School is back in session and the Foster Grandparent Program is ready to help area youth.
The Foster Grandparent Program, which began locally in 2000, provides loving and experienced tutors and mentors to children and youth with special needs. Typically working one on one, Foster Grandparents provide support in schools, the Head Start program, and childcare centers. Among other activities, they go over schoolwork, reinforce values, and care for infants and children with disabilities. Foster Grandparents often maintain an ongoing, intensive relationship with their young clients for a year or longer.
The Foster Grandparent Program is open to income-eligible people age 55 and over. In return for their service, Foster Grandparents receive a stipend, accident and liability insurance and meals while on duty, reimbursement for transportation, and monthly training.
For more information on the Foster Grandparent Program and other Area Agency on Aging services please call 1-800-982-4346.
Washington, DC - September 28, 2011 - The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) and Resource Professional Group (RPG), Harford, PA, announced that they were awarded a $70,000 grant by the U.S. Forest Service’s Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC). The project will promote energy cost savings and environmental improvement of commercial buildings by educating building architects and biomass appliance manufacturers on wood energy.
Project partners BTEC and RPG will facilitate several meetings to bring together heating and cooling (HVAC) design experts with biomass energy equipment manufacturers to address concerns that have long delayed broader market penetration of biomass energy in the United States.
Work to be completed with USDA support has its basis in projects like Mountain View Schools successful wood heat project. Tax payers save more than $100,000 each year by using wood in place of fuel oil for heat for the elementary and high school district energy system. RPG’s founder John Karakash introduced the concept to Mountain View’s board in 1987.
The current project responds to those concerns through knowledge transfer and discussions between the manufacturers and HVAC engineers. A comprehensive publications library will assist project participants in their information exchange. The development of a stakeholder database will allow interaction between organizations for which sustainable biomass energy may be a topic of interest or concern. Both library and organization database will be updated over the project term and remain available to the public after a webinar presentation and a final report which conclude the project.
“We are grateful for letters of support from leaders of more than 15 industry, environmental, and educational organizations for this proposal,” said Joseph Seymour, BTEC Executive Director. “Those executives,” he added, “recognize that this work supports jobs that are vitally needed to wisely manage forest resources, reduce wildfire risk, and increase the market of clean burning, high-efficient biomass combustion equipment”. John Karakash, registered forester and energy consultant with RPG added, “As biomass energy grows, employment will expand in conservation and clean energy to convert low grade timber into renewable fuel. The end result will be lower cost to taxpayers for energy and for resource protection, greater independence from foreign energy sources, and reduced fossil carbon emissions.”
HARRISBURG - Special lower interest rates from the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) are now available for homeowners in flood-affected counties, Rep. Tina Pickett (R-R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) announced.
Pennsylvania homeowners in communities affected by either Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee are now eligible for limited-time lower Keystone HELP loan rates from 0.99 percent to 4.99 percent for applications received by Dec. 14.
Keystone HELP provides unsecured loans of $1,000 to $15,000 for qualifying improvements that enhance a home’s energy efficiency. There are no closing costs and no penalty for pre-payment. Loan terms range from three to 10 years.
For flood-related applications received through Dec. 14, interest rates for qualifying stand-alone heating, cooling, windows, doors, insulation and domestic hot water systems are 4.99 percent for Energy Star projects and 3.99 percent for Advanced Performance projects. For whole house improvements or projects with air sealing and insulation done by a Building Performance Institute-certified contractor, the rate is 0.99 percent. In addition, up to 35 percent of the loan may be used for “non-energy” improvements rather than the standard 25 percent.
For more information on counties eligible for lower Keystone HELP loan rates, visit RepPickett.com and click on “Keystone HELP Program.”
A stop at some restaurants in Susquehanna County in October may get you more than great food; you can also enjoy “Artwork Under Glass.” As a part of celebrating Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Month, colorful creations from youngsters involved in quality early learning programs will be on display at Green Gables, Maloney’s Irish Pub and Restaurant, and the Lenox Diner. The work will be under the glass that covers the dining room tables.
Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Month is designed to raise awareness about quality early learning initiatives such as Pre-K Counts and Keystone STARS. The artwork is from three facilities involved in these programs. Endless Mountain Learning Center in New Milford is a Keystone STAR 3 rated facility, as is Treasure House Child Development Center in Montrose. Treasure House also provides free quality pre-k through the state funded Pre-K Counts initiative. Mrs. Colleen’s Childcare is a STAR 2 rated program.
Young diners at the participating restaurants may also provide their own artwork. They will receive a special placemat each time they visit in October.
“Artwork Under Glass” is a project of Susquehanna County CARES (Childcare, Agencies, Resources, and Educational Services) as a way to recognize Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children, because every child is Pennsylvania’s future.
