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From Senate Republican Policy Development & Research Office December 19, 2008 Philadelphia Mummers Parade to Kick Off 2009 Join the live festivities on New Year's Day, January 1, 2009, as the streets across the City of Brotherly Love overflow with the floats, balloons, and marching bands of the Philadelphia Mummers Parade. The 108-year-old tradition will find 10,000 men and women dressed in colorfully lavish costumes twirling, sashaying, pirouetting, and strutting up one of the Philly's main streets. The unforgettable parade and performances are all family-friendly, yet exciting enough to entertain everybody. Mummery traces its roots to ancient Roman laborers who ushered in the festival of Saturnalia by marching in masks while exchanging gifts and satirizing the issues of the day. In the 1600s, Swedish settlers to Philadelphia's outskirts honored Christmas by beseeching their neighbors for dessert and liquor by dressing up, chanting and shooting firearms. The party eventually migrated to New Year's Day and evolved into a series of neighborhood parades. As immigrants moved to the area from Ireland and Italy, each group added their own cultural flair to the local customs. In 1901, the tradition began in earnest with the first recognized and judged Mummers Parade. The term "Mummer" is German and means "to costume or masquerade." Stop by the Mummers Museum and take in the vast collection of Mummer paraphernalia and memorabilia. The Museum uses colorful exhibits to demonstrate the tradition of Philadelphia Mummery. Make a weekend of it and consult the Travel Tools webpage at VisitPA.com for food, lodging, and area attractions and activities. Last Minute Tax Considerations The Internal Revenue Service is issuing a reminder regarding a few last minute tax planning considerations. As December 31 brings 2008 to a close, the IRS says it's time to open those files and organize those piles of receipts in preparation for the filing of 2008 tax returns. The first questions on a filer's mind frequently are -- what records should I keep, why, and for how long. Recordkeeping for Individuals, IRS Publication 552 (Rev. December 2008) addresses the "what, when, where, why and how" of recordkeeping for individuals. The IRS publication sheds light on why you should keep records, the kinds to keep, and for how long. The length of time for maintaining records, according to the IRS, is dependent upon the period of limitations for each return; this is the period of time in which you can amend your return to claim a credit or refund or the IRS can assess additional tax. See page 6 of Recordkeeping for Individuals. Records no longer necessary for tax purposes may be of value for other purposes, according to the IRS. Consult your insurance company or creditors to determine how long those entities may require you to maintain certain records. While preparing for tax season, consult the IRS reminder for recent tax changes and reinstated tax deductions. If you have not yet filed electronically, the IRS wants you to know it is the fastest and most efficient way to prepare taxes. The error rate of an e-filed return is less than 1 percent compared to 20 percent for a paper tax return. Nearly 90 million returns were filed electronically this year, accounting for about 58 percent of all filers. E-filing is not only easy, safe and accurate, it is also the fastest way to receive a tax refund and take advantage of direct deposit. Your refund may arrive in as little as ten days with IRS e-file and direct deposit. You can also prepare to file individual and business returns through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Department of Revenue website. Watch Out for New High-Visibility Vests During holiday and all future travels across the Commonwealth, be prepared to spot and properly react to the new high-visibility vests to be worn by Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) troopers and motor carrier enforcement officers while directing traffic and conducting other duties on busy roadways. A recent study found that about 50 police officers, firefighters, and rescue personnel have been struck by vehicles while performing duties along roads this year. Thousands of high-visibility vests have been distributed while thousands more are expected during 2009. The adoption of the vests was necessitated by Federal regulations. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is reminding motorists of the state's Steer Clear Law requiring drivers to move over or slow down when encountering an emergency vehicle with lights flashing and where road crews or emergency personnel have lighted flares, posted signs, or tried to warn motorists. Road workers and emergency responders are permitted by law to report violations. Citations may be issued by police based on their reports. Penalties for violating the Steer Clear Law include:
Shifts in PA Hunting Seasons Pennsylvania hunters need not despair the close of firearms deer season in mid-December, according to the PA Game Commission (PGC). Upcoming hunting and trapping options include seasons for deer, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, squirrel, cottontail, pheasant, coyote, beaver, other fur bearers, crows, doves, and waterfowl. Consult the 2008 – 2009 PGC Hunting and Trapping Digest for specific hunting seasons and bag limits. Deer hunters will not be disappointed with archery, regular firearms, and flintlock opportunities. Trapping season for certain furbearers began in the fall and will continue into spring 2009. The current license remains in effect through June 30, 2009. Link to the Digest's table of contents for complete details on winter and spring seasons and bag limits. Here to Help in PA Do you know someone struggling to make ends meet during tough economic times? The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is "Here to Help". The state has compiled a webpage promoting the use of a wide variety of programs, including upgrading professional skills to find a new job in a high-demand industry. Visit "Here to Help" and select from the current menu of resources:
The "Here to Help" website puts many beneficial programs under one umbrella to make it easier for individuals and families to locate available resources. Answers to Question about the Pending Analog to Digital TV Switch Don't let the switch to digital television in less than two months catch you off-guard. If you have yet to determine your set's capabilities, the PA Public Television Network (PPTN) recommends you consult your set's owners manual. For those unable to locate the TV's manual, you may be able to look up information about your TV set on the manufacturer's website or try an up-close look at your TV set. Determine if your set has an input connection labeled "digital input" or "ATSC" for Advanced Television Systems Committee, which is the DTV format. If you are still uncertain whether you will require a TV Converter box to view digital TV, the PPTN has prepared general guidelines for those unable to locate their owner's manual:
Options for those with TVs incapable of displaying a digital signal may be to connect to cable, satellite, or other pay service; purchase a TV with a digital tuner; or, purchase and plug into a converter box. The TV Converter Box Coupon Program provides two coupons each worth $40 that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes, expected to range in cost between $50 and $70.
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