Managing Winter Home Energy Bills

Winter Reconnect Order, Assistance Programs Provide help with Managing Home Energy Bills

Over the fall and winter months, the PUCO will be providing information to help consumers “Keep PACE with Winter Heating Bills.” By utilizing the four aspects of PACE – Preparation, Assistance Programs, Choice, and Energy Conservation – consumers can help keep their heating bills more manageable throughout the winter heating season.

Sometimes despite even our best preparation, it can be difficult to pay for winter heating bills. For these situations, there are state and federal assistance programs available to help pay for both natural gas and electric bills. By taking the time to research these assistance programs now, you will be better prepared to apply for and receive assistance if you need it this winter.

Winter Reconnect Order Assistance now Available

Each year, the PUCO issues the Winter Reconnect Order to allow customers who have had their heat disconnected or are faced with disconnection to pay $175 plus a reconnection fee of no more than $20 to have service restored or maintained. If you owe less than $175, you can prevent disconnection by just paying the amount owed. New for the 2008-09 winter heating season: Customers requesting new natural gas or electric service, who have no previous balance with their utility, may establish service using the winter reconnect order.

You can use the Winter Reconnect Order only once from now until April 15, 2009. There is no income requirement, but you will have to sign up for a payment plan.

Contact your natural gas or electric company to learn more using the Winter Reconnect Order to keep your service turned on. More information is available on the PUCO Web site.

Additional Assistance Programs for Qualifying Households

Percentage of Income Payment Plan

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) allows eligible customers to pay a certain percentage of their monthly income for utility services, making the payments more affordable. If you are eligible for PIPP, you will pay 10 percent of your income for your primary heating source and 5 percent for your secondary heating source during the winter heating season.

To qualify for PIPP, you must:

· Apply for all energy assistance that you are eligible for; and

· Have a gross yearly household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

To sign up for PIPP, contact your gas or electric company. More information is available on the PUCO Web site.

Home Energy Assistance Program

The Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as HEAP, is a federal program administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). Through HEAP, you can receive a one-time assistance payment based on your usage to help pay for heating bills.

Any customer who meets the income guidelines is eligible to apply for HEAP. You can find HEAP applications at local Community Action Agencies, post offices, and libraries throughout the state. Keep in mind that each household should only mail one HEAP application per winter heating season. For more information about HEAP, contact the Ohio Department of Development.

Winter Crisis Program

The Winter Crisis Program is a special component of HEAP that provides assistance to eligible households that are disconnected or being threatened with heating disconnection. This program is administered by local Community Action Agencies, and you should contact your local Community Action Agency for more information about the program.

HeatShare Program

The HeatShare program is administered by the Salvation Army throughout Ohio to help households who qualify pay for natural gas bills. The program runs from January through May, or until the funds run out. Each natural gas company may have different eligibility requirements for the HeatShare program, so you should contact your local Salvation Army for more information.

Home Weatherization Assistance Program

The Home Weatherization Assistance Program provides education and funding to help low-income households conserve energy and lower their monthly bills. Through this program, you may qualify for services such as insulation, air leakage reduction, heating system repairs or replacements, and health and safety testing. For more information about this program, contact the Ohio Energy Office.

Assistance Regardless of Income

If you don’t financially qualify for utility assistance programs, there are other payment arrangements available with no income requirements to help households manage heating costs.

Budget Billing

While budget billing may not provide monetary assistance, this program helps you manage energy costs by spreading out the cost of your energy usage over a 12-month period. This way, you pay a set amount each month of the year instead of facing higher bills during the winter months. To learn more or sign up for budget billing, contact your utility company.

Create Your Own Christmas Cards or Scrapbook Pages!

Come create your choice of 6x6 Christmas themed scrapbook pages, or Christmas cards. This creative and fun class will be held at the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library Main Branch, located at 207 N. Market Street, Waverly on Monday, November 10th. The class will begin at 5:30p.m.

You will be shown how to convert a Simply Scrapin' Kit into these creative projects. Great for gift-giving or keeping for yourself! No need to bring photos to the class. You'll simply create the pages, and slip your pictures in at home. Chrystal Amato, Independent STAMPIN' UP! Demonstrator, will be your class instructor for the evening. Please bring your choice of adhesive for project completion. No experience needed. This class is for ages 12 and up. To reserve your spot, simply contact the library no later than Monday, November 3rd. When reserving your spot, please specify your class preference (cards vs. scrapbook pages). Class size limited to the first 8 that respond.

To register for the program, please call 947-4921 and ask for the Reference Desk.

Paranormal Researcher Neal Parks to Speak

Are you interested in the unknown? Spirits, hauntings, UFOs, angels… things beyond this realm? Come hear Parks speak about his experiences with the paranormal, learn about devices he uses to research paranormal activity, such as Electromagnetic field meters and Electronic Voice Phenomenon, and have an opportunity to have your questions about the supernatural answered.

Tuesday, October 21
6:00p.m.
Main Library
in the Community Meeting Room.
No registration required.

Author Saundra Crum Akers

Interested in books set in the southern part of Ohio? Saundra Crum Akers’ books are. Tempest Rider, an Appalachian mystery is set in Peebles Ohio, Spooked is set in Waverly, The Smelly Man is set in Bainbridge, Guilty is set in Circleville, and her most recent book and the main topic of her presentation, Manifesting Destiny, is set in Washington Court House.

Monday, October 20, 2008
6:30p.m
Main Library
207 North Market Street
in the Community Meeting Room.
No registration required.

Game Night Canceled on October 9th

Game night has been canceled next week, Thursday, October 9th...

But will return on Thursday, October 16th...

Banned Books Week 2008

"Closing Books Shuts Out Ideas"
Banned Books Week
September 27th - October 4th, 2008

Banned Books Week 2008 is the 27th annual celebration of the freedom to read. This freedom, not only to choose what we read, but also to select from a full array of possibilities.

To see Katie Couric talk about Banned Books Week, click here.

BOOK SALE!

The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library has scheduled a Book Sale in the Community Meeting Room of the Main Branch for Friday, October 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, October 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The library is located at 207 N. Market Street, Waverly. All proceeds will benefit the library. Items to be sold include adult, young adult, juvenile, and children’s fiction and nonfiction books, as well as videos, cd’s and magazines and other items. Be sure to check out the great buys and support your local library!

Game Nights and Rock Band

We will be continuing to hold game nights on Thursdays, 5:30 - 7:30 pm, for kids of all ages.  

Our game nights so far have been a great success! Attendance has been steadily increasing, and last week we had 15 people attend! And we've been having a blast with Rock Band. 

So, now we'll have the Wii set up with 4 controllers and Rock Band set up on the PS2 at a separate station, with ability to play drums, guitar, bass, and/or sing. This game also supports up to 4 players at once...

Read for the Gold

Thanks to everyone that helped with the race this year! The weather was cool and just perfect for the event.  Here are a few pictures.

Runners Start

 

Walkers Start

  

Top Runners 

Top Walker

5K Run / 3K Walk Fundraiser Event

The Read For the GOLD! Fundraiser race will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2008. The 5K Run and 3K Walk will be held rain or shine in Bristol Village, beginning at the Activity Center, located at 625 5th Street, Waverly. Registration and check-in begin at 7:30 a.m., with the race beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m. The registration fee is $15. Registrants who sign up are ensured a t-shirt commemorating the event. Race registration sheets may be picked up at the Waverly, Piketon, Beaver, and Western library branches, and also at the Bristol Village Activity Center. You may also download a form off www.pike.lib.oh.us, or register the day of the race. Everyone is encouraged to participate by entering, or by coming down and cheering on those who will be competing!
For more information, contact Jennifer Wright at the library at 947-4921.

Eastern Library Closing for Construction

Due to construction, the Eastern Branch of the library will be CLOSED from Friday, August 22nd through Labor Day, Monday, September 1st, 2008. Plans are to re-open on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Food for Fines Week @ the Library

You can help the Pike County Outreach Council Food Pantry by "paying" your library fines with nonperishable food items at any branch of the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library, during the week of the Pike County Fair.  July 28th through August 2nd is "Food for Fines" week at the library.  Simply bring in one nonperishable food item for up to $5 in library card fees, and your fees will be waived.

For example, if you owe $12.95 in fines, a donation of 3 nonperishable items will cover your fines. In addition, any fees accrued on items returned late during that week will be removed when you bring in items for the pantry. The library reserves the right to reject donated items that are damaged, dented, expired, etc...

The Pike County Outreach Council Food Pantry helps to feed hundreds of families in the area throughout the year.  The summer months are a particularly necessary time of year for donations.  According to an Outreach Council volunteer, right now the pantry has a distinct need for canned fruit, noodles, dried beans (navy or pinto), and soups (other than tomato).

Your donation at any branch of the library during fair week will help many people.  Click here for our locations.  Please call (740) 947-4921 or email us at gawref@oplin.org if you have any questions about this or any other library service. 

Columbus Zoo Visits

 The Columbus Zoo made its annual visit to Pike County, Wednesday, July 9th, courtesy of the Garnet A. Wilson Public Library and the Pike County YMCA.  For the first time, the event took place in the YMCA gymnasium, which provided much needed extra space.  The visit is also made possible by a generous donation from the First National Bank.


 The bleachers were packed to capacity, as zoo keeper Keith Hornsby educated everyone about a variety of our friends from the animal kingdom, including a dingo, a flamingo, cockroaches, a cane toad, a legless lizard, a bearcat, an armadillo, and even a young leopard.

Wiggly Fun

On Wednesday, June 18th, Sarah Anderson visited the Waverly branch of the library to educate kids about Worm Farms and their importance in composting. The kids had a chance to hold the worms and learn all about the important job they do.




The earthworm species most often used are Red Wigglers or Red Earthworms. These species are commonly found in organic rich soils throughout Europe and North America and especially prefer the special conditions in rotting vegetation, compost, and manure piles. Composting worms are available from nursery mail-order suppliers or fishing shops where they are sold as bait.

Library 5K Fundraiser Race

Download Registration Form

The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library's Read for the Gold! fundraiser race will be held on Saturday, August 16th, 2008. The 5K Run and 3K Walk will be held, rain or shine, in Bristol Village, beginning at the Activity Center, located at 625 5th Street, Waverly.

Registration and check-in begin at 7:30 am, with the race beginning promptly at 8:30 am. The registration fee is $10 if registered on or before August 8th, $15 if registered after August 8th. Participants are ensured a t-shirt commemorating the event. Race registration sheets may be picked up at the Waverly, Piketon, Beaver, and Western library branches or click here to download a registration form. You may also register the day of the race.

The course is flat and shady through beautiful Bristol Village. Participants compete on a combination of asphalt and concrete course.Everyone is encouraged to participate, whether you compete or cheer on the participants!

The mission of the library is to encourage community members to read throughout the year. This race is a fun way to raise funds to continue our endeavor of promoting literacy within our community. And you can help support our library by registering for our race! For more information, contact Jennifer Wright at the library at 947-4921.

Download Registration Form