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March 30, 2021
Home improvement projects can help homeowners transform their homes. Such projects are costly, but many homeowners save money by doing some, if not all, of the work themselves. The Electrical Safety Foundation International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting electrical safety, recommends that homeowners leave electrical work to the professionals. Licensed electricians are well-trained, whereas homeowners may not be skilled enough to avoid accidents or injuries, which can prove fatal when working with electricity. Homeowners who take the do-it-yourself route with electrical work should consider these safety tips, courtesy of the ESFI, before beginning a home electrical project. • Learn your home electrical system. Home electrical systems may include power lines, electric meters, service panels, subpanels, wiring, and more. These systems are complex, and homeowners who intend to do some DIY electrical work should familiarize themselves with their home electrical systems prior to beginning any work. The ESFI notes that knowledge of their home electrical systems can help homeowners more safely navigate them and make maintenance easier. • Honestly assess your skills. An honest assessment of skills is absolutely necessary prior
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NEWS
Pa. residents, businesses reminded to prepare for new 582 area code
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) emphasized that mandatory 10-digit dialing for all telephone calls in the current 814 area code begins April 3. The beginning of mandatory 10-digit dialing on April 3 marks the next major step toward the arrival of a new “overlay” area code — 582 — which will eventually serve side-
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by-side with the current 814 area code. The 582 area code will be assigned to new telephone numbers once the available supply of numbers in the current 814 area code is exhausted. Now is the time to confirm that one’s family, business and devices are ready for the switch to 10-digit dialing, so there is a smooth transition on April 3 — especially things like medical alert systems, alarms, and any other systems that automatically
make calls. As of April 3, anyone attempting to make a call in the 814 area code using only seven digits (without the area code) will receive a recorded message prompting them to hang up and redial the call using the full 10-digit number (area code plus seven-digit phone number). To prepare for 10-digit dialing, consumers and businesses are encouraged to check devices that store telephone numbers — including cell phones and
other devices with “speed dial” functions — to be certain that all the stored contacts include the area code. Moving forward, when adding any new numbers to those devices, be sure to include the area code. Devices that should be checked to verify they are configured for 10-digit dialing, include: • Mobile phones, landline phones and tablets and fax See Area Code on page 3...
From the icebox to the ’Burg: Kane woman has penguin namesake
Penguin chick in honor By JOELLEN WANKEL of my mother, Margaret Caruso, and I would like to Kane is known as the thank the National Aviary “icebox of Pennsylvania.” for their exemplary work It seems only fitting then saving birds and protecting that the newest endangered their habitats,” Rich Caruso African Penguin chick at said in a release issued by The National Aviary in the National Aviary. Pittsburgh shares her name When contacted via — yes, it’s a girl! — with a phone Tuesday, Margaret Kane resident. Caruso was happy to talk The National Aviary about the Aviary’s new in Pittsburgh Tuesday addition. She explained her announced the sex and son had called and told her name of the newest of his intentions while the addition to the flock: DNA test was in progress. an endangered African “He has sent me pics of Penguin chick that hatched the penguin, it’s a cute little on Jan. 3. A DNA feather girl,” Margaret Caruso said. test was performed, the “I’m a penguin fan, and I results of which revealed have always been a bird that the chick is female. lover. I do appreciate him The penguin’s name is giving me that honor.” Marge, in honor of Kane’s She said that she was Margaret “Marge” Caruso. invited to Pittsburgh for the Rich Caruso, a Kane name unveiling but opted native currently living to stay home. in Pittsburgh who also “In a couple months I am happens to be a member of going to be 100, that was the board for the Aviary, going to be quite a trip,” was given the honor of Margaret Caruso said. choosing a moniker for the Margaret Caruso said penguin. she has visited the Aviary in the past with her son. “If “I am pleased to work you’ve never been there, with the National Aviary to name their new African
See Penguin on page 2...
Safety first with DIY electrical work to working on an electrical system. According to the National Safety Council, injuries relating to electrical incidents typically fall into one of four categories: electrical shock, electrocution, falls, and burns. Each of these injuries is significant. For example, electric shock, which occurs when electrical current passes over or through a person’s body, involves burns, abnormal heart rhythm and unconsciousness. Given the potential for serious injury, the ESFI urges homeowners to make an honest assessment of their skills before they begin working on their home’s electrical systems. Little or no experience working with electrical systems should be considered a significant hurdle to any DIY project. • Turn the power off. It’s essential that the power to the circuit that will be worked on be
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turned off prior to starting any work. This can be accomplished by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel. Similarly, when working on appliances or lamps, make sure the products are unplugged prior to working on them. • Do not touch plumbing or gas pipes when doing electrical work. The experts at the Indiana Electric
Cooperative note that the risk for electrocution is significant when water comes in contact with electricity. It’s imperative that homeowners do not touch plumbing and gas pipes when performing a DIY electrical project. Professionals know how to work around such pipes while minimizing their risk for electric shock or worse, and homeowners must familiarize themselves with
the techniques professionals rely on to stay safe if they intend to begin DIY electrical projects. Homeowners are best served by leaving electrical work to the professionals.
However, those who insist on doing such work themselves should do their homework and get to know their systems and safety protocols prior to beginning a project.
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