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Senator Argall

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Toll Free: 1-877-327-4255

Harrisburg Office
Senate Box 203029
171 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3029
717-787-2637
717-783-8657 FAX

Email: dargall@pasen.gov

District Offices
 

One West Centre Street
P.O. Box 150
Mahanoy City, PA 17948
570-773-0891
570-773-1675 FAX

61 North Third Street
Hamburg, PA 19526-1501
610-562-3411
610-562-6895 FAX
(Shared with Representative
Jerry Knowles)

100 North Centre Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
570-621-3400
570-622-6629 FAX
(Shared with Representative Mike Tobash)

Spring Township
2850 Windmill Road
Spring Township, PA 19608
1-877-327-4255

237 West Broad Street
Tamaqua, PA 18252
570-668-1240
570-952-3374 FAX
(Shared with Representative
Jerry Knowles)

Follow Sen. Argall on Twitter for Senate happenings – @SenatorArgall  

In this Email Update:

  • Honoring Corporal Martin A. King
  • Preparing for flu season
  • VA Education Benefits workshop
  • Replacing your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries
  • Electronic message boards along major roadways
  • Unclaimed property at the Department of Treasury
  • Spotted lanternfly quarantine
  • Transportation Alternatives Program application and webinar

Honoring Corporal Martin A. King

On Monday I had the humbling privilege of presenting a citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania during the military burial of Corporal Martin A. King in Tower City.

Corporal King was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army. Corporal King served during the Korean War where he was taken as a prisoner of war and courageously gave his life on April 12, 1951 at the age of 18.

During this ceremony, all those gathered had the opportunity to recognize and honor the unwavering military service and valiant sacrifice Corporal King gave to our country and its citizens.

Corporal King was buried with full military honors and awarded posthumously with the Prisoner of War Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the United Nations Service Medal, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.


Preparing for flu season

During this holiday season filled with family gatherings, good food and fun, who has time to get sick? As we head into the fall and winter months, it is important that we are diligent about our health and keep in mind some preventative measures that will help not only ourselves, but our loved ones, remain healthy and ailment-free, especially during flu season.

According to the Department of Health, which recently launched the “Stopping the Flu Starts with YOU” campaign, seasonal influenza, or the flu, occurs in individuals between the months of October and May. The flu is responsible for infecting 5%-20% of Pennsylvanians and causing 120-2,000 deaths annually from complications related to the virus.

Symptoms of the flu, which can stick around for 7-14 days, include: fever, sore throat, coughing, headache, nasal congestion and fatigue.

In order to safeguard citizens from the flu, the department will be holding flu shot clinics in Berks and Schuylkill counties on the following dates:

Berks:

  • 11/19/15 from 3-7 p.m. at the Hispanic Center located at: 419 North Sixth St. Reading, PA 19602.
  • 12/10/15 from 3-7 p.m. at Opportunity House located at: 430 North 2nd St. Reading, PA 19602.

Schuylkill:

  • 11/17/15 and 12/8/15 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Schuylkill County SHC located at: 103 One Norwegian Plaza Pottsville, PA 17901.

For more information about the flu, including vaccine options, please click here.

Additional information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the 2015-2016 flu season can also be viewed here.


VA Education Benefits workshop

In honor of Veteran’s Day and our brave men and women who have courageously fought to defend our country and freedom, the McCann School of Business & Technology will be hosting a free-of-charge public workshop for veterans regarding VA Educational Benefits on November 11.

During this workshop, veterans will receive information about their GI Bill, including the different types of benefits available to them and the qualifications needed in order to apply. Veterans will also be able to apply for VA Educational Benefits at the event.

The workshop will take place at 2650 Woodglen Road in Pottsville from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. For more information about the McCann School of Business & Technology or the workshop, please call the Pottsville Campus at 570-391-3050.


Replacing your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries

The PA Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC) is reminding Pennsylvania residents to replace their smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries in order to ensure the safety and well-being of their loved ones and homes in the event of an emergency.

According to the OSFC, more than 370,000 residential fires occur annually, resulting in more than 2,500 deaths and 13,000 injuries and direct damages exceeding $6.9 billion. The office also reports that the losses incurred from residential fires each year are often preventable.

The OSFC also urges families to develop a fire emergency plan that establishes key items such as different routes for escape and a place to meet once everyone has exited the home.

For more information about fire prevention and safety measures, click here.


Electronic message boards along major roadways

The presence of electronic message boards along and over interstate highways and major expressways have been increasing as we move into the fall and winter seasons when road conditions can pose difficult challenges when driving.

These electronic message boards are designed to help motorists reach their destinations in an efficient and timely manner by providing estimates of real-time traffic conditions which are updated every three minutes. Based on the projected time and traffic patterns, motorists can choose to take an alternate route or inform those who are waiting for them when they can expect their arrival.

PennDOT also encourages residents to download the 511PA application to their mobile devices in order to receive alerts and updates when electronic message boards are not present.

For more information about traffic safety, click here.


Unclaimed property at the Department of Treasury

The Pennsylvania Department of Treasury is currently seeking the legal owners of more than $2.3 billion in unclaimed property in the Commonwealth.

Businesses, financial institutions, organizations and government agencies that are in possession of unclaimed property are required to submit an annual report to the Department of Treasury by April 15 and settle any unclaimed items.

To see if you have unclaimed property, click here or call the Unclaimed Property call center at 1-800-222-2046 for more information about how to recover your property.


Spotted lanternfly quarantine

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture continues to work with local residents and businesses to combat the spread of the spotted lanternfly in Berks County.

The spotted lanternfly was first discovered in Berks Country in the fall of 2014 and poses no negative impact or threats to the health or well-being of humans.

The quarantine area in Berks covers the following: Colebrookdale, District, Earl, Hereford, Longswamp, Oley, Pike, Rockland and Washington townships and the boroughs of Bally, Bechtelsville, Boyertown and Topton.

Within this quarantine area, movement of any material or object (i.e. firewood, lawnmowers, yard waste, construction materials) that could potentially spread the lanternfly is prohibited. In order to move objects or materials, businesses are required to obtain a Certificate of Limited Permit from the Department of Agriculture. Violations to this regulation can result in criminal and civil penalties of up to $20,000 and prison time.

Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for the spotted lanternfly and take the necessary steps to report the sighting or submit the specimen to their county Penn State Extension office.

For more information about the spotted lanternfly, precautions to observe and a map of the quarantine area, please visit: www.agriculture.pa.gov and search the keyword “lanternfly.”


Transportation Alternatives Program application and webinar

PennDOT is currently accepting applications for funding through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).

TAP is a federal program that provides funding opportunities to increase transportation options and enhance the overall transportation experience for citizens. TAP offers funding for projects such as: safe school routes, the preservation of historic transportation structures, pedestrian and bicycle facilities and trails.

Entities eligible to apply for funding include but are not limited to: local governments, regional transportation authorities, school districts, and transit agencies. The construction project must cost at least $50,000, but may not be more than $1 million unless the project has a significant impact on a region or statewide.

Potential TAP project sponsors are also invited to participate in PennDOT’s webinar on November 16 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. The webinar will provide potential sponsors with information about the program.

To receive audio access to the webinar, please call: 855-750-1027 and enter the following PIN number: 687717. If you are able to download .exe files except Apple Operating Systems and Mobile Devices, please visit here. If you are able to access Apple Operating Systems and Mobile Devices Web Client, click here.

For more information about TAP and the application process, please click here.

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