Natural gas and the arts is not a combination we usually think of together. However, for the third year in a row The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains is working with The Giana Foundation of Dallas, Texas and London, England to help foster and support a passion for the arts among students in all eight school districts in Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.
In 2012 The Giana Foundation provided $20,000 in college scholarships to five local students who planned to study the visual or performing arts.
Starting in 2013, and continuing this year, the assistance has been altered to provide much-needed funding directly to the school districts to help with the costs associated with the various Theater, Art, and Music Departments. For the 2014-2015 academic year The Giana Foundation is providing $50,000 so that each school district receives $6,250 for such expenses as art supplies, audio-visual equipment, instrument repairs, music curricula, Artist-In-Residence programs, theater repairs, and travel expenses for choral and orchestral performances. In a broader sense thousands of students, faculty, and community members in the Endless Mountains will benefit from this funding.
Members of The Giana Foundation have business holdings in the burgeoning natural gas industry in our region and with personal interests in the arts this assistance is their way of supporting local students in an important and meaningful way.
Peter Quigg, President of The Community Foundation points out that often funding for the arts in our public schools is the first to be compromised due to tight budgets, and this funding may help give students a broader exposure to fields of study that they might otherwise miss. As one example, Matt Nebzydoski, Principal of the Blue Ridge High School, which will use this funding to update and repair its theater and music department equipment, adds that “the Giana Foundation funding will greatly enhance our arts programs for years to come. Many families cannot afford to rent musical instruments for their children, and utilizing this grant to maintain and repair our current musical instruments will provide access to the study of music for all of our students for many years.”
For the first time in its history, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will reduce the price of annual fishing licenses next season, a promotional move agency leaders say is intended to highlight the sport’s affordability to families and younger audiences and to persuade lapsed anglers to return.
Beginning Dec. 1, prices will be reduced by $1, or approximately 5 percent, for resident and non-resident annual licenses purchased throughout the year. Anglers who buy 3-year and 5-year licenses will see a reduction of $3 and $5, accordingly, if they buy the license during the month of December. The discounts also apply to gift vouchers for annual licenses purchased throughout the year and to gift vouchers for multi-year licenses purchased in December.
“We believe the price cut will catch the attention of many people who haven’t fished in a few years, or who have wanted to try fishing, but mistakenly have thought that prices have increased like they have for other products and activities,” PFBC Executive Director John Arway said at the agency’s quarterly business meeting held Sept. 29-30.
“The fact is, the price of a fishing license hasn’t increased in nearly a decade, since 2005,” he said. “Fishing has always been an affordable and fun family activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. If we can capture the attention of potential new and returning anglers, we know they’ll be surprised at how inexpensive it is to fish and how easy it is to enjoy the sport.”
The PFBC sells approximately 850,000 licenses annually, but survey research from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 national survey estimated that 1.1 million people ages 16 and older either fished in the Commonwealth in 2010 or planned to fish in the state in 2011.
“This 250,000 gap and the anglers who do not purchase a license every consecutive year represent a segment of potential customers who may better recognize the value of a license at a discounted rate,” added Board President Norm Gavlick, who represents the northeast district. “At the same time, the discount should be a pleasant gift to current anglers when they buy their license for the next season, especially the discounts for the multi-year licenses over the holiday season.”
With the discount, the price of a resident annual license will be just $21.70; non-resident annual $51.70; 3-year resident $61.70; 3-year non-resident $151.70; 5-year resident $101.70; and 5-year non-resident $251.70. Trout/salmon permits, Lake Erie permits and combo permits are not included in the price reduction.
President Gavlick said he is especially excited about the savings customers can enjoy on multi-year licenses and vouchers during the month of December.
“We will actively promote the multi-year discount during the holiday season as the perfect gift for former and would-be anglers on everyone’s shopping lists,” he said. “Individuals can purchase a gift voucher equal to the value of a three or five-year license, and the recipient may then redeem it at his or her convenience.” Vouchers may be redeemed anytime during the year.
