Please click here for a web version of the newsletter.
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Dear Friend, In an effort to keep you informed about state and local issues, I have
developed this e-newsletter, which I will be sending out to residents of the
23rd District. I think it is a fast, convenient and affordable way to get news
out to area residents. I hope you find this e-newsletter useful and informative
– and if you know of someone else who might want to receive it, please feel free
to forward this email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Area residents can get an in-depth look at a Marcellus Shale drilling site and learn how EMS responders are better preparing to react to emergencies at gas drilling sites by viewing the November and December editions of A Conversation With Senator Gene Yaw. Viewers can also view the show by going to senatorgeneyaw.com and clicking on A Conversation With Senator Gene Yaw on the left side of the screen. The November program features an intensive training exercise that was developed to help emergency responders prepare for an accident at a gas drilling site. Yaw said the event was the result of months of planning by the Lycoming County Community Gas Exploration Task Force's Public Safety Subcommittee and Range Resources, a Texas-based gas exploration company. In the December show, Senator Yaw joins Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Mary Jo White (R-Venango) at the Falk drilling site in Hughesville to learn more about how the shale is extracted. A Conversation With Senator Gene Yaw is intended to keep residents of the 23rd Senatorial District informed about state and local issues and to showcase the people, places and communities that make this area so unique. The program airs various times during the month on the following cable outlets:
The 23rd Senatorial District is Wine Country Pennsylvania is the eighth largest wine producing state in the United States and the
23rd Senatorial District of Pennsylvania is home to some of the best wineries in
the Commonwealth. Senator Yaw encourages wine connoisseurs in our region and
beyond For up-to-date information regarding specific information on all of our local wine regions, trails and wineries, along with upcoming event information, please visit www.pennsylvaniawine.com.
After moving into his Williamsport district office, Senator Yaw and his staff had a unique idea on how to promote local artists in the area. With assistance from Lenore Penfield, Director of The Gallery at Penn College and Lycoming County Community Development Planner Rachelle Ricotta, a formal "Call to Artists" was sent to local art organizations. The "call" received an overwhelming response from the artists, especially the members of the Bald Eagle Art League. The Gallery features three different "Rounds" which span four months. Round One featured five artists: Lorna Greaves, Pamela Madai Barner, Mary Farr, Marcia Strickland and Fred Gilmour. On June 4th, the Senator invited these artists to discuss their work at his Open House. Approximately 150 constituents attended this event, which sparked further interest about the Yaw Gallery. On May 28th, at the Towanda Open House, local artist Chip Forelli showcased pieces from his collection. The second Yaw Gallery showing began in July and will end on November 30th. Round Two also featured five artists: Leona Palski, Gail Fox, Diane Hollis, Jessica Heath and Ed Steinhilper. In this round, these artists earned the distinction of being the first participants in the Gallery to be covered in the Showcase Edition of the Williamsport Sun Gazette. The Showcase Edition is a weekly publication dedicated to promoting the art community throughout Central Pennsylvania. Senator Yaw invites all his constituents to visit the Gallery during office hours, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. or by appointment. The office is located in the Executive Plaza Building, Room 204, 330 Pine Street in Williamsport. The Senator encourages any artists to contact the Gallery organizer, Erik Houser, at (570) 322-6457 or by email ehouser@pasen.gov. If interested, the next Gallery showing beginning in December has limited spaces still available. More than 35,000 Pennsylvanians Could Benefit From Up To 20 Additional Weeks of Unemployment Payments Beginning November 22, Pennsylvanians who are out of work through no fault of their own may be eligible to receive up to 20 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation. The new round of federally funded benefits will help more than 35,000 Pennsylvania workers who may need assistance as they seek employment. Eligible claimants will receive information and filing instructions about their emergency benefits via mail. If claimants have not received a notice by November 23 and believe they are eligible, they can contact the unemployment compensation service centers for assistance. Pennsylvanians now may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks based upon their claim status. Unemployed individuals who have already exhausted all 79 weeks of benefits, or have been receiving benefits for more than a year, could qualify for a total of up to 99 weeks. Claimants who recently started receiving benefits or begin collecting benefits between now and the end of the year may not receive the full 99 weeks due to the scheduled expiration of the Emergency UC program at the end of 2009. The Department of Labor and Industry has modified the Sunday hours for the UC Service Centers. Individuals who need to contact the Service Centers can call 1-888-313-7284 between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Monday through Friday calling hours remain 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. To file a claim for unemployment benefits online go to www.uc.pa.gov. Heating Assistance Grant Applications Available Now Families who are struggling with rising fuel costs can apply now for the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP provides grants to help low-income families pay heating bills. Applications for cash grants are available now by contacting your local county assistance office. Individuals with Internet access may also apply electronically via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. LIHEAP applicants will be required to submit the following information:
LIHEAP also provides crisis grants for families who experience heating emergencies, such as a broken furnace, fuel shortage or utility termination. The crisis grant program is scheduled to open on January 4, 2010. Cash grants of up to $300 and crisis grants of up to $800 are available through LIHEAP. The amount of each grant is dependent on income, household size, type of heating fuel and region of the state. A family of four can earn up to $33,075 and still be eligible for the program. Many utility companies offer assistance plans in addition to LIHEAP, so consumers should check with their heating fuel and electricity supplier for details.Hunters to Meet Fluorescent Orange Requirements, Observe Safety Rules Many district residents enjoy hunting each fall. Before heading out into the woods or the field to hunt, it is important for hunters to know all of the state's requirements to wear orange to improve hunter safety. Fluorescent orange requirements may vary based on regions and seasons. During
bear, The Pennsylvania Game Commission 2009-10 Hunting Digest, available online at www.pgc.state.pa.us, includes all of the fluorescent orange requirements for each season. I would also urge all sportsmen to observe basic safety tips provided by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to help keep hunters safe:
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Harrisburg Office Email: gyaw@pasen.gov District Offices 1-800-443-5772
One Progress Plaza
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to experience the uniqueness of what our own backyard has to offer. From the Endless Mountains Wine Trail, which features wineries such as: Antler
Ridge, Bird Song, Eagle Rock, Grovedale, Hidden Creek, Laddsburg Mountain, Lopez
and Pickering, to the Upper Susquehanna Wine Region which also features Oregon
Hill and Bastress Mountain, the 23rd District has an array of quality wines to
satisfy the most of distinguished palates.
"Yaw Gallery" Focuses on Promoting Local Art Community
deer, elk, and all small game seasons, hunters are required to wear a
minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange visible from 360 degrees on
their head, chest and back.