The two students are De-Anna Real, of William Penn Senior High in York, and Jamal James, of West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia. They were among a group of 20 students from 10 states to receive a scholarship. Each student’s high school will also receive a $1,000 grant from the Charles Schwab Foundation.

“The achievement of these two young people should send a strong message to their friends and families, their teachers and principals, and school districts and school boards around Pennsylvania,” said Kaplan. “If more Pennsylvania students and schools follow their example and focus on the importance of financial literacy, Pennsylvania’s economic future will be stronger.”

The competition is designed to illustrate the relevance of financial capability, allowing students to demonstrate what they have learned and assess their financial knowledge. The competition also challenges high school teachers and other educators to teach the basics of personal finance to their students.

More students from Pennsylvania scored in the top 20 percent of the competition than from any other state. Pennsylvania high schools and teachers participated in greater numbers than other states and Pennsylvania students ranked third in the number of perfect scores achieved. Information about this national competition can be found online at www.challenge.treas.gov

The Department of Banking, through its Office of Financial Education, helps Pennsylvania’s teachers incorporate age-appropriate personal finance principles into the reading, math and other subjects they already teach. For more information, visit www.moneysbestfriend.com

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Presentations will focus on education plans and strategies within the tri-county area.  The Membership Breakfast will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 7 – 9 AM at Spring Hollow Golf Club, 3350 Schuylkill Road in Spring City.

The Superintendents in attendance will be given the opportunity to speak about the programs that their school districts are initiating to prepare high school students for a future in the workplace. The school districts to present include Boyertown, Pottstown, Pottsgrove, and Spring-Ford School Districts.

The Chamber will also proudly introduce the following new members that have joined since the last Membership Breakfast held on June 10th: TMC Business Solutions, A.C. Miller Concrete Products, Inc., Copperfield Inn at Lakeside, RK Consulting Services, The Growth Coach, J. H. White Financial Services, LLC., Goose’s Tobacco Outlet & Café, The Post Publications, Physicians Care Surgical Hospital, Money Management International, Java Heaven.

The Breakfast is $25 per Member prepaid; $30 per Member invoiced; & $30 per non-member.  The event is being sponsored by Diamond Credit Union.  For more information about this event, visit the Chamber Calendar on www.tricountyareachamber.com.

The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce is a membership based, business advocacy organization serving over 600 businesses in southeastern Berks, western Montgomery, and northern Chester Counties and along the Route 422 Corridor.  The mission of the organization is to provide relevant membership services and proactive leadership to enhance economic opportunity and quality of life within our region.  For more information, contact the Chamber office at 610.326.2900 or visit tricountyareachamber.com.

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To celebrate National Safety Month, Montgomery County will again be hosting the Safety Fair. Our aim is to continue educating employees and the residents of Montgomery County on how to prevent accidental injury and death through demonstrations and educational information and to influence them to adopt and maintain safe and healthy practices and behaviors in all aspects of their lives.

This Safety Fair serves as an opportunity to raise awareness of employees and the community of the resources available for home and workplace health and safety.

What: Montgomery County Safety Fair

Where: Human Services Center
1430 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA
Community Room and A/B Conference Room

When: June 30, 2010, 10am to 2pm

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“Limerick Generating Station has been a friend to Lower Pottsgrove Township for many years and their continuing support of our summer concert series is a testament to their commitment to the local community,” said Township Manager Rod Hawthorne.

“At Exelon we know the important role that the performing arts and live music have in making our community a great place to live and work,” said Bill Maguire, Limerick site vice president. “We are pleased that we can continue to partner with Lower Pottsgrove Township to make these free musical performances possible.”

“This is another wonderful demonstration of the sense of community we all enjoy in Lower
Pottsgrove,” said Jon Spadt, president, Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners.
The free musical performances, covering an array of genres, are held at Sanatoga Park, located at 200 South Sanatoga Road in Lower Pottsgrove. Listed below is the schedule of concerts for the 2010 Exelon Nuclear Summer Concert Series.

Sunday, June 27th, 6 PM – Bill Koss Combo
Sunday, July 11th, 6 PM – O’Such Rhythm and Music
Sunday, July 18th, 6 PM – Mango Men
Sunday, July 25th, 6 PM – Barbone Street Jazz Band
Sunday, August 1st, 6 PM – Flamin Dick and the Hot Rods
Sunday, August 8th, 6 PM – MESA
Sunday, August 15th, 6 PM – Pottsgrove Community Band

All concerts are weather permitting and the rain date is the following evening at 7 PM.
For more information about the Exelon Nuclear Summer Concert Series, visit www.lowerpottsgrove.org or call (610) 323-0436 x207.

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Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. The company has one of the industry’s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois and southeastern Pennsylvania and natural gas to approximately 486,000 customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC.

Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendant as Norman Hutchko, 25, 432 S. Leh St., Allentown.

Corbett said that on May 29, 2010 Hutchko allegedly contacted a 15-year old girl using the online social networking site MySpace.

According to the criminal complaint, the teen’s mother contacted the South Whitehall Police Department to report that her daughter had been contacted by a 25-year old man who made inappropriate comments.

“Every parent needs to understand the threat Internet predators pose to their child’s safety online,” Corbett said. “This case is the perfect example of a parent knowing and understanding the dangers associated with social networking sites.”

The charges state that the teen’s mother received an instant message through her daughter’s MySpace account and got Hutchko’s phone number, which she used to frequently text him pretending to be her daughter.

Corbett said that Hutchko texted the teen’s cell phone saying “prob to old for u. I’m 25″ and suggested meeting saying “don’t tell them my age cause they’ll prob not let you.”

According to the criminal complaint Hutchko also told the teen through text messages that they could drink together sending a message saying “I have Smirnoff. We can watch a movie or two. And snuggle. After a dew smirnoffs you’ll get a buz. We can also do what u said earlier. Me.”

On June 1, 2010 agents with the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit began an instant message conversation with Hutchko, which quickly turned graphic in nature.

Corbett said that Hutchko was very graphic and specific in his conversations with the girl and repeatedly asked her when they could meet for the purpose of having sex.

Hutchko was taken into custody on June 15 after he arrived at a pre-determined location in Allentown and was preliminarily arraigned before Allentown Magisterial District Judge Jacob Hammond. He was released on $100,000 cash bail.

Hutchko is charged with two counts of unlawful contact with a minor and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.

Hutchko will be prosecuted in Lehigh County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Corbett thanked the South Whitehall Police Department and the Lehigh County Detectives for their assistance with the investigation.

Internet Safety

“Online predators do not care how long it might take to establish a relationship with a child or how far they must travel if they find a vulnerable victim – especially during summer vacation, when more young teens are home alone or unsupervised for longer periods of time,” Corbett said.

Corbett said that summer typically triggers a jump in the number of incidents involving Internet predators. Last year, our Child Predator Unit arrested 32 people during the spring and summer months, including men who traveled to Pennsylvania from as far away as Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio, all hoping to sexually victimize children.

Corbett recommended that parents and other caregivers should also monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:

* Checking the websites they use frequently.
* Searching the social networking sites they visit.
* Asking them to show you their online profiles on Facebook, MySpace and other websites and discussing the items they may be posting online.

Corbett added that parents and kids need to understand that safety concerns now extend beyond home computers.

“Many cell phones and game systems can be used to send and receive messages or photos and can also be used to access websites,” Corbett said. “The same safety rules need to be applied to all of these devices.”

Corbett said that parents should also emphasize that kids should not share personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and should be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.

An explosion on the BP operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed eleven crew members on April 20, 2010, sparking the greatest environmental disaster in United States history. In combination with the Texas City Refinery Explosion and the Prudohoe Bay Oil Spill, this marks the third serious incident involving BP in the United States in the last five years. Current estimates put the amount of oil being discharged from the broken well at above 1,050,000 US gallons per day! There are over 400 different species of animals living in the area affected by the spill. 330 sea turtles and 39 dolphins have been found dead within the spill area (NOAA). BP is operating oil skimmers and other cleanup tools to try to remove oil from the water and Louisiana is building oil containment berms to halt the spread of oil. Experts are uncertain what effect, if any, these efforts will have.

View what your town would look like here.

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The man was identified as Eric Lee Werner, age 25, of 191 Falmouth Road, Bainbridge.

Corbett said that Werner allegedly used an Internet chat room to approach the undercover agent, asking if she was a virgin.  During their first online chat Werner allegedly proposed sending some nude photos of himself to the girl, but cautioned her to keep the activity secret, adding, “if your mom or dad see me giving you naked pics that would be bad.”

According to the criminal complaint, allegedly Werner engaged in a series of sexually explicit online chats over the next several months, sending nude photos and graphic webcam videos.  Additionally, Werner proposed meeting the girl for sex – suggesting that she wear a “school girl outfit” so that they could “be naughty.”

“It is important for every parent to understand that electronic predators are a regular presence on the Internet and a very real threat to child safety,” Corbett said.  “Often, these sexual stalkers will send nude photos or videos during their first online chats with children, or will pressure kids to meet them for sex.”

Corbett noted that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit has arrested 263 online predators since it was created in January 2005, including residents from every corner of Pennsylvania along with suspects from numerous other states. To-date, the Child Predator Unit has a 100% conviction rate.

Werner is charged with four counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene or sexual materials and performances) and one count of criminal use of a computer, all third-degree felonies which are each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.

Werner was preliminarily arraigned on June 8th before Mount Joy Magisterial District Judge William G. Reuter and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.  Werner is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18th, at 9:30 a.m.

Werner will be prosecuted in Lancaster County by Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones of the Attorney General’s Child Predator Unit.

Corbett thanked the Susquehanna Regional Police Department for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.

Internet Safety

“Online predators do not care how long it might take to establish a relationship with a child or how far they must travel if they find a vulnerable victim – especially during summer vacation, when more young teens are home alone or unsupervised for longer periods of time,” Corbett said.  “Online safety and security should be a regular topic of discussion in every home, and we urge parents to emphasize that children should always tell a trusted adult if an online stranger says or does something inappropriate or sexual in nature.”

Corbett said that summer typically triggers a jump in the number of incidents involving Internet predators.  Last year, our Child Predator Unit arrested 32 people during the spring and summer months, including men who traveled to Pennsylvania from as far away as Texas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Ohio, all hoping to sexually victimize children.

Corbett recommended that parents and other caregivers should also monitor how kids are using the Internet, including:

* Checking the websites they use frequently.
* Searching the social networking sites they visit.
* Asking them to show you their online profiles on FaceBook, MySpace and other websites and discussing the items they may be posting online.

Corbett added that parents and kids need to understand that safety concerns now extend beyond home computers.

“Many cell phones and game systems can be used to send and receive messages or photos and can also be used to access websites,” Corbett said.  “The same safety rules need to be applied to all of these devices.”

Corbett said that parents should also emphasize that kids should not share personal information online, like full names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and school information, and should be especially cautious about strangers who approach them online.

Suspected internet predators can be reported to the Attorney General’s Office by clicking on the “Report a Predator” link, located on the front page of the Attorney General’s website, at www.attorneygeneral.gov or by calling the toll-free Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

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The 2010 Kutztown Folk Festival runs from July 3-11 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. Hours daily are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a free brochure, please call 1-888-674-6136 or 610-683-1597.

Renowned for her Early American tole and decorative paintings–and Ray Oxenford, an accomplished traditional tinsmith, will make their 15th straight appearance at the Kutztown Folk Festival from July 3 through July 11, 2010. They will also participate in several other guild, craft and arts shows throughout the remainder of 2010.

Pat Oxenford designs and decorates all types of tinware including trays, document boxes, coffee and teapots, spice canisters and more using authentic 18th, 19th and 20th century designs. She is very much in demand for her work and knowledge and frequently offers toleware and tole painting seminars at the festival. Her specialty is recreating old-world German bride’s boxes and personalizing them for clients for weddings, anniversaries and other occasions. She has done numerous commissions and teaches at the Kutztown, Pa. German Cultural Heritage Center  and at the Harleysville, Pa. Mennonite Museum.

At this year’s festival, she will be introducing three smaller versions of her Jonas Weber chests and new Lehnware turnings. She will also exhibit her bride’s boxes, toleware, Weber-style miniature chests, wooden wall shelves, pipe boxes and wall sconces. She will also sign and sell her book, “Heritage Crafts Today—Tole Painting” (Stackpole Books) at their festival booth (A-1) in the A Building.

Pat Oxenford is also featured in photographer Sally Wiener Grotta’s traveling exhibit “American Hands,” a celebration of Americans who are keeping alive the functional skills that helped build the country.  It will be offered at various locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.(www.AmHands.com)

Ray Oxenford, who collaborates with his wife and makes all of their wooden items including the bride’s, salt, candle, Bible and pipe boxes and Weber-style chests, has more than 45 years experience in the antiques business, as well as being a tinsmith and woodworker. He creates his own tinware using authentic 18th and 19th century patterns and designs and restores old tinware. The couple often recreates an early tin shop as part of their shows.

The Oxenfords will also appear at these 2010 events:

• The Historic East Berlin 36th Annual Colonial Day on Sat., Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is being held rain or shine on West King Street in East Berlin, Pa.

• The Applebutter Frolic at Harleysville, Pa., on Sat., Oct. 2, sponsored by the Harleysville Mennonite Museum, where Pat Oxenford also teaches and exhibits.

• The 42nd Annual Traditional Craft and Folk Art Sale, South Heidelberg Township Municipal Building, Wernersville, Pa., on Sat., Oct. 16.  It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.

• The 61st Annual Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Juried Holiday Craft Festival on Nov. 6 and 7 at Keystone Hall, Kutztown university, Kutztown, Pa. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Visit the Oxenfords’ website at www.paoxenford.com or the festival website at www.kutztownfestival.com.

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Governor Rendell said 46 school districts will receive more than $600 million in bonds made possible through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The ARRA program will save the districts – and taxpayers — an estimated $513 million in financing costs.

“These funds will help put people to work on vital construction projects, save energy costs and help improve educational programs – and the attractive financing will save the taxpayers more than half a billion in financing costs,” Governor Rendell said. “With federal help, we lowered costs and are helping our districts make these terrific improvements. It’s what the Recovery Act is all about.”

Governor Rendell said the school districts – a mix of large and small, rural and urban — will use the special financing toward projects that will reduce their energy or water consumption, construction that will enable a district to boost its kindergarten, pre-K or upgrade early childhood education, or give more students access to science, technology or engineering lab settings.

The 46 school districts have plans for 101 projects which meet those priorities; 63 projects will reduce energy or water consumption; 28 will improve early childhood education facilities and; 27 will increase access to applied learning labs.

Pennsylvania’s allocation for the Qualified School Construction Bonds was $602 million – the sixth largest allocation in the nation. Under the program, the federal government pays essentially 100 percent of the interest on the QSCB bonds, which are issued under the recovery act’s Build America Bonds program.

“We went one step further to decrease the costs,” Governor Rendell said. “For the first time in the commonwealth’s history, we’re doing one single bond issue, which means that rather than 46 school districts each paying their own bond counsel and underwriting, the Public School Building Authority will handle the function for all of them at once.  It means that each district will pay just a small portion of the one-time cost for the bond work.”

Governor Rendell was joined today by representatives of four districts receiving the funds: Lancaster, Palmyra, Donegal and York.

Below is a list, by region, of school districts eligible for QSCB funds, and the amount (in thousands):

Altoona/Johnstown Area: $14,214
Clearfield Area – $1,965
Harmony Area – $9,700
Glendale -$2,549

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area: $125,177
Scranton – $59,627
Stroudsburg Area – $17,000
Wilkes-Barre Area – $800
Williamsport Area – $32,750
Wyoming Valley West – $15,000

Greater Philadelphia:  $83,242
Downingtown Area – $28,303
Great Valley – $999
Lower Moreland Twp – $1,000
Norristown Area – $15,600
Radnor Township – $1,500
Southeast Delco – $15,750
Upper Darby – $5,090
William Penn – $15,000

Lehigh Valley: $20,666
Allentown City – $5,666
Conrad Weiser Area – $15,000

Northeast: $28,852
Carbondale Area – $15,000
East Stroudsburg Area – $1,220
Hazleton Area – $10,370
Panther Valley – $2,262

Greater Pittsburgh: $153,444
Big Beaver Falls Area – $1,638
Cornell – $476
Duquesne City – $645
East Allegheny – $15,000
Farrell Area – $810
Jeannette City – $1,715
McKeesport Area – $15,000
New Castle Area – $15,000
Peters Township – $770
Pittsburgh – $50,503
Sharon City – $15,000
South Fayette Twp – $16,887
Washington – $20,000

Northwest: $30,505
Corry Area – $2,901
Erie City – $22,078
Otto-Eldred – $5,526

Susquehanna Valley: $146,310
Donegal – $17,000
Harrisburg City – $9,194
Lancaster – $55,281
Lebanon – $15,000
Mahanoy Area – $2,235
Palmyra Area – $15,000
Purchase Line – $8,000
York City – $24,600

Statewide total: $602.4 million

For more information, visit the Department of Education online at www.pde.state.pa.us. For more information about how the commonwealth is investing federal Recovery Act funds to benefit Pennsylvania residents, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

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