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Ford's Focus
The Dog Days of Summer have certainly arrived as we head into another week of extremely high temperatures coupled with high humidity. Please be cautious at work and at home until this heat wave passes. Stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade or indoors, and keep an eye on your coworkers, family members, and friends. More tips on staying safe during these high temperatures can be found below.
I'd also like to acknowledge all of those across various OPP divisions, including Buildings & Grounds and Energy & Engineering, for all the work you put in to make sure our cooling systems on campus continue to run smoothly especially during weeks like this one. Your work is vital to keeping our faculty, staff, and students comfortable and productive, not only during the summer, but all year round. Keep up the great work!
Best,
Ford
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Welcomes
 Joe Hammers accepted a position as an equipment operator. His first day was June 27. Hometown: Rebersburg
Hobbies: Hunting
 William McGrath accepted a position as a chilled water operator. His first day was July 25. Hometown: State College
Hobbies: Boating, hiking, dogs
 Adam Nileski accepted a position as an electrician. His first day was June 27. Hometown: Cresson
Hobbies: Shriner, homebrewer
**If your picture was not included, we would be glad to include it in a future edition. Please contact Susan Bedsworth to set up a time to have your photo taken.
Farewells
Beau Klein, stockroom clerk, has left the University. His last day was June 23.
Melissa Maines, a maintenance worker utility, accepted a position with ICA. Her last day was July 11.
Dan McKee, maintenance worker utility, has left the University. His last day was July 8.
Chrissy Moyer, administrative support assistance, accepted a position with Penn State Outreach. Her last day is July 29.
Ken Troyer, maintenance worker utility, accepted a position at Penn State Harrisburg. His last day was July 15.
Gordon Turow, director of Campus Planning & Design is retiring after 15 years of service. His last day is July 29.
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Focus on Safety, Quality, and Scheduling
Killian McKelvey of Frank Lill & Son, Inc. wrote to OPP to offer his appreciation for the work of the employees at the West Campus Steam Plant. "We would like to thank all project team members and plant personnel for their efforts over the past year. We have completed many challenging and complex activities to meet our construction milestones. Many of our accomplishments would not have been possible without the team's strong focus on safety, quality, and scheduling."
Long-term Support
Steve Briskar, director of facilities for The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, wrote in to share his thanks for the efforts of Mark Linsenbigler from EHS. "Just wanted to pass along my appreciation for Mark and his help with our ISP. He is always awesome to work with and I greatly appreciate the support he has provided to me for many years." |
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The items in the June 23 issue of News & Views were cylinder wrenches used by locksmiths.
Items from the June 23 edition:
Congratulations to Debra Way for your correct guess!
The next "Tools of the Trade" items are below. What do you think this is used for and by a person with what type of job? Email your guess to newsviews@psu.edu.
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Don't forget! The OPP Events Committee is once again presenting "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on Tuesday, Aug. 2. Enjoy an afternoon of Spikes Baseball as they take on the West Virginia Black Bears at 12 p.m.
Your tickets includes admission to the game, an all-you-can-eat picnic buffet, and half-price post-game happy hour drinks from 4-5 p.m.
A special thank you goes out to our generous sponsors Barton Malow, Automated Logic, and Kramer.
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OPP On Twitter
OPP was recognized on social media a few times during Arts Fest. Check out the tweets and images below.
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Penn State's annual test of University Park's ability to reduce its electricity consumption was once again a success with an impressive 38 percent reduction during the June 23 test. Between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. OPP worked behind the scenes to remotely power down as many pumps, fans, compressors, and lights as possible, while University employees and students were encouraged to shut off their lights and office equipment. Central electricity metering during the test hour averaged 23.5 megawatts (compared to its peak usage of 37.8 that day).
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Penn State is once again honoring our military service members and veterans with Military Appreciation Day on Nov. 5, 2016. This year, the goal is to provide 10,000 tickets to service members and their families to attend the Iowa football game at Beaver Stadium.
Donated tickets for service members are $35. If you'd like to donate tickets, download the order form (pdf). You can fax, mail, or call 1-800-NITTANY to place your order. Thank you in advance for supporting this wonderful program. |
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 Hastings Hall and Its NamesakeHastings Hall, a residence hall in East Halls, is named for Daniel Hastings, 21st Governor of Pennsylvania. Former Governor Hastings had an interesting history. At age 12 he made several attempts to run away and join the Union Army during the Civil War, was elected principal of Bellefonte High at age 18, and assembled a team to assist during the Johnstown Flood of 1899. As governor, he founded the State Game Commission.
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With prolonged high temperatures and high humidity, it's important to remember how to stay safe during a heat wave, especially when working outdoors.
Heat is typically the leading cause of weather-related fatalities each year. Heat waves, which have temperatures above 90 degrees for more than 2 days, have the potential to cover a large area, exposing a high number of people to a hazardous combination of heat and humidity. Together the two are very taxing on the body.
Heat related deaths are preventable! Check out the tips below to help keep you and your family, coworkers, friends, and others safe.
- Never leave children, disabled adults, or pets in parked vehicles. Leaving windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the rate at which the car heats up.
- Learn the symptoms of excessive heat exposure and the appropriate responses.
- When outside, whether for work or pleasure, take breaks in the shade, limit strenuous activities, and stay hydrated.
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 For the 3rd consecutive year, a team from OPP will participate in the State College Free to Breathe Run/Walk at Tudek Park on Oct. 16. The effort began after Tim Heltman, a much loved member of our lives here at OPP for more than 25 years, lost his battle with lung cancer.
While the team was started in Tim's name, there are others at OPP who have been touched in some way by this disease. We have changed the name to OPP Cares to honor all of those people alongside Tim. Please join us in raising funds that support promising lung cancer specific research and provide more hope to families currently fighting the disease.
Join our Team
Registering online is easy. Once registered, your account provides several tools to get the word out and gather support from friends and family. On the day of the event you can choose to run the 5k, walk the 1-mile event, or just cheer on the participants. There is also a kids dash following the race.
Donate!
If you would like to support our team, please consider a donation. The money funds research with the goal of doubling the lung cancer survival rate by 2022.
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Strawberry Powder Study
 Healthy, non-smoking men and women are needed for a research study examining the effects of a freeze-dried strawberry powder on LDL cholesterol and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. We are seeking participants 35-65 years of age with a BMI of 25-39kg/m2. Subjects must be healthy and not taking medications for high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes or inflammatory conditions. Participants will be provided with two different amounts of freeze-dried strawberry powder and a placebo powder for 4-6 weeks each, with a 2 week break between test periods (total time for study is 16-22 weeks). At the completion of the study, participants will receive lab results and compensation of $350. If you are interested in learning more about the study, please call 814-863-8622 or email psustrawberry@gmail.com, mention the Strawberry Supplementation Study and leave your name and a contact number. This study is being conducted by Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, Department of Nutritional Sciences, at Penn State.
 Cranberry Juice Study
Healthy, non-smoking men and women are needed for a research study examining the effects of a cranberry juice beverage on blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. We are seeking participants 30-65 years of age with a BMI of 18-39kg/m2. Subjects must be healthy and not taking medications for high cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes or inflammatory conditions. Participants will be provided with a cranberry juice beverage and placebo beverage for 8-12 weeks each, with an 8 week break between test periods (total time for study is 24-32 weeks). At the completion of the study, participants will receive lab results and compensation of $200. If you are interested in learning more about the study, please call 814-863-8622 or email psucranberry@gmail.com, mention the Cranberry Study and leave your name and a contact number. This study is being conducted by Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, Department of Nutritional Sciences, at Penn State.
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We are continuing our current trend of changing pace to focus on a more fun aspect of retirement-what you're going to do when you don't have to be at work every day. The prospects are endless. For those into traveling, here are another five destinations to add to your list.
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 The Florida Keys - Key West and Key Largo are charming, each in their own unique way. If you're into literature, Ernest Hemingway's Key West house provides a peek into the author's home base. He is said to have written, standing up at his typewriter every morning at sunrise. -
 Hamilton Pool Reserve, Dipping Springs, Texas - This one-of-a-kind swimming hole, part of a natural preserve, boasts a 50-foot waterfall spilling over limestone outcroppings. It's an ideal place for swimming, picnicking, and relaxing. -
 Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Jackson Hole is truly breathtaking thanks to its backdrop of dramatic peaks. Visit nearby Grand Teton National Park to see snowcapped mountains, shimmering lakes, thick forests, alpine meadows, and roaming herds of bison and antelope. Visit in the winter for some incredible skiing and snowboarding. -
 The Grand Canyon, Arizona - The grandeur of the canyon is one of the most overwhelmingly magnificent sights in the world. No American road trip would be complete without a stop. -
 Central Park, New York City - Skip the madness of Midtown Manhattan and head into Central Park, one of the biggest feats of urban greenscaping in the country. The American elm-lined Mall and Literary Walk is iconic and has been host to many a cinematic moment.
Check out this section in the next edition for more ideas of great places to visit.
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Centre Hall CATA Vanpool
The Centre Hall to University Park CATA Vanpool is currently looking for riders. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with rates based on the number of riders.
For more information, please contact Lisa Ward.
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Have something to sell? Let us know! E-mail Susan Bedsworth with your item(s), details, contact information
 and photos. We will include it in the next edition of News & Views. And don't forget about OPP's Yammer Group "Up for Grabs." Just sign in with your University ID and password to post your item.
Lion Surplus
Lion Surplus handles the removal of University-owned equipment in environmentally responsible ways, such as sales, bids and auctions. Their store, located at the corner of Services Rd. and Big Hollow Rd., is open to students, faculty, staff and the public. The inventory changes daily, but the store routinely has gently used furniture, computers and other electronics, scientific equipment, and much more.
Follow Lion Surplus on Facebook to keep up to date on inventory and special events.
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| | Phumara Cox, Susan Bedsworth, Mike Jackson, and members of his church volunteered once again to pack boxes of food for needy families in Port Matilda. More than 100 boxes were back on July 15. |
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Contact Us
If you have any comments or suggestions for News & Views, contact Susan Bedsworth by e-mail or at 863-9620.
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Drink water first thing in the morning and continue to sip all day.
Follow the 50/10 rule. Work on one important task for 50 minutes and then take a 10 minute break to refocus.
Clean your workspace. A clean workspace gives you energy and inspiration and lets you focus on the work you need to complete.
You can find a list of carpoolers and regional bus services through the 
