Press Releases: February 17, 2000

For Immediate Release
February 17, 2000 Press Releases

Time To Buy Flood Insurance
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed has urged property owners and tenants to buy flood insurance if their property is located in any area that has been susceptible to flooding in the past thirty years.

Regular homeowner’s or renter’s insurance does not cover flooding and a separate flood insurance policy has to be purchased to cover damage, losses, and dislocation caused by a flood.

Reed said the insurance can be purchased from any licensed insurance agent. Harrisburg property owners and residents receive a 15% reduction in the base premium price because the city is the only municipality in Pennsylvania to have been upgraded in its community rating under the National Flood Insurance Program.

The U.S. Government underwrites flood insurance because the private insurance market cannot afford to provide the insurance without charging extremely high premiums that no one could afford to pay. Each community in the country has a rating based on criteria developed by the insurance and Federal Government.

Girl Scouts and Goodwill Hold Clothing Drive
Harrisburg, PA – Hemlock Girl Scout Council and Goodwill Industries of Central Pennsylvania have teamed up for their fifth joint "Be Your Best" service project taking place until February 29, 2000. The organizations hope to collect 10,000 bags of clothing this winter.

Each Girl Scout is being asked to collect three or more bags of clothing for local Goodwill Stores. Girls Scouts also will challenge others within the community to "Be Their Best" by participating in the service project.

Goodwill Industries provides job assessment, training, supported employment, and other opportunities for people with disadvantages. Their clients help sort and organize the donated clothing.

To help fund its services, Goodwill prepares and sells the donated clothing through its network of retail stores. Thousands of low-income customers benefit from the availability of the low-priced clothing. Goodwill Industries needs clothing most during the winter to keep their training programs and supported employment opportunities running.

If you are not approached by a Girl Scout, but wish to participate, call your local Goodwill Store to find out how you can contribute.

Microsoft To Provide Solutions To Local Businesses
Harrisburg, PA – Microsoft Corporation recently selected NetComm Solutions, Inc. to be its first featured solution provider on Microsoft’s Harrisburg Hometown website. The featured Microsoft Certified Solution Provider for the Hometown site, NetComm Solutions will help area businesses find and implement the best tools and services to ensure success in the 21st century.

Using this website, Harrisburg businesses can find solutions to their problems and questions concerning emerging technologies. As part of the local alliance with Microsoft, NetComm Solutions is offering Harrisburg businesses three free hours of consulting, a $375 value.

"The special offers and information Microsoft provides on the Harrisburg Hometown website is exactly what local businesses need to gain a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced economy," said Mary Laudenslager, marketing representative, NetComm Solutions. "The localized website makes it easy for these companies to access relevant information and seek additional support from us."

City Announces Pepsi As Sponsor of Civil War Museum
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed and Martin J. Bean, General Manager of Harrisburg Pepsi Bottlers, today reported that Pepsi has become an official sponsor of The National Civil War Museum in a deal worth more than $2.25 million in cash and marketing support. The agreement, which runs through the year 2005, allows for additional revenues in the form of a percentage of volume sales.

Reed said the milestone sponsorship agreement is the largest private investment committed to-date for the national-class museum, which is now under construction in Reservoir Park and will open in November of this year.

The Mayor and Bean said the major points of the Pepsi agreement annually include unencumbered cash revenues, advertising revenues, radio promotion spots, 500,000 cube inserts, retail cross promotions, and direct ‘can panel’ consumer promotions in Pepsi’s multi-state area of Northern Virginia, Western Maryland, West Virginia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Central and Eastern Pennsylvania.

Martin Bean said, "Pepsi is proud to be the first official sponsor of The National Civil War Museum. This is an exciting project that will generate significant national and international interest and visitation. We are very happy to partner with the City of Harrisburg in bringing this historically-significant project to the public and we are delighted to lead the way in committing the vital corporate support that will help ensure the attraction’s long-term success."

Drought Assistance Deadline Approaching
Harrisburg, PA – Agriculture Secretary Samuel E. Hayes Jr. has reminded Pennsylvania Farmers that to be considered for state assistance, farmers must apply in person at their county USDA-FSA office by February 25, 2000.

"Pennsylvania has the largest state drought-relief program, and I want our farmers to benefit from this opportunity to recover some of the devastating losses brought on by the drought of 1999," said Secretary Hayes.

Farmers who meet eligibility criteria for the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency 1999 Crop Disaster Program qualify for Pennsylvania’s Drought Relief Program qualify for Pennsylvania’s Drought Relief Program. Like the federal program, growers must be able to certify at least a 35% crop loss.

For more information about the program, call the Agriculture Department at 787-4737, or visit the Department’s website at www.pda.state.pa.us.

Gerontology Consultants of Pennsylvania Seeking Volunteers
Harrisburg, PA – The office of Gerontology Consultants of Pennsylvania is seeking caring individuals to serve as volunteers in the Central Pennsylvania area in our intern program. Assignments are tailored to each volunteer’s interest and availability. The director of the American College of Gerontology provides initial and continuing training.

The Gerontology consultants of Pennsylvania is offering training to qualify the volunteer to handle complaints, give talks to interested groups, and advocate for resident rights under the supervision of our legal division. Anyone interested in more information may call the office: Gerontology Consultants of Pennsylvania at 260-9924.

Penn State Harrisburg Hosting Information Night Feb. 24
Middletown, PA – Penn State Harrisburg is hosting a public Graduate School Information night in its new library at 6 p.m., Thursday, February 24.

The College offers 17 master’s and two doctoral programs through its five academic schools – Humanities, Behavioral Sciences and Education, Public Affairs, Business Administration, and Science, Engineering and Technology.

Master’s offered include: American Studies, Applied Psychology, Business Administration, Community Psychology and Social Change, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Pollution Control, Health Administration, Health Education, Humanities, Information Systems, Public Administration, Teaching and Curriculum, and Training and Development.

Doctoral study is in Public Administration and Adult Education.

For information on the Graduate School Information Night, phone 948-6250 or
800-222-2056, or send e-mail to: hbgadmit@psu.edu. A reservation is not necessary to attend.

Food Bank Sets Date for "Taste of Lancaster County"
Harrisburg, PA – The Central PA Food Bank announced today that its 4th Annual Taste of Lancaster County is slated for Sunday, April 9, 2000, at the Lancaster General Hospital Health Campus, Lancaster. Each year, this delectable fund raising event delights approximately 900 patrons and raises significant operating funds for the Food Bank to feed thousands of hungry people in Central PA.

The Taste of Lancaster County is sponsored this year by Armstrong World Industries, and will open at 11:30 a.m. with a Sponsor Reception to honor corporate and individual supporters of the Taste.

The main event begins at 12:30 p.m. and features the donated specialties of more than 35 of the area’s finest restaurants, caterers, and beverage purveyors. Popular entertainers, with styles ranging from classical to contemporary, donate their talents to provide a musical backdrop for the event.

The Taste of Lancaster County is produced in cooperation with the Lancaster County Restaurant Association, and is orchestrated by a committee of volunteers. Led by Taste Chairman Richard Heiden, President and owner of Heiden Associates, a loyal corps of volunteers will combine efforts to produce one of Central PA’s popular and successful fund raising events.

Tickets for the main event are $20 and are available at the Food Bank beginning in February. After March 1, tickets will also be available at any branch of Harris Savings Bank. For ticket and sponsorship information, call the Central PA Food Bank at 391-5831.