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News You Can Use

December 5, 2008

Christmas Tree Tradition Deeply Rooted in Pennsylvania

Did you know the first recorded Christmas tree in the United State was displayed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1747?  More than 260 years later, the PA Department of Agriculture reports the evergreen tradition contributes $13.9 million in annual sales to the state’s economy. 

Pennsylvania currently ranks first in the nation with over 2,000 Christmas tree farms and stands in fourth place nationally with 1.7 million cut Christmas trees.  PA Christmas tree farms rank fourth in acres in-production at 45,000. 

Visit the PA Preferred Products search page.  Click the arrow in the Select Category box and choose Christmas Trees.  Drop down to Select County to search for a Christmas tree farm in your county or by-pass the county selection for a list of all PA Preferred Christmas Tree Farms. 

You may also consult the PA Christmas Tree Growers Association (PCTGA) home page to find a retail member for trees, wreaths, and specialty items, such as swags and table-top potted evergreens.  You will also find a selection guide and tips on extending the life of your live tree. 

Think Safety First When Decking the Halls

Fires resulting from “decking the halls” claim the lives of over 400 Americans annually and result in injuries to another 1,650 people, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.  The holiday season leaves behind over $990 million in annual damage. 

Make this holiday the Season for Sharing in Fire Safety with a few tips from the USFA, beginning with your Christmas tree: 

• Needles on fresh trees should be green, hard to pull back from the branches, and should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. 
• The trunk should be sticky to the touch.  
• Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground.  If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.  
• Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. 

Print a copy of the Holiday Fire Prevention Fact Sheet for your family.  Find more tips on tree care, holiday light maintenance, fireplaces, candles, and more.

Wild Holiday Gifts Now Available

Plan a wild holiday giving gifts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) Outdoor Shop.  Whether you are looking for gifts for a hunter, trapper, or wildlife enthusiast, you can select from gifts ranging from $5 award-winning wildlife videos to framed wildlife prints for $180. 

With a new year nearly upon us, don’t forget to pick up the 2009 full-color calendar featuring a female Northern cardinal, snow goose flight from Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, an American wigeon drake, tree swallows, raccoons, a group of red foxes, an American kestrel, mourning dove, elk, gray squirrel, wild turkey, and white-tailed deer.  Hunters will find the calendar convenient with its listing of approved season dates from Jan. 1 - June 30, and tentative season dates for July 1 - Dec. 31, as well as a reminder about National Hunting & Fishing Day in September. 

Through the PGC’s online shop, choose gifts that depict Pennsylvania's rich diversity of wildlife and proud hunting and trapping heritage.  Revenue generated by gifts from the PGC gives back to all Pennsylvanians through the preservation, conservation, and management of the state’s wildlife resources and habitats. 

Shop online with confidence as you are purchasing from a secure site that will not distribute your name and other personal information to any other entity for any reason.  Outdoor Shop merchandise is also available by contacting the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Department MS, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; or by calling toll free 1-888-888-3459.  Many of the items are also available for sale over-the-counter at the PGC Harrisburg office and its six regional offices.  State sales tax is charged where applicable. 

Consumer Resolutions for Heating Fuel Contractual Issues

Citing the unusual swing in heating oil prices and an increased number of long-term heating fuel delivery contracts, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG) is urging consumers to carefully review any contractual options and limitations. 

Some contracts are fixed, while others adjust downward if the current price drops.  Other contracts do not limit the price for fuel, but simply extend winter fuel bills over a 12-month period, allowing consumers to budget a fixed payment every month. 

If you are experiencing problems with your heating oil supplier including disputes over delivery contracts or prices, or you have concerns about misleading or deceptive price advertising, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or file an online consumer complaint. 

Consult the OAG’s home heating oil tips for information on bargaining, maintenance, conservation, consumer protection, and financial assistance with heating bills.

Seasonal Fun in PA

Take a peek at the science behind the season and what drives nature's calendar through an event to be conducted at Canoe Creek State Park in Hollidaysburg from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2008.  You will find yourself strolling through beautiful winter scenery and discovering the magic of the season. 

Don’t let the snow confine you; join the Annual Snowflake 5K Run/Walk at Presque Isle State Park from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, December 13, 2008.  Or leave behind the running shoes in favor of a pair of snowshoes and instruction for a trek through the snowy countryside of Butler County.  Instruction runs from Friday, December 12 through Sunday, December 28, 2008.  

Join a 2-mile Holiday Stress-Buster Hike in Nescopeck State Park in Luzerne County on Sunday, December 14, 2008; enjoy the scurrying of animals and birds instead of people in a mall. 

Remember the Tiny Tots – When Christmas Comes; the one hour programs for 3, 4, and 5 year olds will begin with exceptional children’s literature, an exploration of the outdoors, and participation in hands-on projects in the countryside of Bucks County.  Tyler State Park will host three Tiny Tots events between Wednesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 18, 2008. 

Break-away from the hustle and bustle on Sunday, December 21, 2008 for an easy 2-mile hike along Beaver Dam Trail from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in Clearfield County’s Parker Dam State Park. 

Looking for something a little less physical and perhaps a bit warmer?  Join one of the many holiday crafting workshops or open houses featuring a host of holiday traditions scheduled for December 2008.  Consult the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Calendar of Events for year-round seasonal fun offered in state parks, forests, and communities across the Commonwealth. 

Commonwealth Libraries Host Live Online Reference Service

Students and citizens in search of accurate and unbiased information can tap into Ask Here PA for information and answers to questions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, according to the PA Department of Education. 

More than 70 of the state’s libraries contribute staff time to answering the inquiries of Pennsylvania citizens with nearly two-thirds of users being Pennsylvania students in grades K-12. 

Adults and students can access the free service and receive information verified by a Commonwealth librarian.  Ask Here PA allows the user to ask questions and receive research assistance in real time.  The service is designed to provide fast answers to your questions (usually in 15 minutes or less), using information found on the Internet and in proprietary databases funded by libraries. 

Ask Here PA librarians can also assist you in finding contact information for your local library through Commonwealth Libraries: PA Libraries on the Web.  The live, online service has become the fastest growing service of its kind in the nation after only two years in operation.