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In this Update:
* Visit to the Gettysburg Christmas Train
* Increased Funding for Libraries
* Tips for Safe Winter Driving
* Look Out for Scams, Fraud and Theft During the Holiday Season
* Fishing Gift Vouchers, Licenses on Sale
* College Application Period is Open
* Dec. 7: Remembering a Day of Infamy

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** Visit to the Gettysburg Christmas Train
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I was given an outstanding tour of the Gettysburg & Northern Railway in downtown Gettysburg. I got an inside look at the incredible work they’re doing with their four passenger cars to support and strengthen our community. It was great to discuss ways we can help them continue moving forward.

Gettysburg & Northern Railway is spreading Christmas cheer all December long! They’ll be hosting festive Christmas train rides throughout the month, including the Holiday Santa Train Rides and the Cozy Cocoa & Coffee Train Rides. This is a fun and festive way to spend time with family and friends this holiday season.


** Increased Funding for Libraries
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The recently enacted state budget includes a $5 million boost to support Pennsylvania’s 474 public libraries (630 counting satellites like branches and bookmobiles), helping them serve adults, children and families across the commonwealth. The budget also increases funding for library services for the visually impaired and disabled, a program known as the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians ([link removed]) (LAMP).

Since the first Pennsylvania library opened in 1731 (the Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin), libraries have served as vital community resources. Today, they’re evolving to meet the needs of modern users, including the growth of digital lending options like the POWER Library ([link removed]) .

Anyone interested in getting a library card can visit their local library or learn about the Statewide Library Card Program ([link removed]) .


** Tips for Safe Winter Driving
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Last winter, there were more than 8,320 vehicle crashes statewide, with 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways and 29 fatalities – 17 of those fatalities were attributed to crashes where a driver was going too fast for conditions and drove out of their lane.

For safe travels this winter, check out the Winter Driving Guide ([link removed]) and other suggestions ([link removed]) from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, such as keeping an emergency kit ([link removed]) handy.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com ([link removed]) . Free and available 24 hours a day, 511PA provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras.


** Look Out for Scams, Fraud and Theft During the Holiday Season
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The holiday shopping season is prime opportunity for scams, fraud and theft. Some of the most common scams to be on the lookout for include bait-and-switch scams, skimming devices and fraudulent “cybersquatting” websites.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday offered several tips ([link removed]) to prevent scammers from taking advantage when shopping online:
* Watch out for bait-and-switch scams, where a retailer lures customers with a low price — but then substitutes a product that either costs more or is less desirable. Also be alert for scammers, known as cybersquatters, who use fraudulent internet domains that look and sound like legitimate brands or stores to trick unsuspecting customers.
* Be especially careful when paying for services or items with wire transfers, cryptocurrency or money orders. Scammers may also ask for payment for things like bills, parking tickets, etc. via a gift card, which is a big red flag — a gift card is not a normal payment method for these items.
* Do not provide your Social Security number or bank account information and be wary of emails and texts you didn’t request.
* Read the fine print. “Buy Now, Pay Later” services could have hidden fees or penalties in their agreements.

The Attorney General’s Office has set up a Scams Complaint Form ([link removed]) residents can fill out should they encounter any scams. The FBI also provides tips on how to avoid holiday scams ([link removed]) and identify skimming devices ([link removed]) , which are estimated to cost consumers and financial institutions more than $1 billion per year.


** Fishing Gift Vouchers, Licenses on Sale
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Gift vouchers for your favorite angler, along with Pennsylvania fishing licenses and launch permits, are now available ([link removed]) from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Items for the upcoming 2026 season can be purchased at HuntFish.pa.gov ([link removed]) or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents. Licenses, permits and vouchers purchased now are valid immediately for up to 13 months, from Dec. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026.

While in-person retail purchases remain popular, online purchases can save time and help you avoid long lines, especially right before the spring trout season, which begins statewide on Sat., April 4, 2026. Customers can choose an auto-renew option at the time of purchase.


** College Application Period is Open
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The application period for most colleges is now open. If the process is new to you, you can find plenty of resources for the college planning and application process here ([link removed]) .

Find out which colleges have your major, as well as information for students with disabilities, veterans and adult students.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency ([link removed]) can help you access student financial aid services, including grants, loans and other funding opportunities, including the new Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program ([link removed]) .


** Dec. 7: Remembering a Day of Infamy
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Each year on Dec. 7, we remember the 2,403 service members and civilians killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships and destroyed 188 aircraft.

We remember not just the surprise attack, but the steely resolve of Americans to do whatever it took to defeat the Axis forces of World War II.

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