These projects and others will become reality for students in six schools in the Lehigh Valley and northeast Pennsylvania because of their selection as recipients of 2011-12 Empowering Educators grants from PPL Corporation. Grant awards totaled $11,200.

“We’re always impressed by the variety and quality of the grant applications we receive,” said Meg Welker, manager of education and public outreach for PPL. “As an energy company that values environmental stewardship, we’re proud to be able to help teachers bring a creative, hands-on focus to energy and the environment.”

Grant recipients include:

Newcomer Academy, Allentown, Pa. (Allentown School District): $2,000 to help students in grades 9-12 create a public service announcement about how electricity is generated, how to save energy and why energy conservation is important. Students will visit the Da Vinci Science Center to learn about energy conservation and the Lutron Experience Center to learn about energy-efficient products and the design process.

Saucon Valley High School, Hellertown, Pa. (Saucon Valley School District): $2,000 toward the development of the Saucon Valley Environmental Education Center on the school district property. A three-phase development plan is proposed with the first phase set to include site preparation, development of trails and a teaching pavilion including a bird blind, butterfly garden and solar study area on 20 acres near the school athletic fields. Multi-disciplinary environmental education opportunities will be available to students and the community.

Union Terrace Elementary School, Allentown, Pa. (Allentown School District): $1,700 to help second-grade students learn about conservation, the environment and how changes in the environment affect animals. The unit of study will encourage student discussion on conservation problems and the impact of human activity on our planet, as well as create a greater understanding for the environment and how it needs to be protected. Students will showcase their learning about conservation through digital stories to be displayed for the school community.

Solomon Plains Elementary, Plains, Pa. (Wilkes-Barre Area School District): $2,000 to build two mobile solar-powered kilns to reclaim, process, recover, dry, recycle, and reuse abandoned mine drainage from area streams that have historically polluted the Wyoming Valley. Solomon students and their teachers, working with Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Drainage staff, will conduct iron oxide activities and demonstrations at Solomon and the other elementary schools in the Wilkes-Barre area.

Northwest Area Intermediate School, Shickshinny, Pa. (Northwest Area School District): $1,500 for Trout in the Classroom, an interdisciplinary program that fosters awareness and knowledge of coldwater conservation, management, and recreation programs. Ninety sixth-grade students will be introduced to environmental conservation education by raising brook trout from eggs to fingerlings and releasing them into Big Fishing Creek, a trout stream in Columbia County.

EverGreen Elementary School, Lake Ariel, Pa. (Western Wayne School District): $2,000 toward a digital showcase project. The goal is to design an interactive walking tour for students and the general public that will highlight the school’s “green” and energy-saving features. The funding will support the purchase of touch screen monitors that will showcase lighting, wastewater treatment, heating and cooling, construction and maintenance, and storm water retention. The final station will focus on future directions of the building that could include adding solar or wind energy capacity.

The grants are in addition to $1.7 million in PPL corporate contributions for educational institutions and programs during 2011. The contributions went to high schools, trade schools, colleges and universities, as well as nonprofit groups that support scholarships, educational improvement programs and early childhood education.

A team of PPL employees, environmental professionals and educators chose the winning projects. PPL sponsors the Empowering Educators Grants program as part of an initiative to educate the public about energy resources and the environment.

There were 31 applications received for the current round of grants. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com and select Environment and Community, then Our Education Programs.

We’ve gone electric! The library at the PPL Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center has new activities and crafts for the winter months. Our focus is on electricity and how it is generated. Children will get the answers to “what is energy” and “what is a renewable resource”. Adults might learn something, too! Did you know PPL uses new technology to remotely read your electric meter?

There’s a variety of things to do in our library from now till April. Dig for coal or learn how to read your PPL electric meter. Build a miniature wind turbine and become an Energy Star Saver! Our Smart House is ready for energy-saving exploration with a new walk-through module. There are also new books about renewable and nonrenewable resources. Thomas Edison was even given a special tribute this season. Did you know he would be 165 years old this February?

We never forget about our diverse educators, either. From classroom teachers, to home-school groups and scout troops, the center has something to offer for everyone. The Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center is proud to announce a sign out program for lesson plans, curriculum and activity guides. Books and materials on the shelves are marked with stickers if we have duplicates. See anyone in the Education and Public Outreach office to borrow them for your class or small group. 

Our winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are also open on select Saturdays when a public program is offered. You can check the calendar of events at www.pplpreserves.com or drop us an e-mail at pplpreserves@pplweb.com to join our email list for upcoming programs. Follow us on Twitter @PPLpreserves for closings. What better place to bring the kids when school is closed and the center is open?

“It’s an extremely busy time of year with a lot of distractions, so it’s important to take time to stay safe both inside and outside the home,” said Gregory N. Dudkin, executive vice president of operations for PPL Electric Utilities. “Statistics show home fires and electric accidents increase during the winter holidays. Please don’t take a holiday from safety and risk becoming one of those fire or accident numbers.”

 Safety is important in key areas this time of the year, whether it’s hanging holiday decorations, cooking or warding off the winter chill. Here’s a sampling:

 Decorating safety

Seasonal lights are beginning to appear on area homes, increasing the chances for electrical hazards. Before decorating, determine how many outlets are available and where they are located. Avoid overloading electrical outlets, which can overheat and cause a fire. Rule of thumb: Connect no more than three strings of light together or three extension cords.
Before use, check each light string for broken sockets, frayed cords or faulty plugs, and replace damaged strings. If you need to replace a light bulb, unplug the light string first.
For outdoors, use only lights, extension cords, animated displays and decorations rated for outdoor use.
Plug cords into outlets equipped with ground-fault circuit interrupters, and use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets don’t have them.
Always unplug lights before going to bed or leaving your home.
Never throw light strings into trees near power lines.
Indoors, keep all decorations at least three feet away from heating sources, including space heaters and fireplaces.
Don’t use electrical ornaments or light strings on artificial trees with metallic leaves or branch coverings.
Avoid using candles when possible. Never leave an open flame unattended. Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room or leave the house. Keep candles out of the reach of pets and children and away from combustible material and areas where they might be knocked over.
 

Cooking safety

Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Never plug more than one high-wattage appliance into a single outlet.
Match plugs with outlets. Don’t force a 3-pronged plug into a 2-pronged outlet or extension cord.
Keep towels, potholders and curtains away from hot surfaces. Watch for loose clothing that can catch fire.
Move appliance cords away from hot surfaces where they can melt or burn from excess heat.
 

Heating equipment safety

Space heaters are increasingly popular for supplemental heating, but remember to give space heaters their space and keep them at least three feet from flammable items such as draperies or blankets.  Keep space heaters out of high-traffic areas and always place them on a level, solid surface.
Be sure pets and children are kept away to avoid injury from contact.
Never leave a space heater unattended.
To reduce the chance for electrical overloads, never use extension cords or multiple plugs with a space heater.
Get your house heating system cleaned and inspected at least every two years by a licensed, professional contractor.
 

Save energy, save money

When holiday shopping, remember to look for the ENERGY STAR® label when purchasing appliances or electronics and buy the most efficient model you can afford. These models will reduce your energy costs over the operating life of the device. If you’re going to be away from home for more than a few hours at a time, remember to set the thermostat back a few degrees to save on heating costs. Savings also can be realized in many other ways, including using a programmable thermostat, installing more insulation if necessary, or sealing leaking air ducts or drafts. Use more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent light bulbs to save on electricity costs.

 You can give yourself and your family the gift of increased energy efficiency this year by checking out the helpful information at www.pplelectric.com, PPL’s online store for discounted products, and the valuable E-power® programs at www.pplelectric.com/epower.

In our auditorium, PPL hosted the Wallenpaupack Historical Society’s Annual Christmas Party.  Attendees meandered through the hall of displays and ventured into the laboratory for a look at microscopic water specimens.  Mingling ceased as word spread that the Wallenpaupack High School Chamber Choir had arrived for their yearly performance.  Reminiscent Christmas hymns and songs were sung, including Carol of the Bells.  A wardrobe change revealed an exciting song and dance show of classics like “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Zat you Santa Claus?”  Choir members then joined society members in pie, punch and pleasurable conversation.

In an adjacent meeting room, PPL Education and Public Relations Manager Meg Welker hosted the Freedoms Foundation teachers from Montgomery County.  These teacher-learners were presented an informational power point of the hydroelectric dam.  Meg explained to them the educational and public outreach aspects of the center, as well as PPL’s connections with the community.  The foundation teachers were then treated to an outdoor tour of the dam.  Back at the center, the educators had free time to see the lab, library and various displays before boarding their bus back to Montgomery County. 

With sounds of joyful voices filling the air, smiling faces were abundant on this beautiful December day.  Thank you, guests, for a delightful day at the Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center.

“We have repaired two strobe lights on the dam, repaired signage, and installed new signage at the Pequea and York Furnace boat ramps. The new signs alert boaters to high river flows and to avoid the area downstream of the one-mile warning signs in the river and that the marker buoys 1,000 feet upstream of the dam are not installed,” said John M. Levitski, PPL community relations director for the Lancaster region.

The signage also notifies boaters to use caution with portage access limited to the east shore of the river.

“We’re still dealing with high flows that prevent us from repairing the final two strobe lights,” Levitski said. “Hunters can enjoy the remainder of duck season in south central Pennsylvania, which lasts until Jan. 14, but it is very important that boaters be safe,  follow the information on the new signage, and review procedures for cold-weather boating.”

Updates regarding the reopening of the Pequea and York Furnace boat ramps will be available at www.pplholtwood.com, or from the Lower Susquehanna River Hotline at 800-692-6328.

Boat ramps operated by the nearby Safe Harbor and Conowingo hydroelectric plants remain open.

PPL Lake Wallenpaupack is a proud participant in the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).  This American Forest Foundation program works to “sustain forests, watersheds, and healthy habitats through the power of private stewardship” (http://www.treefarmsystem.org/).  PPL’s ATFS certified farm is comprised of the area that runs from Lake Wallenpaupack’s dam to the hydroelectric power plant along the Laxawaxen River near Kimbles.

PPL also manages an area called Shuman Point Natural Area, which is being maintained along the ATFS guidelines.  A blazed trail takes visitors on a 3.5 mile scenic hike through the woods and along Lake Wallenpaupack.  This natural area is currently undergoing a commercial harvest in a portion of this forest that is experiencing some tree mortality caused by gypsy moth defoliation and environmental stresses. 

In a ten acre section of this tract, visitors to Shuman Point will notice yellow and blue paint markings on certain trees.  Yellow represents healthy trees that will not to be harvested and are retained for specific seeding purposes.  Blue marked trees are in decline and will be harvested for continued sustainability and health of the forest.

Please help us in this important initiative by leaving the markers on the trees.  Shuman Point Natural Area will be preserved in a sustainable fashion for generations of visitors to enjoy.

You will find more information about the American Forest Foundation and the American Tree Farm System at the following websites.
http://www.forestfoundation.org/americantreefarmsystem
http://www.treefarmsystem.org/

The next drawing for the CSI Super Sleuth Sweepstakes will be held on November 28th.   There’s still time to enter!!  

Finding codes and registering online is easy at http://iconservepa.org/csi/index.htm. 

You can also visit any of the PPL Preserves for secret codes.  Each new code you find is entered as a chance to win fabulous monthly prizes. 

The grand prize is a Z Electric Scooter!!  Use your investigative skills to win big!