April 9, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall
• Draping of the Charter in memory of Brother Harold Steeley
• Program to be announced

May 14, 2014 – Plumsteadville Grange

• Monthly Meeting – 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall
• Program to be announced

Help Needed for Grange Dinners

The Grange will be catering the following private dinners – please volunteer to help prepare, serve and clean up. Pies are also needed – contact Annette Crooke 610-470-6602 if you can help or provide a pie or two.

• April 6 – Lamb/Wool Pool
• April 26 – Pineville Horse Company
• May 10 – Pt. Pleasant Baptist Church

These dinners help raise fund for our Grange programs. Your help and support are needed and much appreciated!

Last Fish Fry Before Easter – April 11

This is your last chance to get our delicious fish ‘n chips with all the fixings before Easter. Volunteers are also needed to help prep, serve, and clean up. Contact Jim Lomax 215-766-9801for more info.

 

Our previous fish dinners were successful – Let’s keep up the good energy to achieve our goal of $1,000 to be donated to the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to benefit local deaf children and their families.

 

Ellen Elaine Crooke Scholarships 2014

Sponsored by Plumsteadville Grange

Application Deadline May 1^st 2014

• Scholarships for 4H members, alumni, and children of Plumsteadville Grange Members
• Two scholarships of $500 each will be offered. One will be Agriculture related and one will be for a study of the student’s choice.
• Students can reapply for study year 2 if they have maintained a grade point average of 2.5 or above, but they will compete with new students applying for year 1.
• Agriculture students may apply in year 2 for a subject of their choice.
• Students to apply to Plumsteadville Grange on the 4H/Plumsteadville Grange application form available from Nancy Stephenson at the county Extension office.

 From the Desk of Marguerite Quinn

State Representative, 143rd Legislative District

Residents Concerned with Spikes in Electric Bills

Within the past few weeks, numerous residents have called my office about recent increases in electric bills – brought on by the variable rate charged by your electric generation supplier.

The House Consumer Affairs Committee will be looking into this matter by holding a public hearing on Thursday, March 20, in Harrisburg. From testimony gathered at that hearing, we’ll be able to see if legislation would help correct this situation.

In the meantime, here’s a short explanation of why this is happening: Competitive electric generation suppliers are not public utilities and their rates are not subject to government regulation. These suppliers operate in a competitive, free market environment. The terms and conditions of service offered by a competitive supplier are contained in the contracts it offers to customers. 

When a consumer signs up for service from a competitive generation supplier, it is important to carefully review the terms and conditions of service, which contain important information regarding the type of rate (fixed or variable), how the rate is determined, if the rate includes taxes and fees, and if the contract is subject to early termination or cancellation fees.

Under fixed rate contracts, consumers are charged the same price for electric generation for the duration of their service contract with a competitive generation supplier. However, variable rate contracts are generally subject to a promotional rate period, followed by fluctuating monthly rates based on wholesale electric prices.

I cannot stress enough that variable rates change based on wholesale market conditions. While these types of contracts may work for some consumers, anyone considering a variable rate contract for electric generation should be aware that the rates are market based, and that dramatic rate increases may occur. Market prices for electric generation are constantly in flux – and greater demand for energy, as evidenced by our cold winter – is one of those factors.

Unfortunately, consumers with variable rate contracts are impacted by these record-breaking wholesale prices, and have seen or will see increases in their monthly bills as a result. However, a large increase in a variable rate does not, on its own, point to inappropriate conduct by an electric supplier.

Customers on a variable rate plan are encouraged to contact their supplier on a regular basis to find out the rate the supplier is charging for that day/month. Customers should also be aware of any early termination or cancellation fees associated with their contracts. If switching to another supplier, please be aware that it takes one or two billing cycles for the switch to be completed. During this time, you will continue to be a customer of the “old” supplier.

We have all been told before, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. I look forward to the Consumer Affairs Committee’s findings on this subject, and will push for any relevant legislation that will protect consumers from any unfair business practice in the future.

Happy Birthday

To All Plumsteadville Grange Members Who Have A Birthday In April 2014 —
 Birthdays are good for you, the more you have the longer you live .  Happy Birthday!

Did You Know?

PA’s trout producers raised more than $13.5 million worth of PA-grown fish in 2012 for commercial, conservation and recreational use, placing the state third in the nation and ensuring happy anglers during trout season.

Youth can create 4-H projects in more than 100 categories and exhibit them at fairs throughout PA.  In 2013, 103,000 PA youth participated in more than 1,400 4-H clubs in all 67 counties across the state.

PA is home to 39 historical markers honoring ag like the Doylestown Ag Works in Doylestown, Bucks Co. The factory produced farm machinery and iron works sold around the world from 1867-1937.

7 March Issue of Inside PDA, Weekly News from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

PA is home to 10 percent of the nation’s hardwood lumber supply and exports $1.2 billion in hardwoods yearly. Help keep this supply safe by taking care to prevent wildfires

14 March Issue of Inside PDA, Weekly News from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Bedminster Township Newsletter & Website

The Township’s new website is now up and running at www.bedminsterpa.com. .

On the home page, at the bottom, there is a place to subscribe for news alerts (e-blast); the Township will be sending out a monthly newsletter with upcoming events and notices to all members that subscribe.  Please let people know that this is available. 

 If you know of any upcoming non-profit events that you would like included on the monthly newsletter, please contact us ([email protected]  &   [email protected]  .

Pharmaceutical Drop Off

State Representative, 143rd Legislative District

Did you know medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning? Just as disturbing are the alarmingly high rates of prescription drug abuse among teens. A National study, conducted last year by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and the MetLife Foundation, found that 49 percent of teens who misuse or abuse prescription medicines get them from a family member or friend. More often than not, these drugs are found in our medicine cabinets. 

This year’s U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Take-Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Temporary drop-off boxes will be set up throughout or communities on that date to help you safely dispose of medications. For the convenience of Plumsteadville Grange members following are some drop off sites that will be available in your respective communities:

Bucks County Courthouse  55 E. Court Street  Doylestown, PA 18901  215-348-6000 

Doylestown Township Police  425 Wells Road  Doylestown, PA 18901  215-348-4201 

Dublin Borough Police   119 Maple Avenue  Dublin, PA 18917  215-249-0272 

Hilltown Township Police  13 West Creamery Road  Hilltown, PA 18927  215-453-6000 

Pennridge Regional Police  200 Ridge Road  Sellersville, PA 18960  215-257-5104 

Perkasie Borough Police  311 S. 9th Street  Perkasie, PA 18944  215-257-6876 

Plumstead Township Building   5186 Stump Road  Plumsteadville, PA 18949  215-766-8741 

Take Precautions When Applying Manure

Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Greig urged PA farmers to follow state laws when spreading manure this spring to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination. All farms that generate or use manure are required by state law to have a Chapter 91 Manure Mgm’t Plan or Act 38 Nutrient Mgm’t Plan. Contact your local conservation district for more details.

Members Sick or in Distress

Do not under estimate the power of prayer. Please keep the following Plumsteadville Grange members and Grange friends in your prayers:

• Betty Diamond
• Lillian Shull
• Margaret Moyer
• Harold Keeler & family
• Family of Raymond Gross
• Family of Harold Steeley

   

Like” us on Facebook

– We welcome members, friends and market vendors to post your comments. Search for “Plumsteadville Grange” or “Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market”

Use of the Grange Hall

:
Many groups that use our hall, making it truly a community center. If you know of a group needing a meeting place, or to inquire about hall rental for an event, contact Meg Lomax at Meg Lomax at
215-766-9801 or [email protected]

Newsletter

If you have something to share in the newsletter, or to get it via email, please contact Jane Birk at
610-657-7668 or [email protected].

THINK SPRING …

Farm Market Opens

May 31^st

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