September 28, 2011

The privatization of state
stores and a tax on Marcellus shale are the two biggest issues facing the state
Republican caucus in the Pennsylvania legislature, according to state Rep.
Stephen Barrar, R-160, of Boothwyn.

Barrar made the comment during
a health and safety fair at Endo Pharmaceuticals in Chadds Ford Township
Saturday.

The Delaware Country
representative said the debate on the shale is whether to go to an impact fee
or a Marcellus shale tax.

Barrar would like to see some
of that money go directly to the people of Pennsylvania in a manner similar to
how oil money goes to the people of Alaska.

“The real debate is going to be
where the money will be spent. My idea is to put the money into a fund. [That]
money generated from a Marcellus shale tax, part of it would go back to local
communities, part of it will go to environmental protection and part of it will
be used to send a check — every two years — to every man woman and child in the
state for the balanced of that fund,” he said. “An income tax reduction would
be just as worthy,” he added later.

Barrar foresees Pennsylvania
becoming “the number one energy producing state in the country” in five years.

“If people really believe that
the natural resources really belong to the people of Pennsylvania, then we
should do something to make sure every person benefits, like Alaska does,”
Barrar said.

The money should not be used
for additional spending, because, he said, ”We’re spending enough. We don’t
need to spend anymore.”

Even without a tax on the
shale, revenue because of it will still increase in the state by $5 billion, he
said.

The other hot issue is the
privatization of the state-owned wine and spirit shops, the state stores.

It’s an old idea, but Barrar
said the chances of the state actually selling those properties are better now
and it could come to a vote soon.

“It should come to a vote
before we adjourn for the Christmas break, I’m hoping. Our Majority Leader Mike
Turzai [R-Allegheny County] is the prime sponsor of the bill. I think the bill
has more momentum than we’ve ever seen in the legislature because we’re in a
different position than we were when Dick Thornburg tried and when Gov. Ridge
tried. We’re actually in a very serious financial position. If we can sell the
state stores for $2 billion, and still increase the amount of revenue coming
into the state from the increased number of licensees out there, I think that’s
a good thing for the commonwealth,” said Barrar.

The fair itself saw 53 vendors,
government and private health and service providers, displaying their wares and
services. The featured attraction was a demonstration of the Aston Township K-9
police unit.

Oohs and ahs came from young
and old alike as K-9 Jax, under the control of officer Mikell Jones, showed off
his protective skills.

It may not be a topic that people want to talk about, but head lice are, what Judy Young calls, “an equal opportunity bug,” affecting anyone regardless of age or social strata.

Head lice are insects that live only on the human scalp. They usually start with kids, but once in the home, everyone in the family can be affected. They don’t cause illness, but can cause secondary infections from the scratching that people do to relieve the uncomfortable itch.

Young, a former school nurse in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, opened Lice Lifters in the Plaza at Chadds Ford on Route 1 near Heyburn Road in August. She said she had seen an exponential increase in the incidents of head lice.

Lice Lifters employs a hot air treatment with a device called the Louse Buster, an FDA approved appliance. It’s similar to a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment, but uses controlled heat and airflow to kill the lice and the nits.

Young said the 130 degrees does not burn the scalp.

“We’re constantly moving it and we rock it back and forth and it’s 30 seconds in each area,” she said.

Young added that they move the device in specific, overlapping patterns, the horseshoe and the Mohawk, to cover the entire head.

That procedure kills the nits, but is followed by a complete comb out for cosmetic reasons. She sends the client home with a solution that “smothers” the live bugs.

A complete treatment, with the Lose Buster and comb out can take an hour or longer, depending on the length and thickness of the hair.

Lice Lifters charges $175 for the treatment and another $20 for the solution. Young said they’ve had complete success.

Young said the Louse Buster kills 84 percent of the bugs and 99.2 percent of the nits, while the solution handles the rest.

A female louse lays three to five eggs twice per day, Young said. The solution, used properly, destroys the lifecycle.

According to Young, lice have been around for time immemorial, affecting such people as Cleopatra and George Washington.

“They can only live on a human head. They can last about 24 hours off a human head, like on a sofa, then find their way back into somebody’s head.”

The Louse Buster can’t be used on children younger than the age of four or for anyone with metal in their head, Young said.

For questions or an appointment, call 610-558-1434.

Dee
and Dennis are juvenile guinea pig’s that are available for adoption through the Chester County SPCA. They came to the shelter because
the 9- and 11-year-old kids in the house were no longer willing to take care of
them. They are very sweet boys who would like to go home together. Dee is tri
color and Dennis is brown and white. Their favorite treats are timothy hay and
carrots. Dee and Dennis are two great guinea pig that are
now looking for a responsible care giver who will give them the love and attention
they deserve. If you are able to provide that home, visit the Chester County
SPCA at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or call 610-692-6113. Dee’s
registration number is 96805602 and Dennis’s registration number is 96805603. To
look at some of the other animals available for adoption, visit the shelter or
log onto www.ccspca.org.