|
||||
|
News You Can Use April 4, 2008 Important Absentee Ballot Information and Deadlines The last day to apply for an absentee
ballot for Pennsylvania's upcoming primary election is April 15. All absentee
ballots, except those received from military and overseas electors and those
received from emergency absentee electors, must be received by the county boards
of elections not later than 5:00 p.m. on April 18, 2008 to be counted. For
information on when and how to use an absentee ballot, visit the Pennsylvania
Department of State
website
and click on the absentee ballot quick link. Trout Season Opening Day The 2008 trout season kicks off in full Saturday April 12th. Eighteen counties in southeast and south-central Pennsylvania once again had an early start to trout season this year on March 29, while those in the remainder of the state will be out two weeks later on April 12. Climate differences within the state and stocking considerations motivated the change going into the 2007 season, according to the PA Fish & Boat Commission. Whether you intend to take advantage of the earlier season or the traditional opening day of trout season, click here for other changes for the 2008 season. Contact the PF&BC Office of Law Enforcement for regulations, permits, and related fishing and boating information. Questions regarding boating safety, education and other fishing and boating programs should be directed to the Education division. You can access the PF&BC Directory of Regional Offices here for the Law Enforcement and Education divisions in your region. Consult the online index to the 2008 PA Fishing Laws & Regulations broken into six primary categories, including regulations by location and by species, with a separate section for trout fishing. If you haven't purchased your PA fishing license, you may apply by mail, online or in person. Link to forms, select a conveniently located PA Fish License Issuing agent or choose online licensing. Opportunity to Comment on the 2009 State Vocational Rehabilitation Plan The Department of Labor and Industry will continue to seek comments on the 2009 Combined Agency State Plan at public meetings throughout the Commonwealth through April 17th. The Combined Agency State Plan is an annual budget and outline for the state's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. These meetings will provide Pennsylvanians with a way to share their ideas and recommendations on the Combined Agency State Plan, and suggestions on how the Commonwealth can better serve people with disabilities. For a copy of the Combined Agency State Plan and other vocational rehabilitation information visit the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services local offices or online, keyword: OVR. For those interested in commenting on the plan, the following schedule provides the times and locations for the remaining meetings. Erie
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation District Office Norristown
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation District Office
Philadelphia Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services District Office
Philadelphia Office of Vocational Rehabilitation District Office Pittsburgh
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation District Office
Wilkes-Barre Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services District Office (Two
Meetings) York
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation District Office Alcohol Awareness Month Poster Contest April is Alcohol Awareness Month and, in recognition, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) will once again be sponsoring the Alcohol Awareness Poster Competition. Since 1992, more than 17,000 students in grades K – 12 have participated in this competition. This year's deadline is May 16th. Judges will select 50 posters from the submissions, with several drawings and paintings being reproduced as posters, bookmarks or screensavers. Prizes will include $100 and $50 U.S. Savings Bonds. Students who have created these noteworthy designs will be invited to a special recognition ceremony in Harrisburg later this year. For more information about the Poster Contest, visit the contest's page on the LCB's website. Although guidelines for the 2008 Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest are being distributed to school districts, student guidelines for the competition can also be found here. Educators or others wishing to coordinate this year's poster competition can find more information here. Historical Markers Pennsylvania's residents and visitors will soon have 43 new historical markers dotting the landscape of the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved the placement of the markers at the end of March. Some of the prominent locations and individuals receiving this recognition in 2008 include: Betsy Ross, Milton Hershey's first candy store, and Fort Brunot in Allegheny County. The plaques are nominated by the general public and approved by the Commission on an annual basis. To date, nearly 2, 200 of the familiar blue and gold signs have been approved and erected around the state. A complete list of the newly placed signs for 2008 can be found here. For more information on the Historical Marker Program, visit the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission here. EPA Assistance Center Grants Workshop The Environmental Protection Agency's Business Assistance Center is once again hosting its annual workshop for small and disadvantaged businesses on April 22 in Philadelphia to help prepare proposals for an upcoming Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation. For more information on the SBIR, visit the EPA website. Every year, EPA gives monetary awards through the SBIR program to small, high-tech firms to develop and commercialize state-of-the-art environmental technologies. The workshop will provide practical and useful information on the program including how to write a winning proposal.
|
|||
