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GET Solar Communities Centre Region

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

With the quickly rising cost of electricity and the new federal incentives available for those going solar, now is the time to explore how going solar on your own property can save you money. Many Pennsylvanian companies and organizations have saved thousands to millions of dollars in energy costs over the life of their solar systems, with many more expected to go solar in the next few years.

That’s why a local group of community leaders have partnered with the PA Solar Center (a statewide nonprofit) to form GET Solar Centre Region. GET Solar Centre Region will provide businesses, nonprofits, and community property owners with free technical assistance and financial guidance on going solar – namely, how it can save them money.

For example locally, University Mennonite Church installed their 27.75 kW solar array in June 2023. The 75 solar modules are designed to offset 100% of the church’s annual electricity consumption. This will save them an estimated $96,000 in energy costs over the next 25 years.

Want to know how your company or organization can do the same? Plan to attend one of the free informational meetings scheduled at noon on September 19th, and 20th over Zoom.
We will be teaching some creative ways organizations like yours could reap the benefits of solar energy. You can expect to learn more about the following:

  • Tax credits
  • Grant programs
  • CPACE
  • Technical assistance
  • USDA REAP program grants and loans

The PA Solar Center will even offer a free assessment of your company’s solar potential and can issue RFPs for estimates from qualified solar developers. The PA Solar Center will review the bids with you and help you make sense of them — serving as your unbiased guide through the whole process.


If you are interested in attending, please register here: GET Solar Centre Region (pasolarcenter.org). Can’t attend but are interested in learning more? Contact Pam Adams at Centre Region COG, padams@crcog.net.

Discovery Garden Kaleidoscope Dedicated

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

The new interactive kaleidoscope at the Discovery Garden in Holidaysburg, was officially dedicated to the community at a ceremony on Thursday, September 14th.  

Numerous civic leaders, volunteers, and garden enthusiasts took part in the festivities, as live music, refreshments, and door prizes greeted all in attendance.  The fete took place during the garden’s anniversary week, marking 23 years since one parcel of the Legion Park property transformed into the Discovery Garden. 

The Blair County Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30pm.  Chamber ambassadors and staff joined volunteers from the Discovery Garden, the Women’s Club of Altoona, Skills of Central Pa staff members, and the Mayor, for a grand photo opportunity in front of the kaleidoscope.   

When the public reception at began at 5:30pm, Holidaysburg Mayor Joe Dodson was first at the microphone to welcome the community to the garden.  Next, were remarks and expressions of gratitude from JoAnn Propcheck, representing both the Women’s Club of Altoona and the Blair Garden Club, and Skills of Central Pa CEO Val Barner.  Finally, Leslie Smith, of the Discovery Garden Committee, dedicated the kaleidoscope to the community.   

The kaleidoscope was designed and constructed by R.L. Anderson, one of the world’s most renowned kaleidoscope artists.  As a permanent fixture now residing the in the Discovery Garden, visitors of all ages can enjoy the merging of nature and physics at the Discovery Garden all Spring, Summer, and Fall. 

Throughout the party, Sophie Kahn delivered beautiful music from her concert harp.  The young harpist is supported by Skills of Central Pa’s Employment Services division. 

About The Garden: 

The Discovery Garden, a project of the Skills Foundation, is an award-winning public garden located in Legion Park, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, adjacent to the Kids’ Kingdom Play Park, at 1501 N Juniata St., Hollidaysburg.  For more information, visit www.discoverygardenpa.com 

Since its opening in 2000, the Garden has become a community and regional sightseeing and gathering destination. This beautiful and peaceful place is dedicated to the memory of Courtney Leigh Claton.  In 2008, Discovery Garden earned the Community Greening Award presented by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Alliance; the award recognizes the creation and maintenance of a public green space that enhances the community. The Discovery Garden is handicapped accessible and includes a Horticultural Therapy Garden maintained by individuals from Skills of Central PA.    

Other specialty gardens in this inviting botanical space include the Cottage Garden, which earned the 2016 “Garden of Distinction” blue ribbon from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; the Time Garden, which contains one of the largest horizontal sundials on the East Coast; and the Children’s Garden, which includes a potting shed, a rabbit hole tunnel and a rainbow garden. The Discovery Garden also contains the Planting Garden, comprised of raised beds planted in the spring by local elementary school students. Dedicated volunteers maintain this community garden; they work every Thursday morning from April through mid-October.  

The Chamber is excited to announce that the Annual Celebration and Chamber Awards are back

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Join the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County for this year’s Annual Celebration and Chamber Awards on Thursday, October 26, 2023. This is where we honor Centre County’s businesses, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Join us as we recognize our member’s outstanding contributions that bolster our region’s economic growth and contribute to a vibrant Centre County. This is a time for us to recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our local businesses and those that work to provide impactful innovation to the economic vibrance of our wonderful area. We encourage you to nominate an outstanding business or employee that deserves such a recognition.  Sponsorships are also available.

To see our list of awards and submit a nomination form, secure your reservation or explore sponsorship opportunities click here: Annual Celebration & Awards – Chamber of Business & Industry Centre County (cbicc.org).

Two Penn Highlands Healthcare Hospitals Earn National Recognition

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

Penn Highlands Elk and Penn Highlands Huntingdon have earned five stars from Becker’s Hospital Review for outstanding staff responsiveness. The two hospitals are among 530 in the United States and only 17 in Pennsylvania to earn this distinction.

The Becker’s star rating is based on data collected from hospital patients using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

“Superior staff responsiveness creates a safer environment, higher patient satisfaction scores and more positive outcomes,” explained Rhonda Halstead, Penn Highlands Healthcare Regional Market President – Central Region, which includes Huntingdon, Blair and Centre counties. “This recognition indicates to our communities that our staff is dedicated to meeting their needs when they come to our hospitals for care.”

Brad Chapman, President of Penn Highlands Elk, shares Mrs. Halstead’s view. “The men and women who provide care at our hospitals are some of the most skilled, caring and compassionate people in this region. “The five-star rating is the stamp of approval that shows our commitment to high-quality care.”

 

Boost Your Productivity with These Practical Habits

Posted on by Jeannine Lozier

SUMMARY

  • Batching tasks allows you to group similar tasks together and focus on them for a specific period of time, improving concentration and allowing you to monotask rather than multitask.
  • “Eating the frog” is a productivity hack that prioritizes the most difficult task first, leading to feelings of accomplishment that can carry over into the rest of the day/week.
  • Automating your attention by turning off notifications, putting your phone on silent, and using online scheduling helps avoid distractions.
  • Power napping for 10-20 minutes before 2pm (or 5pm for night owls) can improve cognitive function and boost creativity.
  • Incorporating these habits can help increase productivity and make you more efficient – practice proactively to see real results 

~ 593 words / 3 minute read 

Although productivity is an essential component to work and life, it’s not a subject most people learn in school. At first glance, the ability to stay focused, get organized, and finish tasks on time seems to be a talent bestowed at birth on the lucky. Thankful productivity experts have another view. Your productivity does not manifest from your genes but from your habits. The following productivity hacks will help you take control of your time and transform the way you work.  

Batch Your Time

Time batching is a technique where you set aside specific timeframes for certain tasks. Instead of jumping from one task to another, time batching allows you to group similar tasks together and focus only on them for a specific period. For example, instead of reading emails throughout the day, you schedule a specific time to read and respond. Likewise, you might set aside specific times each day for returning calls or scheduling appointments. Time batching improves concentration and allows you to monotask rather than multitask, which research has shown to be ineffective. We all wish there was more time in a day. By batching your tasks, you’ll be able to work more efficiently, save time, and minimize distractions.

Eat the Frog

American humorist Mark Twain once wrote, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” Productivity experts have latched onto Twain’s metaphor to address the way many people avoid hard tasks. Unfortunately, that avoidance has a cost. Stress, anxiety, and low-energy happen when we put off important work. Much like ripping off a band-aid, ‘eating the frog’ means prioritizing difficult work. Once you’ve conquered a challenging task, your feeling of accomplishment will carry over into the rest of your day, even your week.

Avoiding Distractions

Distractions can significantly affect productivity. Edward G. Brown, an efficiency and workflow consultant, argues that our biggest time bandits come from momentum loss, starting over, and do-overs because of errors. Nir Ayal, author of Indistracible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, recommends using technology to automate your attention. Simple habits like turning off notifications during work hours, putting your phone on silent, and having clients book appointments through an online scheduler keeps your attention on your most important work and saves you time throughout your day.  

Power Naps

Can sleeping in the daytime really make you more productive? Just ask some of the world’s most successful basketball players like Lebron James or Derrick Rose, who have relied on naps to boost performance. Research shows that it’s not just athletes who benefit from napping. Power naps, defined as a 10-20 minute daytime sleep burst, can help recharge your energy, improve cognitive function, boost your creativity, and improve your work performance. When’s the best time to power nap? Sleep experts recommend before 2pm for most people or as late as 5pm for night owls. When you find yourself reaching for afternoon caffeine, you’ll know it’s time for a quick nap.  

The Takeaway 

Incorporating productivity habits like time batching, prioritizing hard tasks, avoiding distractions, and power naps are practical ways to increase productivity and become more efficient. By adopting these habits, you’ll be able to work smarter, not harder. Start by trying one or two habits for a few weeks and track how your productivity improves. Remember, productivity is like a muscle you develop, so practice everyday to get stronger.