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I was pleased to have the opportunity to talk with Charlie and Cathy Vorisek, members of Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association and residents of Linesville, Crawford County, as well as state Agriculture Secretary George Greig, a resident of Crawford County, during my visit to the 96th edition of the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Highlights and interviews from my visit to Pennsylvania's premier agricultural showcase event are featured during this month's installment of the "The Robbins Report" television show.
The eight-day show, from January 7 through 14, featured 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibitors. Thanks in part to mild weather conditions, the event started off with all-time high Farm Show attendance on Saturday, January 7.
Record attendance followed on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of show week. Nearly 70,000 vehicles were parked in Farm Show lots throughout the week, compared to 55,000 parked last year - a 22 percent increase.
And, just to let you know, the Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association did very well this year as they sold more than 750 gallons of honey ice cream and 6,800 pounds of honey between their booths in the Food Court and Main Hall, and used 670 pounds of waffle mix.
The Robbins Report can be seen locally on Armstrong Cable/Meadville; GBS Television; Comcast/Lawrence County, and, PA Cablevision. Please check local listing for the days, times, and channels. The show is also available online at my website at www.senatorrobbins.com
Budget will be unveiled February 7
Governor Tom Corbett is scheduled to present his proposed 2012-13 state budget during a joint session of the General Assembly on February 7.
The Administration hasn't released many specifics on the proposed plan, but last month during his mid-year budget briefing state Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said the state must overcome potential problems posed by the lackluster economy, the dramatic growth in mandated costs and the uncertainty over federal funding.
"The work of returning the Commonwealth to fiscal stability is far from complete," Secretary Zogby said. "Because of the continuing weakness in the national economy, we now project that revenues for the 2011-12 Fiscal Year will be $500 million below estimate. This anticipated shortfall, combined with projected growth of $800 million in Medical Assistance, debt service and school employee pension costs in 2012-13, will lead to serious budgetary challenges for the Commonwealth this year and next."
The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a three-week series of Departmental Budget Hearings beginning on February 13. The hearings provide an opportunity for the Appropriations Committee to hear cabinet secretaries and other Administration officials detail their plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
Governor signs bill opening vital statistics information
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I was pleased to participate in a special ceremony on January 24 where Governor Corbett signed my legislation making it easier for the public to research birth and death records maintained by the Commonwealth, after a suitable waiting period.
Act 110 (Senate Bill 361) opens birth records to the public 105 years after the date of birth and death records 50 years after the date of death. Until the new law becomes effective in mid-February, those records are considered by the state to be closed and only immediate family members are eligible to obtain a certified birth and/or death record.
PENNDOT invites students to enter distracted driving PSA contest
High school students are invited to enter a PENNDOT contest aimed at discouraging distracted driving. Students can submit a 30-second radio public service announcement (PSA) and the winning announcement will be professionally produced and sent to the student's local media market.
According to PENNDOT, in 2010 there were 14,294 crashes statewide involving drivers who were distracted or were using a hand-held cell phone. Approximately 37 percent of those crashes involved a driver who was 16 to 25 years old.
To enter the contest, high school sophomores, juniors and seniors should submit recorded scripts in MP3 or MP4 format. Students may also submit written scripts. Visit www.DriveSafePA.org for full contest rules.
One finalist will be chosen from each of PENNDOT's 11 engineering districts. The winning students will be invited to travel to Harrisburg to have the PSA professionally recorded and then distributed to their local radio stations. Winning students from each PENNDOT district will receive certificates and recorded copies of their PSAs.
Entries may be submitted by email to RA-penndotpress@pa.gov. Students can also submit entries by mail to: PENNDOT Press Office, c/o Erin Waters, 8th Floor-Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg, PA, 17120. Entries must be received or postmarked by March 23.
FAFSA applications now available
The 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available. The FAFSA is used to determine students' eligibility for almost all types of student aid, including state grants, Federal Pell Grants, Keystone Stafford Loans, regular Federal Stafford Loans and other federal and institutional programs.
Families are encouraged to visit www.pheaa.org/fafsa to access the 2012-13 online FAFSA and a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet to help walk them through the application process step by step. Students may also file online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Students planning to enroll in baccalaureate degree programs – including those enrolled in college transfer programs at community or junior colleges -- must file the FAFSA by May 1, 2012. Students planning to attend business, trade and technical schools; hospital schools of nursing, or two-year non-transferable programs at community, junior or four-year colleges must file the FAFSA by Aug. 1, 2012.
Department of Health moves Harrisburg office for birth, death certificates
The Pennsylvania Department of Health's Vital Records Office opened its new location, the first floor of Forum Place at 555 Walnut St. in Harrisburg, on January 30.
The Vital Records Office is a public office that handles all birth and death certificate requests. Certified copies of birth and death certificates can be ordered online through the department's website, www.health.state.pa.us. On the left-side menu, choose the link for "Birth and Death Certificates."
The new office is located in the same building as the Social Security Administration Office, adjacent to a public parking garage. Vital Records Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
For more information, visit www.health.state.pa.us or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
Pennsylvania population shows slight increase
The Census Bureau's Population Division released the 2011 National and State Population Estimates on December 21, 2011. According to the new data, Pennsylvania grew at 0.3 percent between 2010 and 2011, adding 40,507 people. The Commonwealth remains the sixth-largest state in the nation with an estimated population of 12,742,886, reports the Pennsylvania State Data Center www.pasdc.hbg.psu.edu.
According to the 2011 National and State Population Estimates and components of population change, released in December by the U.S. Census Bureau, international migration is a significant contributor to population growth in Pennsylvania.
From July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011, Pennsylvania added 14,714 people from international migration, and lost 7,246 people from internal (domestic) migration. Natural increases (births minus deaths) resulted in an addition of 18,268 people between 2010 and 2011. Overall, Pennsylvania continued its slow growth from 2010 to 2011, growing at 0.3 percent. This growth rate was just below that of the Northeast Region, which experienced a 0.4 percent increase during the same time period.
Main Capitol
Senate Box 203050
Harrisburg, PA
17120-3050
Phone: (717) 787-1322
FAX: (717) 772-0577
TTY: 800-364-1581
Mercer County
District Office
259 Main Street
Greenville, PA
16125
Phone: (724) 588-1323
FAX: (724) 588-1966
1-800-222-8793
Map
Crawford County
District Office
312 Chestnut Street
Room 112
Meadville, PA 16335
Phone: (814) 336-2760
FAX: (814) 332-6960
Map
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