lancaster County and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay to a $17.7 million loan/grant combination for a project in Lycoming County to eliminate the discharge of waste from on-lot septic systems into publicly accessible areas.

The funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards. Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST.

PENNVEST drinking water projects:

Armstrong and Clarion counties

Redbank Valley Municipal Authority received a $346,000 loan to install alternate power source facilities in order to eliminate power fluctuations to the treatment plant that compromise the plant’s ability to effectively operate and assure healthy water quality.

Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill counties

Hazelton City Authority received a $5,917,075 loan to replace approximately 15,260 household water meters that will allow the authority to reduce water losses by quickly detecting leaks in the system.

Fayette, Greene and Washington counties

Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority received an $8,660,300 loan to upgrade and expand the authority’s Tin Can Hollow water treatment plant, including new filters, pumps and other facilities that will ensure a safe and reliable source of water both for household consumption and fire protection.

Potter County

Galeton Borough Authority received a $520,127 loan to breach two impoundment dams and replace them with stream channel infiltration facilities that are not only less expensive to maintain but also provide increased water availability, particularly during low-flow conditions.

Somerset County

Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority received a $768,111 loan and a $550,889 grant to construct approximately five miles of water distribution lines and a new water storage tank to eliminate the use of contaminated drinking water wells in the village of Bakerstown.

Washington County

Pennsylvania American Water Company received a $2,250,000 loan to construct over six miles of water distribution lines and a booster pump station to serve various areas of the county where over 50 percent of the private drinking water wells are contaminated with coliform bacteria.

PENNVEST Wastewater Projects

Armstrong County

West Hills Area Water Pollution Control Authority received a $10,435,500 loan new sewage collection lines and a pump station to serve areas of East Franklin Township and Buffalo Township where malfunctioning on-lot systems and wildcat sewers are discharging raw sewage into Glade Run and a tributary of the Allegheny River.

Beaver County

Rochester Borough Sewer and Maintenance Authority received a $1,147,283 loan and a $1,379,717 grant install more than a mile of new sanitary and storm sewers to eliminate the wet weather discharge of untreated sewage into McKinley Run, Beaver Run and the Ohio River.

Butler County

Buffalo Township Municipal Authority received a $1,560,670 loan to expand the authority’s treatment plant and upgrade a pumping station to eliminate overloading of the plant and to accommodate additional wastewater flows, particularly from local businesses that will expand their operations as a result of this project and thereby create 90 new full-time jobs.

Cambria County

• Johnstown City received a $10,898,000 loan to install almost seven miles of new collection sewers to eliminate wet weather overflows of untreated sewage into Stony Creek.
• Johnstown Redevelopment Authority received a $9,052,570 loan to construct more than three miles of replacement interceptor sewers to eliminate wet weather overflows into the Conemaugh River.

Lycoming County

Tiadaghton Valley Municipal Authority received a $14,146,008 loan and a $3,717,312 grant to construct a new wastewater treatment plant, eight miles of new collection sewers and a pump station to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging inadequately treated waste into publicly accessible areas and also to meet nutrient discharge limits required under the Chesapeake Bay initiative.

McKean County

Hamlin Township received a $2,424,173 loan and a $2,383,827 grant to construct more than seven miles of sewage collection lines to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging inadequately treated sewage into local streams. The project will also allow businesses to expand and create 50 new jobs in the area.

Mifflin County

Burnham Borough Authority received an $8,679,268 loan and a $1,492,732 grant to construct a new treatment plant and replace combined sewer facilities in order to eliminate excess nutrient discharges into the Chesapeake Bay watershed as well as allow for local business expansions that will create 91 new full-time jobs.

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Harrisburg, U.S.A. – The State Museum of Pennsylvania presents “Artists Conversations,” a three-part program in conjunction with “Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2012,” on exhibit through Sept. 9. The State Museum will also offer special guided tours of the exhibit on Fridays and Sundays. The programs are free with museum admission and reservations are not required.

“Artists Conversations” pairs a selection of “Art of the State” artists with museum staff members to share their perspectives on the 2012 exhibition. The first program in the series will feature five members of the Harrisburg Camera Club who each have works in the show: Geoff Crego, Jim Crowley, Andrew Hoff, Don Uvick and Bob Willis. Museum staff photographer Don Giles will join the club members on Sunday, July 15, at 1 p.m. to provide an insightful insiders’ tour of the exhibition.

“This is the second year in a row that Harrisburg Camera Club members have had at least five pieces in ‘Art of the State,’” State Museum Director David W. Dunn said. “We are impressed with this record and their expertise, and look forward to hearing them share their insights with our visitors.”

“Artists Conversations” will also be held on Friday, Aug. 17, at 6:30 p.m. for Harrisburg’s 3rd in the Burg, pairing artist Carol Oldenburg, York, with Dunn, and on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. for Harrisburg’s Gallery Walk, teaming sculptor Mark Pettegrow, Bucks County, with State Museum Education and Outreach Chief Beth A. Hager.

In addition, guided tours of “Art of the State” will be offered every week throughout the exhibit’s run. The tours are approximately 25 minutes long and are offered on Fridays at 12:15 p.m. and 1 p.m., and on Sundays at 2 p.m. The Friday tours are a part of The State Museum’s special “Learn at Lunchtime” summer series in which admission is free every Friday through Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“Art of the State” is recognized as the official, statewide juried competition for Pennsylvania artists.  This year’s show features 129 pieces by 115 artists working throughout the state. “Art of the State” is co-presented by the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council and The State Museum.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg, is one of 25 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History. The State Museum offers expansive collections interpreting Pennsylvania’s fascinating heritage. With exhibits examining the dawn of geologic time, the Native American experience, the colonial and revolutionary eras, a pivotal Civil War battleground and the Commonwealth’s vast industrial age, The State Museum demonstrates that Pennsylvania’s story is America’s story.

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Harrisburg, U.S.A. - Pennsylvania student participants and the Pennsylvania Game Commission came away from the recent National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament with some awards and high honors. The event, which took place May 11 and 12, in Louisville, Kentucky, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest archery tournament with 7,804 competitors from 38 states.

“More than 70 students from Pennsylvania made the trek to compete in the tournament, including teams from New Castle Christian Academy, Williams Valley High School and Halifax High School,” said Samantha Pedder, Game Commission outreach coordinator, who oversees NASP in Pennsylvania.”Two students placed in the top 10 in their respective divisions, and almost all shooters posted higher scores at the nationals than at the state tournament!”

Among those who finished in the top ten were Garrett Richardson, from New Castle Christian Academy, who placed third in the fourth grade male division with a score of 279 out of a possible 300. Richardson placed first in this division at the Pennsylvania state tournament with a score of 255.

Katelyn Donely, a tenth grader from Williams Valley High School, placed sixth in the High School Female Division with a score of 289 out of a possible 300. Donely tied for fifth, but finished second in a shoot-off round.  She was first in the same division in the Pennsylvania state tournament, with a score of 279.

The Game Commission received recognition at the NASP Coordinator’s Conference, which occurred before the tournament, for reaching the milestone of having 100 schools enrolled in NASP. The Game Commission also was recognized for achieving the greatest percentage increase in school enrollments over the past year from among 47 states and five Canadian provinces that offer NASP.

The World NASP Tournament will occur on Oct. 4-6, at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, and any NASP participating school in Pennsylvania is invited to send a team.

In 2010, the Game Commission began coordinating Pennsylvania’s NASP, which helps school districts inPennsylvania meet physical education curriculum requirements of the state Department of Education, while at the same time introducing them to the world of competitive archery. In 2011, about 350 students from nearly a dozen school districts participated in the state competition, which was volunteer-run at the time.

Earlier this year, on March 9, nearly 500 students from 23 schools competed at the NASP State Tournament held by the Pennsylvania Game Commission at the Penn State Multi-Sport Facility inUniversity Park, Centre County.
Studies conducted by the national NASP organization demonstrate that NASP is a great introduction to the sport of archery, and that many students choose to pursue the sport outside of school.

“NASP fosters an interest in archery for these students, and we hope that the excitement that competitions build will cause students to want to continue to shoot and expand their archery experience,” Pedder said. “We want to encourage them to keep shooting and to consider taking the next steps toward 3-D archery tournaments and, eventually, bow hunting, which are natural avenues for archers to hone and maintain their skills.”

Started in Kentucky, in 2002, NASP has spread throughout the United States, and now is reaching around the world. At the end of the 2011-12 school year, nine million students had gone through NASP lessons in 9,000 schools throughout 47 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, Australia, New Zealand  and South Africa. Tournaments are held at the state, national and international levels.

NASP is a joint venture that partners with state education and wildlife management agencies and archery equipment manufacturers and organizations to promote student education, physical education and participation in the lifelong sport of archery. The program’s focus is to provide international-style archery training in physical education classes in grades four through 12.

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Chicago, U.S.A. – Just ahead of a major U.S. Senate vote on the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to clean up mercury and other toxic air pollutants, a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report shows that the 25 worst coal-fired power plants account for more than half of the dangerous mercury pollution emitted by the total of 144 electricity generation facilities in the Great Lakes region. The report also finds that almost 90 percent of the toxic emissions could be eliminated with off-the-shelf technologies.

According to ”Poisoning the Great Lakes: Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants In the Great Lakes Region,” Ohio emits the largest amount of mercury from coal-fired power plants (21 percent of the total in the Great Lakes region), followed closely by Pennsylvania (20 percent) and Indiana (16 percent). The remaining five states in the region rank as follows: Michigan (14 percent); Illinois (11 percent); Wisconsin (9.5 percent); Minnesota (6.5 percent); and New York (2 percent). Plants from outside the region also contribute to mercury pollution in the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes region’s five worst coal-fired power plants for mercury pollution are: Shawville (Clearfield County, PA); Monroe (Monroe County, MI); Homer City (Indiana County, PA); Cardinal (Jefferson County, OH); and Sherburne County (Sherburne County, MN). (See the complete list below of the worst 25.) A dozen power plants in Ohio and Indiana – owned in whole or part by American Electric Power — accounted for 19 percent of all mercury emitted in 2010 from the total of 144 coal-fired power plants in the region.

U.S. Senator James Inhofe, R-OK, recently filed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to void health standards reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants and to permanently block EPA from re-issuing similar safeguards.

Thomas Cmar, attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council office in Chicago, said: ”Mercury is a dangerous brain poison that doesn’t belong in our Great Lakes. It puts the health of kids and pregnant women at risk and adds an unwelcome danger to eating what our fishermen catch. That’s why it is so important that we support the EPA’s standards to reduce mercury pollution by holding polluters accountable. Even more critical is that every single U.S. Senator from the region stand up for the Lakes by rejecting reckless attempts to derail the long overdue Clean Air Act updates that can help tame this problem.”

Cindy Copeland, report author and formerly with the EPA Air Program, said: “Mercury is poisoning the Great Lakes and the three states – Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania – that impose no rules are by far the worst offenders. Airborne mercury from coal-fired power plants in the Great Lakes Region harms our health, and the benefits of reducing mercury emissions are well worth the cost. With a reduction of health costs to the economy at up to $90 billion, it is hard to say no to this.”

In the Great Lakes region, there are more than 144 coal-fired power plants which pumped over 13,000 pounds of mercury into the air in 2010. Mercury pollution from these plants’ region accounts for close to 25 percent of the nation’s total. The Great Lakes region is comprised of the five Great Lakes (Erie,Ontario, Huron, Michigan, and Superior) and the eight surrounding states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin).

Eating poisoned fish is the primary cause of mercury poisoning of humans. Mercury is a neurotoxin that harms the brain, heart, central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, and immune system. Young children and developing fetuses are most at risk, and can suffer developmental problems from mercury poisoning.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued nationwide rules to require coal-fired power plants to limit airborne mercury emissions and other toxic air pollutants by 2015. The technologies to meet the EPA’s mercury limits are widely available and effective.

Based on projected reductions in fine particulate emissions due to the combined benefits of various air toxic pollution controls, the EPA has projected that the benefits of its Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) far outweigh the costs of pollution controls. The health benefits of the MATS are projected to be worth $37 to $90 billion in 2016 alone. The EPA has projected that the majority of the benefits would be reaped in the eastern United States, including the Great Lakes region.

Mercury emitted into the air from coal-fired power plants is by far the leading man-made source of mercury reaching the Great Lakes and the lakes, rivers, and streams of the Great Lakes region. This report lists the top 25 mercury emitting plants in the region. Mercury pollution from plants outside the region also contributes to the overall quantity of mercury found in the Great Lakes. When coal is burned to produce electricity, mercury is emitted into the air. The EPA estimates that coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source of mercury pollution, accounting for 50 percent of mercury air emissions in the United States.

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Harrisburg, U.S.A - In its first year, Direct Energy and The Patriot-News’ 2012 Harrisburg Volunteer Citizen of the Year award is honoring Nancy Chavez of Camp Hill, PA. Chavez founded “Randi’s Race: A 5K Run and Walk for Courage” in honor of her beloved daughter, Randi, who was tragically murdered in 2005 as a result of domestic violence. Chavez, a survivor of domestic violence herself, has since then devoted her life to raising money, creating awareness and speaking on behalf of victims of domestic violence.

Since its inception, Randi’s Race has raised over $245,000 for Domestic Violence Services in Cumberland and Perry Counties. All proceeds go to providing counseling, emergency shelters, and legal advocacy and outreach programs for domestic violence victims.

Most recently, some of those proceeds have helped to fundraise for Chavez’s newest endeavor: Randi’s House of Angels. Chavez created Randi’s House of Angels in 2011 not only to help cope with her own healing, but to provide a healing place for others that are victims of or exposed to domestic violence. Randi’s House of Angels offers support, therapy and counseling to victims.

In February of 2007, Chavez formed a group called “Restoring Our Souls” (ROS), a support group for mothers and other family members that have lost a loved one to domestic violence. ROS is the first group of its kind in Harrisburg and Chavez uses her own personal experience to help others cope with their loss.

Continuing her crusade against domestic violence, she also established Randi’s Camp for Hope, an organization specifically for children that are affected by domestic violence in their homes. Through educational, interpersonal and fun activities, children engage in activities designed to increase their self-esteem, self-concept and confidence in their own abilities. Randi’s Camp of Hope empowers children to believe that their thoughts, feelings and actions are important, worthy of expression and that they are valuable contributors to the whole family unit.

By winning the Harrisburg Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award, Nancy will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a $5,000 donation to Randi’s House of Angels. The donation will be used to hire licensed therapists that specialize in working with children who are victims of domestic violence or have had a family member murdered as a result of domestic violence. Additionally, for adult victims, attorneys will be hired to provide legal representation in custody and divorce hearings.

“Nancy has been through a horrific tragedy that no parent should ever have to face. Her perseverance to overcome and honor her daughter’s memory and help her community is truly remarkable,” said Cory Byzewski, Vice President and General Manager for Direct Energy US North Residential.

Lee Carlson, General Manager for the Patriot-News said, “We received a lot of outstanding nominations and they were all very admirable but Nancy’s story about how she is using her heartbreak to help others is nothing short of amazing. We are honored to be able to help her in her campaign to end domestic violence.”

A special event honoring Nancy Chavez will be held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building Rotunda on Monday, June 4, 2012.

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Pennsylvania, U.S.A. - Visitors to fairs and festivals throughout Pennsylvania—as well as the historic Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland—can experience the Civil War Road Show, featuring interactive exhibits and special programming marking the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War.

The Road Show kicks off its 2012 tour on June 30, at the Kutztown Folk Festival in Berks County and concludes at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton, Blair County on September 30, 2012.

Installed in a 53-foot expandable trailer, the Road Show tells the compelling personal stories of the many different ways Pennsylvanians experienced the American Civil War—on both the home front and on the battlefield. Interactive features include stereoscopic photographs, original compositions of Civil War-era music and sound effects, hands-on objects, and animated stories.

The Road Show encourages residents to share their own stories and artifacts, by participating in the “Share Your Story” booth that accompanies the exhibit. The booth allows visitors to add an oral history to the exhibit, which in turn will be available online at www.PACivilWar150.com.

Additionally, visitors will be invited to take a self-portrait at the Road Show in the style of a Civil War-era photograph that can be uploaded and incorporated into a customizable digital scrapbook.

A highlight of the 14-week tour will be the Road Show’s September visit to Antietam National Battlefield, administered by the National Park Service, to help commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. While there, the Road Show will join up with Virginia’s Civil War 150 History Mobile to provide visitors an interactive look into the impact of the Civil War on both states.

Pennsylvania Civil War 150 is the state’s official program commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, being observed from 2011 to 2015. The PA Civil War 150 Committee, convened by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) in partnership with the Pennsylvania Heritage Society (PHS), the Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, is a statewide alliance of history, heritage, arts and cultural organizations from throughout the state.

PA Civil War 150′s mission is to leverage the considerable strengths of these institutions and bring quality programming to the commonwealth’s commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. PA Civil War 150 includes a wide array of statewide initiatives and facilitates numerous activities and events at regional and local levels.

Civil War Road Show 2012 Schedule:
6/30-7/8 — Kutztown Folk Festival, Kutztown, Berks County
7/20-7/22 — Capitol Complex/State Museum of PA, Harrisburg, Dauphin County
7/30-8/4 — Schuylkill County Fair, Summit Station, Schuylkill County
8/12-8/18 — Fulton County Fair, McConnellsburg, Fulton County
8/21-8/25 — Perry County Fair, Newport, Perry County
8/28-9/3 — Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Lehigh County
9/7-9/9 — Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Northampton County
9/14-9/17 — Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland
9/21-9/23 — Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Adams County
9/28-9/30 — DelGrosso’s Amusement Park, Tipton, Blair County

Image Courtesy of   Pennsylvania Civil War 150

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Pennsylvania’s new law prohibiting text-based communication while driving will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 8, making texting while driving a primary offense carrying a $50 fine.

“Your most important job when behind the wheel is to focus only on driving. Most people would never close their eyes for five seconds while driving, but that’s how long you take your eyes of the road, or even longer, every time you send or read a text message,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “It’s not just your own life you’re risking; it’s the lives and safety of every motorist around you.”

The new law specifically does the following:

• Makes it a primary offense to use an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based message.
• Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet.
• Defines a text-based message as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.
• Institutes a $50 fine for convictions.
• Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.

“This is a serious problem and we are hoping that we can educate citizens on the dangers of texting while driving and prevent future accidents,” said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan. “Our troopers will attempt to use observations of the driver while the vehicle is in motion to determine if traffic stops are warranted. An example might be the motorist continues to manipulate the device over an extended distance with no apparent voice communication.

“Ultimately, we hope that our enforcement efforts will create voluntary compliance by the majority of motorists,” Noonan said.

In 2010, there were nearly 14,000 crashes in Pennsylvania where distracted driving played a role, with 68 people dying in those crashes.

Learn more online at www.dot.state.pa.us and choose “Anti-Texting Law.”

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The Commonwealth Foundation released an alarming new report on Pennsylvania public welfare that finds widespread abuse of tax dollars, with spending growing faster than the economy and exceeding education appropriations for the first time in state history.

Policy analysts from the free-market think tank examined numerous documented cases of fraud, waste and abuse including service providers billing the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare for luxuries such as a chandelier, landscaping, a six-person hot tub and a bowling alley.

“Government welfare was once a helping hand to those in need, but has instead become a tangled bureaucracy of often abused programs that fall far short of the good intentions behind them,” said Matthew J. Brouillette, president and CEO.  “While some say reforms unfairly hurt the poor, the reality is Pennsylvania is quickly reaching a point where the tax base cannot support the benefits lawmakers are promising.”

Analysts also found DPW represents the largest department in the state’s General Fund, encompassing nearly 40 percent of the budget.  Despite dramatic increases in welfare spending, they conclude measures have failed to free Pennsylvanians from a poverty rate that has been climbing since 2000.

“The welfare system in Pennsylvania is expensive, ineffective, and largely unaccountable,” said Brouillette.  “It should be no surprise then that ever-increasing welfare spending is simply failing to bring independence to citizens.”

According to U.S. Census data, Pennsylvania is among the top-10 states in budget percentage spent on public welfare, surpassing neighboring states such as Maryland, New Jersey, and West Virginia.  Moreover, the number of Pennsylvanians receiving food stamps benefits is at an all-time high while increases in welfare spending outpace personal income and state tax revenue growth.

“The majority of welfare programs and their funding originate with the federal government, leaving states with little room for innovation and flexibility in their administration,” said Brouillette.  The current federal funding system actually encourages states to spend more in order to draw down additional federal funds.

Among the foundation’s recommendations are calls for state legislators to aggressively pursue waivers as other states have successfully done in order to overcome federal mandates and save taxpayers’ money.  They also recommend DPW rapidly cuts waste and abuse by reducing error rates and enforcing eligibility standards. Additionally, legislators should utilize performance-based budgeting to expand programs that work and end programs that don’t.

“If no action is taken, welfare spending will continue to crowd out other departments like education and transportation, depriving the truly needy from proper care and leading to future tax increases,” said Brouillette.  “If that happens, lawmakers will be delivering decades of dependence instead of dignity.”

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Thanks to a new law, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Department of Health are expanding public access to birth and death records starting Wednesday, Feb. 15. The public can access the records online State Birth or in person at the Pennsylvania State Archives.

In December, Governor Tom Corbett signed Act 110 to make birth certificates available to the public 105 years after issuance and death certificates available 50 years after issuance. Beginning Feb. 15, births from 1906 and deaths from 1906 to 1961 will become available. One year of births and one year of deaths will be added each subsequent year. Records prior to 1906 are held at the county level.

“We are pleased that Pennsylvania’s older birth and death certificates are now open to the public,” said State Archivist David A. Haury. “We share the excitement of the genealogists and other researchers who will now be able to use these records to learn about their families and communities.”

To access the records online, go to www.health.state.pa.us and click on “Birth and Death Certificates.” Indices will be available online in PDF format and are searchable by name of individual and year of event. Once a record is identified, the state file number will be needed for the application to request a non-certified copy of the certificate from the Department of Health.

For in-person access, visit the State Archives at 350 North St., Harrisburg. Visitors wishing to see original records will first be provided access to the Department of Health’s online indices to identify the state file number. Once the file number is determined, patrons will use the Archives’ normal search room procedures to have the record pulled for them.

Before searching online or in person, researchers are urged to be prepared by knowing the year of the event, the spelling of the name they are searching for, and/or the county of the birth or death.

Access to indices is free; however, a $3 processing fee will continue to be charged for non-certified copies ordered online through Department of Health. Copying fees may apply at the State Archives, as well as research fees for search requests received via mail or e-mail.

The Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records is working on fully digitizing and indexing all certificates to allow for easier online record research. These changes will be rolled out within the next year. Researchers will eventually be able to search records by first name only, year of occurrence, county, or even by parents’ names.

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Department of Revenue has extended the deadline by which remote sellers with physical presence in Pennsylvania must become licensed and begin collecting sales tax. These steps now must be completed by Sept. 1.

“We heard from a number of e-commerce businesses that companies are willing to comply with their Pennsylvania sales tax obligations, but our original Feb. 1 compliance deadline is impractical from operational and technical standpoints,” said Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser. “In the interest of being reasonable and respecting the difficulty of tailoring sales tax software to Pennsylvania’s complicated sales tax rules, we believe extending the compliance deadline is the fair thing to do.”

Meuser noted the Sept. 1 compliance deadline comes well before the next holiday sales season, reflecting an effort to enforce uniform sales tax collection and foster fair competition among e-commerce and brick-and-mortar businesses in advance of the busiest retail season of the year.

“This is the only deadline extension that will be offered,” Meuser clarified.  “Businesses with Pennsylvania nexus that do not become registered and begin collecting Pennsylvania sales tax by Sept. 1 will face a variety of escalating enforcement options over time, including assessment, audit, lien or referral to a collection agency or the Office of Attorney General.

“It’s simply a matter of fairness under the existing law, and it’s essential that both e-commerce retailers with nexus and brick-and-mortar stores in Pennsylvania, many of which are small businesses employing thousands of Pennsylvanians with retail jobs, are treated equally.”

This deadline extension follows a Tax Bulletin issued Dec. 1, 2011, which explains existing sales tax nexus law for remote sellers, clarifying the law and the department’s authority to require e-commerce and other out-of-state sellers with physical presence in Pennsylvania to collect sales tax.

Sales and Use Tax Bulletin 2011-01 relies on in-state activity to establish nexus, as required by the U.S. Constitution, and provides examples of in-state activity sufficient to require sales tax registration and collection.

In cases where companies with nexus blatantly disregard the Tax Bulletin and their obligations to begin collecting sales tax, the department has the statutory authority to look back at least three years for audit and assessment purposes.

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FirstEnergy has announced that its generation subsidiaries will retire six older coal-fired power plants located in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland by September 1, 2012.  The decision to close the plants is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which were recently finalized, and other environmental regulations.

The total capacity of the competitive plants that will be retired is 2,689 megawatts (MW).  Recently, these plants served mostly as peaking or intermediate facilities, generating, on average, approximately 10 percent of the electricity produced by the company over the past three years.

The following plants will be retired: Bay Shore Plant, Units 2-4, Oregon, Ohio; Eastlake Plant, Eastlake, Ohio;  Ashtabula Plant, Ashtabula, Ohio; Lake Shore Plant, Cleveland, Ohio; Armstrong Power Station,Adrian, Pa.; and R. Paul Smith Power Station, Williamsport, Md.

In total, 529 employees will be directly affected.  Existing severance benefits will apply to eligible, affected employees.  However, the final number of affected employees could be less as some are considered for open positions at other FirstEnergy facilities and work locations, and eligible employees take advantage of a retirement benefit being offered to those 55 years and older.

“This decision is not in any way a reflection of the fine work done by the employees at the affected plants, but is related to the impact of new environmental rules,” said James H. Lash, president, FirstEnergy Generation and chief nuclear officer.

“We recently completed a comprehensive review of our coal-fired generating plants and determined that additional investments to implement MATS and other environmental rules would make these older plants even less likely to be dispatched under market rules. As a result, it was necessary to retire the plants rather than continue operations.”

The plant retirements are subject to review for reliability impacts, if any, by PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that controls the area where they are located.

FirstEnergy is finalizing MATS compliance plans for its remaining coal-fired units.  Since the Clean Air Act became law in 1970, FirstEnergy and its predecessor companies have invested more than $10 billion in environmental protection efforts.

Since 1990, FirstEnergy has reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides by more than 76 percent, sulfer dioxide by more than 86 percent and mercury by about 56 percent.  When the six coal-fired plants are removed from FirstEnergy’s competitive generating fleet, more than 96 percent of the power provided will come from resources that are non- or low-emitting, including nuclear, hydro, pumped-storage hydro, natural gas and scrubbed coal units.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies comprise the nation’s largest investor-owned electric system.  Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

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“Bluebirds are early nesters, so now is the time to put up new nest boxes, as well as to clean and repair existing boxes,” said Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief.  “These bluebird boxes enable Pennsylvanians to help wildlife in a natural way.

“Also, building nesting boxes is a great project for individuals, families or civic organizations interested in connecting with wildlife.  These box designs are proven to attract bluebirds and other native species, such as tree swallows and house wrens.”

Bluebirds live in open country, and are a beautiful songbird native to Pennsylvania. Bluebirds are cavity nesters and have become less common due to a lack of suitable nest sites.  Many nest sites have been lost through changing land-use practices, as well as to urban and suburban sprawl.  But the introductions of house sparrows and starlings in 1851 and 1890 have been the primary reasons for the bluebirds’ decline, as these non-native species took over native bluebird nesting cavities.

The bluebird boxes offered by the Game Commission include an opening that is the prescribed one-and-one-half inches in diameter.  This precludes starlings from being able to enter.  However, house sparrows still may be able to enter the boxes.  If this occurs, the house sparrow nests should be removed immediately.

Boxes should be erected on a free-standing pole three to five feet above the ground – facing south, if possible – and facing a nearby tree or fence where young birds can safely land on their initial flights from the box.  To reduce predation and competition from other species, no perch should be placed on the box; bluebirds do not need one.  Boxes placed in pairs, about 20 feet apart, may help reduce competition from swallows.

The Game Commission’s Howard Nursery has been manufacturing bluebird nest boxes and box kits for more than a quarter century. Each year, about 9,000 boxes are manufactured there and sold or provided to Pennsylvanians to help bluebirds. That annual influx of new nest boxes helps ensure Pennsylvania remains a “keystone state” in bluebird conservation.

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ConservativeHQ.com Chairman Richard Viguerie announced the first group of conservative leaders to join him in endorsing former Senator Rick Santorum for President:

“…Some 150 conservative leaders gathered at Nancy and Paul Pressler’s ranch in Texas to discuss the Republican presidential campaign”.  There was an overwhelming 75 percent consensus to support Rick Santorum for President. ”The group of conservative leaders named…includes Dr. James Dobson, Gary Bauer, Joseph Farah,Foster Friess, Elaine Donnelly, and many others representing all four segments of the new conservative coalition who are coalescing behind Rick Santorum’s candidacy.

“I’m pleased that, so quickly after Rick Perry suspended his campaign, I was able to announce the firstbloc of conservative leaders who have come forward to endorse Rick Santorum. ”This list of endorsers demonstrates that Rick Santorum is the best candidate to bring together social conservatives, national defense conservatives, economic conservatives, and the newly energized constitutional conservatives of the Tea Party.

“Rick Santorum is the only reliable conservative left in the race.  He has a long involvement in the conservative movement, and he has demonstrated his commitment to hiring conservatives on his Senate staff and in his campaign.  On the issues of vital importance to conservatives, such as the right to life, the pro-family agenda, national security, and fighting the growth of government, he has walked with us even when the path was hard.

“If conservatives want a conservative, not just another establishment Republican, nominated in Tampa and elected in November, it is time for us to start concentrating on consolidating that winning four-part coalition behind one candidate.  The candidate who best appeals to all four segments of the winning 2010 coalition, with the fewest negatives, is Rick Santorum.

“This is an encouraging sign that movement conservatives are finding their natural home in the Santorum campaign and are in fact coalescing behind Rick’s candidacy.”

The text of the endorsement and the list of endorsers released today follows:

“Conservatives are the largest ideological bloc in the American electorate.  In this election cycle, a number of candidates with legitimate claims to conservative support have considered or sought the Republican nomination for President, but this has left the conservative vote divided, empowering those who do not share our views and values.

To defeat Barack Obama, now is the time for conservatives to rally behind the most electable conservative candidate, and we believe that candidate is former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

“In recognition of Rick Santorum’s character, judgment, and especially his commitment to institute an administration that will govern according to conservative principles, we the undersigned endorse former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for President of the United States and pledge to advance his candidacy.”

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Gift of Life Donor Program – the region’s organ procurement organization (OPO) serving eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware– announced that the organization coordinated the recovery of 1,185 organs from a record 441 individuals in 2011, making this region the most generous in the U.S. and setting a new national record.

For the past 4 years, Gift of Life has averaged over 400 donors per year, and serving nearly 10.3 million people in the region, Gift of Life’s procurement of nearly 43 donors-per-million-population ranks among the highest in the world.

For the family of Jillian Shallock, this generosity meant a life-saving heart transplant. On December 1, 2010, 5 month-old Jillian was placed on the pediatric heart transplant list. Baby Jillian had been born with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) earlier that July—a condition which restricted the blood flow to the young girl’s heart. After several months, her parents, Billy and Shannon Shallock, decided to place their daughter on the waiting list for a new heart.

After nearly two months on the transplant waiting list, Jillian received her heart on January 25, 2011—aNew Year’s gift to start the young recipient and her family on the road to a new life. ”It really is hard to think about what our life could have been like had someone not made the decision [to donate]—a decision that saved our daughter’s life,” says Shannon.

Another “first” for Gift of Life took place in fall 2011, when, for the first time in the Delaware Valley, a patient underwent a complex and intricate bilateral hand and arm transplant to significantly enhance the quality-of-life for a multiple limb loss. The procedure was performed by Penn Medicine’s Hand Transplant Program, which operated under the leadership of the Penn Transplant Institute, and was proudly performed in conjunction with Gift of Life.

Another milestone was an unprecedented increase in the number of individuals and families who said “yes” to tissue donation over the last 12 months, with more than 2,700 tissue donors. One tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of more than 50 individuals, and as a result, an estimated number of 45,000 people may be helped from life-enhancing procedures due to the generosity of others.

Additionally, 1,235 musculoskeletal donors provided life-enhancing bone allographs for orthopedic surgeries, skin for burn patients, and heart valves to repair defects in 2011. And Gift of Life is grateful for our 2,500 eye donors, whose corneas have been transplanted used to restore precious sight.

Gift of Life also helped Donate Life America reach its goal in 2011, of registering 100 million people in the United States as organ and tissue donors—nearly 4 million of these selfless individuals were registered in our region, in addition to countless families who have generously said “yes” to donation without previous designation.

But Gift of Life could not have achieved this alone: The hard work and dedication of the region’s 138 hospitals and 15 transplant centers has helped, and their perseverance and dual advocacy for families throughout the transplant process.

“We work closely with Gift of Life to help create the opportunity for meaningful donation, out of what is often a difficult, stressful situation for our donor families,” says Dr. Gerard Fulda, Chief of Surgical Critical Care for Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE. ”Knowing the importance of these gifts helps our staff be dual advocates for both donor families and our transplant recipients.”

Gift of Life works hand-in-hand with medical professionals and continues to give hope to those individuals waiting for life-saving transplants, while supporting the families of our heroic donors—families like that of Francis “Franny” Gessler.

In the fall of 2011, the 30 year-old father suffered a fatal brain aneurysm during a pickup hockey game. His wife Christine and mother Fran were quickly by his side in the hospital, and knew that organ donation was something Francis would have wanted, as a generous and giving father, son and husband.

“We as a family are very religious and deep in faith, so all along, we had hopes for Franny’s recovery,” says Gessler’s mother, Fran. “But when we learned that there wasn’t hope for recovery, we looked at each other and we knew: Franny was the kindest, gentlest kid ever. He would want to save others, so the decision to donate was made. The knowledge that others are living through him is comforting.”

“Families like the Gesslers truly are heroes,” said Gift of Life President and CEO Howard M. Nathan. “We thank those individuals and their loved ones for giving others the gift of a second chance at life in 2011. Moving forward in 2012, we will continue to educate our community about the critical need for more organ and tissue donors and to support families awaiting these critical transplants with programs like our new Gift of Life Family House.”

Opened in summer 2011, Gift of Life Family House is a 30-room facility that provides temporary lodging and supportive services to family members of transplant patients in the Philadelphia region. Resources such as nutritious meals and transportation to regional transplant centers are offered at an affordable cost, to help assist patients and their families on their transplant journey.

Gift of Life is proud to note the excellence of its staff, who have worked hard to make transplantation possible, and offer expanded care for families, both with programs such as the Family House, and with the organization’s continued educational outreach. Gift of Life’s dedication to increasing donation means that donor families like Francis Gessler’s have given patients like little Jillian Shallock’s the gift of learning to walk, talk and grow with her three sisters and loving parents.

Of the 441 organ donors in 2011, 46% were registered as donors on their driver’s license or state-issued IDs. While this number is encouraging, more than 6,500 men, women and children in this region are currently on the waiting list for transplants, and more than 112,000 patients remain on the list nationally.

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/Donors1

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Safe Kids Pennsylvania announced that they will exhibit at the 2012 Pennsylvania Farm Show to reach thousands of parents and caregivers with information about preventing childhood injuries.

The games for children, engaging activities, curricula for teachers, and resources for parents will offer a multifaceted experience to increase awareness for child passenger safety, poison prevention, sports safety, fire and burn prevention, safe sleeping habits, toy safety, fall prevention, gun safety, and much more during the January 7-14, 2012, event.

“Educating parents and caregivers is vital to preventing accidental childhood injuries, and the Farm Show is a great way to reach thousands of families and deliver important awareness messages in fun and interactive ways,” said Allyson Fulton of Safe Kids Pennsylvania.

A large display of poison look-alikes—medications and household products that resemble common food and beverages—will remind parents to keep potentially poisonous items locked up and out of children’s sight and reach. Children can play a special Safe Kids safety game and receive take-home activity books.

“There’s no substitute for active supervision, but childproofing your home provides extra protection and peace of mind,” says Fulton. “It’s easy to eliminate the most obvious hazards, and it doesn’t have to involve a lot of expensive equipment.”

Certified safety technicians will be available during all shifts throughout the week to answer questions about car seats and what types of child passenger safety seats should be used as children grow and show proper installation.

Visitors can even bring their own helmets for fitting by a safety expert, or purchase a bike helmet at the booth for ten dollars. “Kids should always wear helmets when they snowboard, ski, sled, play hockey, or ride a bike,” says Fulton. “Make sure your child’s helmet meets federal safety standards and have an expert check that the helmet fits correctly, so it won’t come loose at a critical moment.”

Engaging activities and displays, safety experts, and a wide variety of free tip sheets and safety checklists are sure to make the Safe Kids Pennsylvania booth one of the most popular again this year.

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With the economy slow to recover, Americans continue to cut costs and conserve money. The Pennsylvania Dental Association reminds the public that good oral health is vital to overall health and urges people of all ages to not neglect their oral health care.

It is understandable that families are trying to be frugal with their finances during these tough times. While dental care may seem like an easy expense to cut, postponing regular dental checkups could result in a serious oral health problem and a more expensive treatment plan in the long run.

“When a patient is not seen at a regular three-month, four-month, or six-month intervals, problems are left to progress, which leads to more expensive treatments such as crowns, root canals, or periodontal surgeries,” said Dr. Tamara S. Brady, a PDA member dentist in Exton. “Not only are these procedures more expensive, they also may not be covered by a patient’s dental insurance.”

PDA has no statistics on whether more Pennsylvanians are avoiding dental checkups because of the economy. However, there is anecdotal evidence. Gallup-Healthways surveyed 177,000 Americans from January through June 2011. The survey showed that 35 percent, or more than one-third, of Americans did not visit a dentist in the last 12 months during this time period. Pennsylvania was close to the national average at 33 percent.

“It is important to not skip your routine dental checkup appointments because it is not always apparent to a person when there is a dental problem that should be addressed,” said Dr. Brady. “Many patients build up significant plaque and tartar in between dental hygiene exams and these materials need to be removed professionally at your routine recall appointment. Also, dental decay can begin to develop and will need to be detected by a dentist via a dental exam and X-rays.”

Once a tooth begins to decay, it will never heal on its own. It is better to catch the decay early before it progresses into a larger lesion. Dr. Brady said, “In cases of extreme decay, a person may have to have the affected tooth extracted or removed.”

By avoiding the dentist to save money, patients are putting their overall health in jeopardy, too. Dentists also check for more serious conditions, such as oral cancer and jaw diseases. They are trained to look for many systemic diseases simply through your regular oral exam. Lack of dental treatment can lead to or exacerbate medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Studies show that the mouth is connected to the rest of the body. Periodontal (gum) disease is linked to coronary artery disease, stroke, bacterial pneumonia, pre-term births, and low-birth weight babies. In addition, oral health problems can negatively affect your ability to speak, chew, and swallow properly, which can have an adverse impact on your ability to consume the nutrition your body needs to remain healthy.

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Just outside of historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania stands the charming Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast. Situated one mile down a dirt path on an expansive stretch of farmland, the bed and breakfast is the perfect place to unwind because of its seclusion from major tourist attractions in the center of town.

The country-style house sits on a portion of over 200 acres of land where not much more than the tranquil sounds of neighboring Marsh creek can be heard. But what sets this bed and breakfast apart from others in Gettysburg are its historical features and its owner, Bea Waybright.

“I want you to make yourself at home,” Bea said as she welcomed guests into the house. It doesn’t take long for Bea to give guests a tour of the bed and breakfast, her excitement bounced off the walls of the antiquated house. Originally created as a one story house with a thatched roof in 1743, the Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast is Bea’s pride and joy.

The unique location has the Mason Dixon line running straight through the middle of the house, leaving one half of the bed and breakfast in Pennsylvania, while the other half stands in Maryland. Rock markers of the Mason Dixon line were placed one mile apart and is a captivating feature on the Waybright’s land.

The bed and breakfast took years of restoration on the part of Bea and her husband, David, but all the hard work paid off in the form of a wonderful house. With antique and country style furnishings in each room, the bed and breakfast emanates perfectly balanced historical decor with modern touches.

A front sitting room showcases original documents of the house dating back centuries while a large table in the dining room stands as a central gathering place for the owners and visitors to share stories. On the lower level is a modern kitchen, full bathroom, and spacious family room perfect for watching a movie or curling up with your favorite book.

Personal touches in the family room, such as photo albums of weddings held at the bed and breakfast, make visitors feel like they have truly been welcomed into someone’s home.

Each of the four bedrooms at the Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast contain their own unique charm and, as Bea explained, are named for someone who had a significant contribution to the house over time. The John McKinley bedroom is named for the man who built the original one-story house in 1743 is the only room on the lower level.

The second floor of the house was created in 1793. Three bedrooms are located upstairs, including the Wm. J. Stewart room, named for the man who extended the house upwards. The Mary B. Waybright room, dedicated to Bea’s mother-in-law, is larger and has a queen sized bed with a fireplace.

Finally, the William Penn room is the largest of all the suites with a queen sized bed, adjoining another smaller room with a double bed. Bea transformed the basement into another social gathering area, but did not overlook the deep history of the space. The Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast was once a house that had slaves.

Marks from the chains that kept them in the basement at night can still be seen in the original wooden beams that run across the ceiling. Bea created a memorial to the slaves of the past that once lived in the house, feeling that it was the right thing to do.

While staying at the Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast is a complete luxury with all necessary amenities available, the true reward of staying the night at this accommodation is getting to know its owners. Over a deliciously home cooked breakfast, guests surrounded the dining room table and joined in jubilant conversations with Bea and her husband, David.

Plates of Belgian waffles and sausages circled the table, along with freshly sliced pineapples, kiwis and bunches of grapes. A homemade farm casserole was a favorite among the guests, along with cinnamon buns and cups of coffee. It’s easy to spend hours talking with Bea about her grandchildren and how the uncontrollable weather often has an impact on the house and farm.

It’s effortless to find yourself swapping recipes with her or talking about her upcoming plans to create sleigh rides in the winter, in which David jokingly stated, “Her dreams are my nightmares.” Staying at the Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast is much more than spending the night in a fascinating historical house.

Stepping into the centuries’ old house is more about being welcomed into a family that seemed to always have a place in their heart reserved for you. Bea encouraged her guests to sign the guestbook, keep in touch, and receive Christmas greetings for the upcoming holiday season.

“You are now part of the family,” Bea said as guests checked out and turned in their keys. The kind of honest relationships created at the Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast makes it that much harder to leave. The Mary-Penn Bed & Breakfast is located at 716 Mason-Dixon Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.

For more information on making a reservation call 717-334-5055 or visit the website at http://mary-pennbb.com/index.html.

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Seated at a corner table with wonderful aromatics wafting from the kitchen, my bubbly waitress for the evening, Beth, asked if I have dined at Hickory Bridge Farm before. When I explain that it was my first time at the restaurant, she smiled and said, “We are easy to get along with.”

It is exactly that kind of warm welcoming gesture that makes Hickory Bridge Farm a unique place to dine. Tucked away in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, just nine miles outside of Gettysburg, this family run restaurant has been serving the community with scrumptious country dishes since 1977 and has retained its popularity since.

All the dishes are served family style made from homemade recipes that cannot be found anywhere else. The ambiance of the rustic barn, adorned with wood paneling and country character, provided the perfect backdrop to an equally perfect meal.

The meal was kicked off with the first course, a decent sized traditional salad. Bits of bacon and shredded cheddar cheese sat atop a bed of crispy lettuce. A sweet and sour dressing was served over it, which gave each bite of the salad a refreshing taste. Served along with the salad were spiced peaches and slices of whole wheat and white homemade potato bread.

The bread was warm and came straight from the oven, its texture delicately soft and just perfect with a smear of apple butter. Moments after the salad was cleared from the table, Beth brought more than half a dozen plates of food and sat them before me. With no other option but to dig in, I truly began to understand why the majority of the tables at Hickory Bridge Farm were full that evening.

For the reasonable price of $24.50, diners were able to feast on three entrees and a variety of side dishes. One such delicious entree was Hickory smoked ham with a blackberry sauce. Nuances of the smokiness of the ham came through with each bite of tender meat. The classic dish was elevated with the addition of the fruit sauce, as pieces of blackberry mixed well with the flavor of the ham.

Sweet apples with cinnamon, just one of the many side dishes, also paired well with the texture of the entree. Another delectable entree was the boneless, white meat chicken, served with a creamy cornbread stuffing. The richness of the dish reminded me of comfort and the taste helped me feel the warmth of the restaurant.

A side dish of roasted potatoes with caramelized onions served as a good pairing with the chicken entree.

A meal wouldn’t be complete without a couple side dishes of vegetables, which Hickory Bridge Farm creates with strength. A bowl of sweetly cooked carrots and green beans helped round out the meal. For more of a crunchy texture, fried corn fritters were served with sifted powdered sugar on top.

Rolled into perfectly round balls and deep fried to perfection, these corn fritters were masterfully created. A bite into a fritter provided a nice crunch on the outside, while remaining soft on the inside. The corn fritters were one of the highlights of the side dishes and I wasn’t surprised when I heard neighboring diners ordering more.

If that wasn’t enough to satisfy diners’ taste buds, the Crab Imperial dish was one of the highlights of dinner at Hickory Bridge Farm and has been a family tradition for years. Served in a oval shaped casserole dish and sat atop a basket, the piping hot Crab Imperial had a velvety smooth texture with richness that showcased the flavor of the crab.

Like most of the recipes cooked in the restaurant, the Crab Imperial is a family cherished recipe and its ingredients are kept secret. Before I knew it, the majority of the food disappeared from my table. I watched as Beth stacked empty casserole dishes and plates in her hands, carrying them away right before reminding me that my meal wasn’t finished until I had dessert.

The dessert menu made my mouth water, regardless of that fact that I was already full. Among the options were pumpkin pie, warm apple crisp, rum cake, and ice cream pie. The pumpkin pie was a perfect seasonal choice and the portion was generous. The creamy texture of the pumpkin filling served as an ideal reminder of autumn, while the flaky crust balanced out the smoothness of the pumpkin and the swirl of whipped cream on top.

Bert Martin, a third generation family member in the Hickory Bridge Farm lineage, takes pride in his successful establishment. He explained how all their meats are fresh and never frozen, and locally grown vegetables are used when they are in season. Bert also emphasized how almost all of the recipes cooked at the restaurant come from his grandmother.

“We like to keep it family style,” he explained, “We don’t like to rush people in and out.” The restaurant gives an ample amount of time, two hours, for diners to enjoy family conversations over the the country flavors of their kitchen. Throughout the evening, Bert bounced from table to table like a social butterfly as he greeted guests as if they were an extension of his own family.

The warmth of the people at Hickory Bridge Farm stood as an equally important component of what makes the restaurant a true family style dining experience.

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, Hickory Bridge Farm gets ready for one of its most family centric nights of the year. “Thanksgiving is the busiest day,” stated Bert, “we seat 450 people, that’s a lot of turkeys.” Hickory Bridge Farm serves dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-8 PM. The dining room is also open on Sunday from noon until 3 PM.

The menu at the restaurant changes weekly, but the warmth of the staff and homemade flavors of the food are always consistent. This popular destination is more than a charming restaurant, it is also a bed and breakfast. Opened in 1977 at the same time as the restaurant, the adjoining bed and breakfast offers accommodations in a farmhouse that dates back to the 1700’s, as well as stand alone cottages surrounded by the tranquility of the woods.

Hickory Bridge Farm is located at 96 Hickory Bridge Road in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania. For more information on the restaurant and bed and breakfast, call 717-642-5261, or visit their website at hickorybridgefarm.com.

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A visit to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is an opportune time to walk through a town rich with historical American culture. Gettysburg, located in the southern region of Pennsylvania and just miles away from neighboring Maryland, is the site of the deadliest battle in the Civil War.

With the Civil War standing as a monumental turning point in the history of the United States, visiting Gettysburg is often considered a deeply moving experience in understanding where the country has been to get to where it is today.

One of the most popular destinations when traveling to Gettysburg is the Gettysburg National Park Museum and Visitor Center. For any first time tourist or returning traveler, making this Visitor Center a first stop priority is key in getting a detailed scope of the historical town.

Within the Visitor Center is a museum full of relics originating from the Civil War. Both the Confederate and Union are equally represented in the museum and a walk through the space is an educational opportunity to get immersed in American history. From one display to the next, visitors are able to get a vivid picture of how life was during the war through what the soldiers wore as uniforms, what kind of items they carried with them, the types of weapons they used, and even how they slept in small tents.

“A New Birth of Freedom,” is an important short film to watch at the Visitor Center, narrated by Morgan Freeman. With historical accounts of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln’s monumental Gettysburg Address, this movie is a great way for visitors to continue understanding why the small town of Gettysburg is such an important part of American history.

Along with the museum and film, the Gettysburg National Park Museum and Visitor Center also has a famed Cyclorama. Created by artist Paul Philippoteaux in the 1880’s, the Cyclorama is an expansive 377 foot long oil painting that depicts in detail the Battle of Gettysburg.

The painting stands at an astonishing 42 feet high and visitors can bask in its sheer size as they listen to a recorded narration of the chain of events during the battle. The lighting and special effects in the large room that houses the Cyclorama makes the experience much more interactive and is recommended for anyone who comes to Gettysburg.

A visit to Gettysburg wouldn’t be complete without taking a battlefield tour. There are plenty of tours running from Gettysburg National Park Museum and Visitor Center, along with other independent tour companies throughout town. Visitors can embark on a guided tour bus that drives around the 6,000 acre Gettysburg Battlefield, where the historical events took place.

Audio tours are also available, giving tourists the chance to drive around in their own car while listening to detailed facts of the battlefield. A battlefield tour takes two hours to complete and is a truly one of a kind experience. The streets of downtown Gettysburg are also full of historical buildings and locations where the Civil War unfolded.

The David Wills House now stands as a museum, and its importance is unlike any place else. During the war, President Abraham Lincoln stayed at the house of David Wills, an attorney in Gettysburg. It was there that Lincoln penned the end of his Gettysburg Address. Walking through the David Wills House is like stepping back in time, where people can still see the room the Gettysburg Address was written in, along with the bed Lincoln slept in.

Baltimore Street is a main thoroughfare in Gettysburg. A nice walk along this street is a perfect way for visitors to see more local attractions. Along this road is the Soldier’s National Cemetery and the neighboring spot where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address.

Baltimore Street also hosts a variety of museums, including the Hall of Presidents and Confederate States Museum. Ghost tours are popular in Gettysburg and many starting points are on Baltimore Street. Nearby Steinwehr Street is another great place to take in museums and buy souvenirs depicting the Civil War.

Finally, downtown’s Lincoln Square is a hub for local cuisine and small shops that can satisfy many shoppers’ tastes. With a history so strongly weighed by shifts in American culture, Gettysburg is a place not to be missed. Visiting Gettysburg is a humbling educational and travel experience that shines light on how thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives for the greater good of the United States of America.

For more information on planning a trip to Gettysburg, visit gettysburgfoundation.org

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Winter is coming. No that wasn’t a tagline for the hit HBO show Game of Thrones, winter really is coming. The Northeast region of the United States was hammered this weekend by a freak snowstorm that dropped up to 2 feet in some areas. The record setting October storm spanned across five states and cut off power to more than three million customers during the weekend.

On Monday morning there were still almost 2 million people without power and officials have reported that power may not be restored to all areas until Friday. Most of the damage to the power lines was caused by falling tree limbs. The limbs were more susceptible to falling because leaves still on the trees caught more snow, overloading the branches and eventually caused them to snap.

These overburden limbs have also done numerous amounts of damage to houses and cars as well as blocked several roads. The snowstorm has wreaked havoc and caused many transportation issues. Icy road conditions are being blamed for a 30 car pileup in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania on I-95.

Multiple railroad stations had to be shut down after hundreds of lines were covered with wire damage and toppled tree limbs. New Jersey Transit service on the Morris & Essex Lines is expected to be out until Tuesday and Amtrak service between major routes like Albany to Boston, New York City is out as well.

The snowstorm affected air travel the hardest. A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale, FL was diverted to Hartford International Airport, and the passengers were stranded on the tarmac for an excruciating eight hours. The pilot of the flight became inundated with problems after the plane could no longer supply running water and food.

Passengers began to fight one another and the pilot had to call for police support multiple times. The freak snowstorm is also supposedly the culprit for more serious damage as the snowstorm is being blamed for up to 13 deaths, although there are no reports as to what exactly caused the deaths as of now.

This issue has become so serious that President Barack Obama has signed an emergency declaration for Connecticut on Monday, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts. In Massachusetts, state officials said utility crews had come from as far as Louisiana and Texas to help.

If this snowstorm is any indication of what mother nature is going to throw at us this season, winter is definitely coming and it’s not going to pretty.

Dainis Derics / Shutterstock.com

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Located in the northeast section of Pennsylvania, the Pocono Mountain region is a favorite summer destination for nature lovers. With an area covering 2,400 square miles, the Poconos has lush forests and scenic lakes, making it a great travel spot for anyone wanting to experience the outdoors.

The beautiful mountain backdrops create stunning views for visitors.Its proximity to major cities, including New York City and Philadelphia, has made it one of the top vacation destinations in the Northeast part of the United States.

An abundance of outdoor activities are readily available, including hiking, camping, fishing, boating and sports. Spending a relaxing vacation in the outdoors is a way for many to unplug from their daily lives and truly be one with nature.

The Pocono Mountains’ vast terrain is divided into different sections, each easily accessible and containing a numerous amount of activities. The different areas of the Poconos are the Lake Region, Upper Delaware River Region,, Delaware River Region, Lehigh River Gorge Region and Mountain Region.

With breathtaking scenery including mountain views and pristine lakefront spots, the Pocono Mountains provides a tranquil setting for quiet vacations.

Located in the Lake Region is Lake Wallenpaupack, an expansive manmade lake. Stretching around for 52 miles, Lake Wallenpaupack is an ideal place for families to swim in calm waters and picnic along its shoreline. Built in 1927, the lake has been a key ingredient in summer activities, including boating and fishing.

Aside from the prevalent water activities in the Lake Region, visitors can enjoy hiking through the forest land that surrounds the lake as well.

The Upper Delaware River Region is an area near the border of Pennsylvania and New York. For those with an adventurous side, the Upper Delaware River Region provides great opportunities for white water rafting, a popular sport for people who want an adrenaline rush.

This area has both Class I and Class II rapids, which gives visitors the chance to experience white water rafting on various levels. With a rich history as a main transportation hub for coal, this region of the Poconos has a wire cable suspension bridge, the first one ever created in the U.S.

The Delaware River Region is an area that hosts a diverse group of outdoor activities. Water sports, including swimming, rafting, canoeing and fishing are popular activities.

Hikers are able to follow trails that wind throughout the forest region, while animal lovers can easily spot deer eating in between the trees. Bird watchers can enjoy the often unspoiled elements of this region, catching glimpses of local eagles. Those with a love for horseback riding can saddle up and go for a ride in the Delaware River Region as well.

Staying in the Pocono Mountains has never been easier. The family-friendly destination has a variety of lodging options that range from truly experiencing the outdoors in tents, to luxurious spa retreats.

For those who prefer roughing it in the wild, there are more than 20 campground sites available, stretching across the whole landscape of the Pocono regions. The Chestnut Lake Campground, Cranberry Run Campground and Mount Pocono Campground are just a few camping options.

Staying in hotels and resorts are also an option when visiting the Poconos. Located on Lake Wallenpaupack, the Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Resort provides easy access to the famous lake, while also having charming hotel features including a fireplace and front porch for certain rooms.

Quaint bed and breakfasts are popular ways to stay in the Poconos. The Angel of the Morning Bed & Breakfast, along with the Cherry Valley Manor B&B is an option for those who want the feeling of home while on vacation.

Aside from the abundance of outdoor activities, the Pocono Mountains also have ample shopping centers and culinary options waiting to be experienced. For a large retail selection at cheaper prices, the expansive Crossings Premium Outlets offer famous brand clothing stores at discounted prices.

Dotting the different regions of the Poconos are also small businesses and shops selling antiques, crafts, and art. There are many options while dining in the Poconos, whether visitors decide to cook their own food while camping or head into a local restaurant for a meal.

A visit to the Pocono Mountains is an opportunity for families and nature enthusiasts to spend time in the great outdoors. With a diverse group of sport activities and leisurely recreation, there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy in the Poconos, this makes Poconos a perfect getaway.

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Buried underneath pages and pages of Anthony Weiner sex scandal headlines, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum announced he will run for the Republican nomination.  No one really noticed though.  Santorum, who desperately needs some PR, was overshadowed by Congressman Weiner’s tearful press conference on Monday.

Santorum made his announcement on the court room steps in Somerset County of his home state. Santorum, 53, appeared with his wife, Karen, and their seven children to make the decision official, although it has been speculated by the press that he would run for months.

“I’m ready to do what has to be done for the next generation with the courage to fight for freedom, with the courage to fight for America,” he said. “That’s why I’m announcing today that I am running for president of the United States.”

Santorum spent his speech trying to appeal to the undecided Tea Party that has not rallied around a specific candidate.  The principal purpose of America was to make sure each and every person was free. Ladies and gentlemen, that is at stake now,’’ Santorum said, pointing to a Democrat-pushed health care law that conservatives loathe.

“Every single American will be hooked to the government with an IV,’’ Santorum said. “They want to hook you. They don’t want to free you. They don’t want to give you opportunity . . . This president does not trust you to make a decision on your health care plan.’’

He also targeted the Obama administration and accused the president of spending billions of dollars. “I believe now, that Americans now are not looking for someone they can believe in,’’ Santorum said in a mocking reference to Obama’s 2008 campaign slogan, “Change You Can Believe In.’’

“They’re looking for a president who believes in them,’’ Santorum said.

Santorum was booted out of his Senate seat in 2006 and is known for making very controversial and offensive remarks.  He has suggested that sodomy should be illegal to prevent acts which “undermine the basic tenets of our society and the family.”  He stated he did not have a problem with homosexuals, just homosexual acts.  In an interview with the Associated Press, he suggested that laws of privacy do not exist in the U.S. Constitution.  “If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything.”

Santorum also lacks the name recognition and fundraising powers of some of the other actual or probable Republican nominees, suggesting that he will remain a fringe candidate and flame out early in the primary season.

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Just the thought of using enough creativity for creating new things out of old ones is great! Not only is an eco-friendly solution, but the results and designs are great! If you like the urban furniture style, then these are great news for you!

The geniuses that came up with this art are Jason and Adam Podlaski. They are the creator of their first creations the “DeckStool”, but now they’ve just design and build The Deck Bench. This is their new creation that was inspired by their first design the “DeckStool”. They used the bases form their previous invention but this time they redesign it and decided to create a new piece that had better characteristics, and was more comfortable.

Therefore, what they basically use, are parts of skateboard decks.  They have created really cool designs, but really taking in consideration that the art is eco-friendly by using up cycled skateboards.

It all began one day, when Jason saw his brother Adam handing to him a pile of his old, used and broken skateboard decks, and ask him to create a piece of furniture. Jason tells that when he looked at the decks immediately he noticed that there were basically 2 sizes of decks, longer ones and smaller ones. He began to play with them, and the longer decks appeared for him like legs for a chair, and the shorter ones he Picture them as useful for a seat. Therefore, alter putting the pieces together and playing until forming something the first stool was design.

In U.S.A the recycling is very important, and the eco-friendly products are well valued. The broken skateboards are a byproduct in the American culture. And they are destined for the landfill. Therefore this idea of using the decks and creating furniture our or them its great because the decks are being recycled and they do not generate waste.

Nowadays, the brothers count with a factory in Pennsylvania where the designs are built and finished. All the designs are great, and can decorate rooms giving them an original touch. So if you are looking for new furniture, here is a great idea!

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