2013

   Note: Newest reports are listed first and continue chronologically in the order they were submitted. Any ideas can be submitted to Public Information Officer Jeff Greenburg at jgreenburg@mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. 

•     ABSENTEE BALLOTS AVAILABLE, APPLICATIONS CHANGED

    Mercer County has received absentee ballots for the May 21 municipal primary and will begin mailing them to voters who have applied. The deadline to apply is May 14 and completed ballots must be received by the Bureau of Elections no later than May 17.

    Voters are reminded that applications for absentee ballots have changed since the partial implementation of the Voter ID law in 2012. Although the in-person voting portion of the new law is being challenged in court this July, the absentee portion of the law was not challenged last year and is being enforced.

    The new tri-fold applications, which are white with blue print, differ greatly from the old and much smaller postcard-like applications. The new application requires voters to provide a Pennsylvania driver’s license or ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number if they don’t have a state identification number. They are available online at www.votespa.com, or at the courthouse and most local post offices, municipal buildings and libraries.

•     CELEBRATE EARTH DAY/ARBOR DAY AT MUNNELL RUN

    Come join the Mercer County Conservation District in cooperation with Munnell Run Farm on Saturday, April 20 from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM to celebrate our Earth Day/ Arbor Day festivities.  The very first Earth Day occurred 42 years ago due to the efforts of U.S. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson.  He became inspired to develop a day set aside for the public awareness of air and water pollution after witnessing the ravaging effects of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.  He felt that such a day set aside would force environmental protection onto the national political agenda. 

    This year’s Earth Day celebration will take place at Munnell Run Farm, located at 753 Greenville Road, Mercer, PA 16137.  Meet at 9 AM in the “Pig Barn”.  From 9 AM to 11 AM, you will have the freedom to rotate to different stations; Station One- “Secrets of the Indian Medicine Man”  Come learn about many of the native plants and animals of PA and how the local Native Americans utilized them.  Station 2- “Backyard Wildlife”  Come learn about ways to feed backyard wildlife, especially the birds, and what plants attract what species.  Station 3- “Trout 101”  Come take a tour of our trout nursery and learn about the interesting life of the trout.  Station 4- “Wagon Ride” Sit back and relax while you get escorted by our John Deere around the farm via wagon. From 11:15 AM to 11:45 AM, a free lunch will be served.  The afternoon, to celebrate Arbor Day, will consist of planting trees on Munnell Run Farm.  We will hold our celebration, rain or shine.  Please be sure to dress for the weather and if you have any shovels or gloves, be sure to bring them for the tree planting in the afternoon.   

•     WINGED MIGRATIONS FEATURED AT FREE MOVIE NIGHT

    Come join the Mercer County Conservation District on Wednesday, April 17 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM for a free movie night highlighting magnificent bird migrations from around the world.  Come enjoy footage take by a team of over 500 people who utilized planes, helicopters, gliders, and balloons to capture footage flying alongside, above, below, and in front of the various birds.  It is incredible filming and takes you as close to flying with the birds as possible.  Please pre-register by calling (724) 662- 2242 and asking for Jacqueline.  This program is free to the public and will be held in the “Pig Barn” at Munnell Run Farm which is located at: 24 Avalon Court Suite 300 , Mercer , PA 16137 .   We will have drinks and fresh popcorn available; all money donations received for the refreshments will go towards future environmental education programs. 

•     MERCER COUNTY ELECTION SURVIVAL GUIDE ’13 …

  … OR (ALMOST) EVERYTHING AN INFORMED VOTER NEEDS TO KNOW!

  ELECTIONS

  1.      Election Dates:

  a.       Primary – May 21, 2013

  b.      General – November 5, 2013

  2.      Voting Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  3.      Key word: PATIENCE

  4.      Educate yourself as to what offices are on the ballot. This year you will see the following:

  a.       Statewide: Supreme Court – 2 retentions;  and Superior Court – one vacancy and two retentions (retentions appear only on November ballot and this list is unofficial until certified by the State on Feb. 19)

  b.      Countywide: Controller, Treasurer and Jury Commissioner

  c.       County Judicial : Common Pleas Court (one vacancy and one retention) and Magisterial District Judge (one seat)

  d.      Municipal and School District : Mayors, Council, Supervisors and other municipal offices, and School Directors.

  5.      Voter ID: The General Assembly passed a Voter ID law in 2012 that would require all voters to show some form of photo ID at the polls beginning with the May 2013 primary, but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is expected to hear arguments against implementation of the law this summer. At this moment, however, voters would be required to show a photo ID in May unless the courts issue an order delaying implementation prior to that.

  6.      Haven’t used the county’s touch screen voting system before? No problem. A voting tutorial is linked at the county’s Web site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. Click on Voter Registration/Elections and then link to View ESS iVotronic. Or visit the election office at the courthouse for an opportunity to get your hands on a machine.

  7.      Expect lines at certain times of the day, especially first thing in the morning, around lunch time and then after dinner. The shortest waits usually occur mid-morning or mid-afternoon.

  8.      Pennsylvania law allows candidates and campaigners to electioneer, pass out campaign materials and talk to you as long as they are 10 feet from the polling room. There is nothing, however, that requires you to answer them or take their materials. But if you do take any campaign literature, please DO NOT leave it in the polling place. You MUST have a clear path to the polling room and if you believe campaigners are impeding or blocking that path, please inform a poll worker.

  9.      Voters are permitted to wear political attire into the polling place. Voters cannot, however, do or say anything beyond simply wearing the item or they will be asked to leave. Poll workers and poll watchers are not permitted to wear political attire.

  10.  Electronic recording or photo devices are not permitted to be used in precincts.

  11.  ALL voters IN LINE at 8 p.m. – even if that line stretches outside the building – are permitted by law to vote. If you are NOT IN LINE at 8 p.m. when the Judge of Elections announces the polls are closed, you are NOT allowed to vote.

  12.  Election returns will be posted as they arrive at the courthouse on the county’s Web site at www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us.

  PETITION INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

  13.  The first day to circulate and file a petition for Republicans and Democrats is Feb. 19, 2013. The last day to circulate and file a petition is March 12, 2013. Packets for local candidates will be available in the election office beginning Feb. 13, 2013.

  14.  The first day to circulate and file nominating papers for minor party and independent candidates is March 13, 2013. The last day to circulate and file nominating papers is Aug.  1, 2013. Packets for those candidates will be available in the county’s election office beginning March 13, 2013.

   VOTER REGISTRATION

  15.  Voter Registration Deadlines:

  a.       Primary – April 22, 2013

  b.      General – October 7, 2013

  16.  If you have moved since you last voted, you need to register at your current address. If your name has changed as a result of marital status or some other reason, you need to register under your new name. Fill out and submit a new Voter Registration Mail Application which can be found at www.votespa.com.

  17.  If you haven’t voted in more than five years, there is a good chance your voting status has been made inactive or canceled. If you are inactive, you can vote but you are required to show a proper form of identification and sign an affirmation.

  18.  If you have been canceled, you must register again.

  19.  If you have any question about your voting status, it’s worth the time needed to check on it. Stop in the election office at the courthouse or call us at 724-662-7542. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

   ABSENTEE BALLOTS

  20.  If you are going to be out of the precinct on Election Day or you have an illness or disability that prevents you from going to the polls, you can vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballot applications are available at many post offices, municipal buildings and libraries in the county, as well as online at the county’s Web site or by calling the election office.

  21.  The deadline to apply for a regular absentee ballot for the primary is May 14, 2013, and the ballot must be returned to the election office by 5 p.m. May 17, 2013. The deadline to apply for a regular absentee ballot for the general election is Oct. 29, 2013, and the ballot must be returned to the election office by 5 p.m. Nov. 1, 2013.

   POLLING PLACES

  22.  You can check your polling place location online at the county’s Web site: www.mcc.co.mercer.pa.us. Click on Voter Registration/Elections at left and look for a link to polling locations. There are also precinct maps.

   

• SEEDLING SALE SET FOR 2013
  
  
  It’s that time of year again; time to start thinking about your new and innovative landscaping ideas for your home and surrounding property.  The benefits from a yard properly landscaped are vast.  Did you know that if you properly landscape your lands, you increase the property value by 10 percent?  By planting trees that increase shade such as various hardwoods and conifers, it lowers the temperature of the surrounding area.  This can eventually lead to a lower electric bill because the air conditioner is not running 24/7 during the summer months.  Trees, especially conifers, can actually lower the cost of heating in the winter.  If you plant these trees close to or adjacent to your house, it acts as a windbreak.  By acting as a windbreak, cutting winds are not able to creep into your home, causing you to turn up your heat to combat the cold.  Not only does landscaping help out economically, it’s also very important for surrounding wildlife.  You can plant native species that are flower or seed producing to attract wildlife and provide food for those organisms.  Not to mention that many of those plants that produce nuts and fruit are also enjoyed by people too. 

   Our 2013 seedling sale brings a line-up of new plant, bundle sizes, and new products.  We have variety packs available that contain 2 of each species in each pack.  These bundles include: $15 berry bundle (Red Thornless Raspberries and Jewel Black Raspberries), $6 conifer cluster (White Pine, Eastern Hemlock, and Blue Spruce), $10 wildlife cluster (Elderberry, Serviceberry, and Crabapple), and a $10 oak cluster (White, Red, and Pin Oaks).  We have $5 single species bundles that contain 6 of one species; these bundle options are: White Pine, Blue Spruce, Eastern Hemlock, and Norway Spruce.  We are also offering $5 single species small bundles that contain 3 of one species.  These include: Sugar Maple, American Hazelnut, Paper Birch, Fraser Fir, and Sycamore. New this year is a blueberry bundle; you get one Bluecrop and one Friendship blueberry plant for $18.  Also new this year are single plant orders; the species included are: $5 Rhododendron, $4 Bald Cypress, $4 American Cranberrybush, $3 Arrowwood Viburnum, and $3 Rose of Sharons.  Be sure to check out our products for 2013 to enhance your backyard habitat.  We have our cedar bluebird nesting boxes ($15) available like last year.  New this year, are cedar birdfeeders ($22) and small bat boxes ($30).  We want to thank the woodshop at Lakeview High School for graciously constructing all of our boxes and feeders this year.  To attract butterflies and hummingbirds, be sure to purchase our seed mix ($5) that includes over 26 native flower varieties, both perennial and annual. New this year are our rain barrels ($65); these are a great way to utilize rain water from gutters.  Be sure to order all your items today!!  For more information, please call (724) 662-2242 or visit www.mercercountycd.com.  

   

• VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR PRESENTED WITH SPECIAL HONOR
  
  
  
  Mercer County Veterans Affairs Director Lt. Col. Larry Scheetz displays a very special honor that was presented to him recently by more than a dozen soldiers and full-time civilians from the 475th Quartermaster Group, Farrell, during a retirement ceremony after 371/2 years of service and 30 years as a full-time technician. The inscription on the guidon explains it is being “awarded for excellence,” noting that “No words speak the measure of what you have done for the 475th Quartermaster and its soldiers.” 
  
  A presentation of a guidon, or flag, is normally reserved for the best of the best when it comes to company commanders and is done so by the commanding officer’s own unit. “To receive a group/brigade guidon is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially for a Lt. Col/Executive Officer,” said Scheetz, who has served in Germany, Honduras, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States during his career.