November 2016

Dear Friend,

Scott

Venango, Franklin Chambers Visit Harrisburg

Representative Lee James and I were pleased to meet with members of the Venango and Franklin Area Chambers of Commerce during their recent visit to their State Capitol. We hosted a luncheon for the members and spoke with them about issues impacting businesses in Venango County.

Department of Education Releases 2016 School Performance Profiles

The state Department of Education released its 2016 School Performance Profile (SPP) scores on October 13. The scores are available on the PA School Performance website http://paschoolperformance.org/.

The 2016 SPP follows a year-long pause in the calculation of scores for a majority of Pennsylvania schools last year, which was put in place to mitigate the unintended impacts of changes in student performance on the newly aligned Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). This year’s SPP scores are the first to reflect student performance on the new, more rigorous PSSA.

Video Helps Consumers Prevent Internet Fraud, ID Theft

The State Department of Banking & Securities recently released a new video to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft or fraud over the Internet. The video, which can be found on Facebook ( http://bit.ly/2dvkOQK) and YouTube ( http://bit.ly/2dUZVOr), addresses issues such as:

• How to protect yourself when shopping online;
• How to create safe and secure passwords;
• What software you should avoid downloading to your computer;
• What kind of Wi-Fi networks you should avoid; and
• What to do if you become a victim of fraud or identity theft.

Young Constituent Visits State Capitol

I was extremely pleased to meet my young constituent, Kierra Oyler, 10, a fifth grader attending the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, when she and her classmates visited the State Capitol.

LIHEAP Applications Now Being Accepted

Individuals and families who are having trouble with their energy bills this winter can apply now for the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The program provides grants to help low-income families pay heating bills. LIHEAP also provides crisis grants for families who experience heating emergencies, such as a broken furnace, utility termination or fuel shortage. Regular applications for the program will be accepted through April 1.

LIHEAP applications can be completed online on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. More information is also available by calling the statewide toll-free LIHEAP hotline at (866) 857-7095.

In order to apply for LIHEAP, applicants will be required to submit the names of all people in the household, Social Security numbers for all household members, proof of income for all household members and a recent heating bill.

Consumers should also contact their utility companies to learn more about other programs available to ensure that all local residents will be able to stay warm this winter. Many local utility companies offer assistance plans in addition to LIHEAP.

Beware of Increased Deer Activity on Roadways

With deer becoming increasingly active, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising motorists to slow down and stay alert.

Deer become more active in autumn with the lead-up to their fall breeding season, commonly referred to as the “rut.” When daylight saving time ends Nov. 6, there also will be increased vehicular traffic between dusk and dawn – the peak hours for deer activity.

Drivers can reduce their chances of collisions with deer by staying alert and paying particular attention while driving on stretches marked with “Deer Crossing” signs. Deer often travel in family groups and walk single file. So even if one deer successfully crosses the road in front of a driver, it doesn’t mean the threat is over. Another could be right behind it.

To report a dead deer for removal from state roads, motorists can call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.

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