Pennsylvania’s Favorite Groundhog Predicts More Winter
Early this morning in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog and meteorologist, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter.
Local First Responders to Benefit from Annual Grant Program
More than $285,000 in state gaming proceeds will benefit fire and ambulance companies throughout the 122nd District.
These grants, which are not funded by General Fund tax dollars, will allow local first response agencies to better afford training, equipment, facility improvements and other needs.
The program, which provides $30 million to fire and ambulance companies statewide, is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Fire Commissioner within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
Who’s That Calling You?
To help consumers fight back against fraud, the House will take up legislation soon to increase penalties for those found guilty of caller identification spoofing.
Spoofing occurs when individuals use technology to make it appear that a call is coming from a number or business other than that of the actual caller. Spoofing can be used to defraud, harass or induce call recipients into divulging sensitive or confidential information, especially senior citizens.
House Bill 979, which was recently passed out of the House Judiciary Committee, would make it a misdemeanor for any person to cause false caller identification information to be displayed on a recipient’s telephone, with the intent to harass or defraud the call recipient.
PennDOT’s 2018 Summer Employment Program
PennDOT is sponsoring an extensive Summer Maintenance Program for college students. The program runs April through August to supplement the permanent workforce.
The students assist with completing summer maintenance work and sign upgrade services, provide maintenance and custodial services at roadside rest facilities, and perform laboring and flagging duties in maintenance organizations and highway worksites.
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be at least 18 years of age, enrolled as a full-time college student for fall 2018 and have a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. The hourly rate is $13.23.
If interested, please contact my office at (570) 675-6000 or (570) 836-4777 no later than Thursday, Feb. 15. Candidates must also apply online at www.employment.pa.gov in the “Summer Maintenance Program” category under the Open Jobs section of the website. Technical support is available at 717-787-5703.
Happy Birthday, Edgar!
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to present a House citation to Franklin Township resident Edgar Weiss to recognize his 104th birthday.
Edgar worked at Bethlehem Steel during World War II and has enjoyed a lifelong love for animals.
New Medicare Cards: Watch Out for Scams
Beginning April 2018, Medicare beneficiaries will receive a New Medicare Card that will have a unique Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), thereby removing the Social Security number from the Medicare card.
Medicare will automatically mail the new card at no cost to the address on file with Social Security. Medicare beneficiaries should ensure their official mailing address with the Social Security Administration is current but otherwise do not need to do anything to receive their card.
More information about the cards – including a fact sheet and video -- is available at www.Medicare.gov.
The distribution of new cards will take about a year.
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