KEYSTONE CLIPS Voters to decide $100M bond issue

More than 90 percent of Pennsylvania's communities are served by volunteer fire departments, and voters will get a chance to show their appreciation for that protection Nov. 5.
That's Election Day in Pennsylvania, and there will be a statewide referendum asking if the state should borrow $100 million in a bond issue to provide funding to improve volunteer fire and emergency services across the state.
The money would be made available to local departments in the form of grants.
'Kids and Chemistry'
Some elementary school pupils from Reynolds and Jamestown will get a chance to try their hand at chemistry Oct. 27 at Thiel College.
The Thiel College chapter of student affiliates of the American Chemical Society will host the "Kids and Chemistry" program as part of National Chemistry Week.
Fourth- through sixth-graders will view some chemistry demonstrations and then get some hands-on experience making play putty and slime, playing chemistry bingo and determining the effectiveness of various household liquids. Parents are welcome to attend.
Bessemer leaf collection
Leaf collection in Bessemer begins this week. Residents can pile their unbagged leaves at the curb every Monday through the end of November. Borough officials have hired a company that collects the leaves through a vacuum system.
There are still plenty of slots available in Pennsylvania's new adult health insurance program, said State Rep. Chris Sainato of New Castle, D-9th.
When the program was unveiled in the summer, there was room to enroll 40,000 people in the first year. As of September, only 18,049 people had signed up.
To be eligible for AdultBasic, an applicant must be a Pennsylvania resident 19 to 64, have no other coverage for at least 90 days before enrolling, not be eligible for Medical Assistance or Medicare, and meet income requirements based on family size.
Benefits include preventive care, physician services, diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury, inpatient hospitalization, outpatient services and emergency care.
A person earning up to $17,720, a married couple earning a maximum $23,880 or a family of three earning up to $30,040 can qualify. Larger families should add $6,160 for each additional person residing in the household to determine income requirements. To apply, call (800) 462-2742 or go to the Web site at www.compass.state.pa.us.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Harold Gwin, Vindicator Sharon Bureau, and Laure Cioffi, New Castle Bureau.