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News You Can UseMarch 9, 2007 King Tut Exhibit Graces Philly Ancient Egyptian royalty will grace Philadelphia through September 30, 2007 as the Franklin Institute hosts the official last stop and only Northeast city exhibition of "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs". Philly is rolling out the red carpet for the Boy King and the one million visitors expected to attend the 130 item exhibition before it closes this autumn. From special lodging packages to dinners sprinkled with gold, Philly is making King Tut the center of upcoming tourism promotions. Link to the official visitor site for Greater Philadelphia to start planning your Philly getaway: Take a quick peek at the exhibit artifacts fact sheet Experience Philadelphia, on and off the beaten path, courtesy of "National Geographic Traveler's 'Next Great City' Itinerary." After the Exhibit, break out the 2-day 2-night itinerary featuring grand hotels, historic sites, fine restaurants, and more to make the most of your stay. Still looking for more to do, link to the VisitPA.com regional tourism guide for activities day and night, indoors and out. 2007 Peregrine Falcon Webcam Kick Off The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) kicked off the 2007 Peregrine Falcon webcam on March 6 with good news. The courtship has begun again on the ledge of the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building overlooking downtown Harrisburg. The female, returning for her eighth season, is being joined by a third season male who has been seen performing acts demonstrating his ability to be a good provider. DEP's streaming video, refreshed every 2 minutes, has captured breeding behavior reinforcing the hopes of falcon fans across the world that the life cycle of the next flock is about to debut. If you are a fan of Pennsylvania's Peregrine Falcon Cam and you have not downloaded or upgraded your Windows Media Player yet you may want to do that prior to logging-on. DEP has announced Windows Media Player will be the exclusive program to run the streaming video, citing its proven quality and the limited number of viewers utilizing Real Player during the 2006 season. If the falcons are off preparing for the arrival of their first egg, due early in the last week of March, take a moment to look over the falcon diary tracing the lives of these peregrines and those that came before them. Find this and more on falcons at the DEP Falcon page. See the PA Game Commission (PGC) profile on the peregrine falcon. Volunteer Forest Firefighters Grants Local firefighting forces in Pennsylvania's forested, undeveloped and unprotected rural communities may be eligible for funding from the USDA Forest Service, administered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). A total of $557,085 is available for grants not to exceed $7,500 for items such as mobile radios, installation of dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation, wildfire fighter training, or conversion and maintenance of federal excess vehicles received from the bureau and used for fire suppression. Priority will be placed on those seeking funds for projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants are awarded on a cost-share basis with successful applicants meeting 50 percent of the actual expenditures through local, public, and private nonprofit organizations. Approved items must be purchased between October 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007. Grant applications must be submitted to DCNR by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2007. Link to details and the grant application form. PA Turnpike Engages in Safety Partnership The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today will unveil a three-year partnership with the insurance company State Farm to enhance highway safety for turnpike travelers. The State Farm Safety Patrol includes 28 branded, Turnpike-owned and operated vehicles staffed by Turnpike employees who provide roadside assistance for Turnpike motorists. Twenty-two signs are being erected along the highway with instructions to dial *-11 on a mobile phone for assistance or to report an accident. The State Farm Safety Patrol is in place to accomplish the following:
America's First Superhighway is the third U.S. highway to feature the State Farm Safety Patrol; similar programs exist in Florida and Colorado. For more on the program visit State Farm, Pennsylvania Turnpike Announce Safety Patrol Partnership, Philadelphia and State Farm, Pennsylvania Turnpike Announce Safety Patrol Partnership, Pittsburgh PA Heritage Week Marks Pennsylvania's 326th Birthday Learn how to research and preserve your family's history during the 8th Annual Family Heritage Day sponsored by the PA State Archives and the State Historical Records Advisory Board from Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at the State Museum located at Third and North Street in Harrisburg, PA. The event is part of Heritage Week, recognized from March 9 - 18, 2007 by the PA Historical & Museum Commission. Just getting started on your search? The former president of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania will cover published, archival, and internet resources for discovering your past. Chat with historians about your family's history. Catch a few centuries-old tales handed down through the generations. Bring your family's books, papers, and photographs for a free appraisal. And, don't forget to stop by the featured exhibit gallery for a glimpse of the original 1681 Charter granted by England's King Charles to William Penn for Pennsylvania, on display each year only during Heritage Week. Six sites will offer free workshops on family history research and preservation, cultural and heritage attractions, tourist promotion agencies, lodging and more. Participating locations, websites and phone numbers: Drake Well Museum, Titusville (814) 827-2797 Fort Pitt Museum, Pittsburgh (412) 281-9285 Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster (717) 569-0401 Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, Scranton (570) 963-4804 Somerset Historical Center, Somerset (814) 445-6077 State Museum of Pennsylvania / State Archives, Harrisburg (717) 787-8953 "Call to Action" Against Underage Drinking Young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Office and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). In addition, alcohol appears to harm the developing adolescent brain. The PLCB is joining the U.S. Surgeon General in a "Call to Action", appealing to all of us to do more to stop America's 11 million underage drinkers from using alcohol and preventing others from starting. A 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals nearly 7.2 million underage drinkers binge, drinking more than 5 drinks on occasion, while more than two million are classified as heavy drinkers. For more on the "Call to Action" and related information go to: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2007pres/20070306.html and http://www.hhs.gov/diseases/index.shtml -- scroll to "Drinking and Alcohol" for a wealth of resources.
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