PennDOT has announced it is the time for motorcyclists to plan to enhance their driving skills through the 2011 Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program. The program offers courses for new and experienced riders at 70 locations across the state. Courses are offered March through October. A full schedule is available online at www.pamsp.com .
New this year is a 3-Wheeled Motorcycle Basic Rider Course (3WBRC), which will be offered in Butler, Lehigh and York counties. PennDOT introduced the new course due to the increasing popularity of three-wheeled motorcycles and the unique safety concerns these vehicles present.
The 15-hour Basic Rider Course (BRC) consists of five hours of in-class instruction and 10 hours of practical riding experience. This safety and skills overview provides training for new riders and gives experienced riders the opportunity to polish their skills and correct any unsafe riding habits they may have developed. Students taking the BRC are provided a motorcycle and helmet; however, students are responsible for providing all other protective gear.
All PAMSP courses, including the new 3WBRC, are free to Pennsylvania residents who have a motorcycle learner's permit or motorcycle license. All training courses are conducted on a riding range, under the management of certified rider coaches.
To enroll, individuals must have either a motorcycle learner's permit or license. Motorcycle learner's permit holders who successfully complete a course will be issued a motorcycle license. Those who successfully pass their skills test on a three-wheeled motorcycle will be issued a motorcycle license with a "9" restriction, meaning they are prohibited from operating a two-wheeled motorcycle.
For information and to enroll in a course, visit www.pamsp.com or call 1-800-845-9533, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-noon.
Breakfast buffet set for Saturday
An all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet will be held 7-11 a.m. Saturday at the Ford Cliff fire hall. Cost of meal is adults, $6 and children, $3. The fire hall is at 609 Neale Ave., Ford Cliff. Event is sponsored by the Ford Cliff Fire Company Ladies' Auxiliary.
Senior, alumni night Friday
The Kittanning Boys Basketball Senior and Alumni Night will be held before and during the varsity game at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the gymnasium. The 2011 senior Wildcat players and past alumni players will be honored. Alumni players are asked to sign in at the lobby to be recognized and be part of the human tunnel.
Meetings
• The Allegheny Power/West Penn Power Retirees will meet for its monthly breakfast meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday at King's Family Restaurant, Hilltop Plaza, East Franklin.
• The Kittanning High School Class of 1949 will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Mel's Pizzeria, West Kittanning.
• The Eljer Retirees' Club will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Local 158 Union Hall, Route 85, Rayburn.
• Sweet Country Music, formerly Tri-State Country Music, Chapter 2, will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Ford City Veterans of Foreign Wars. Those attending are asked to take a covered dish to share and also an item for the Valentine basket raffle. Donation is $3 at the door. There will be music and dancing after the meal and meeting.
• The Kittanning Junior High Band Boosters will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the junior high band room.
• The Armstrong-Kiski Area Chapter of the Women's Business Network will meet at 8:15 a.m. Monday, at Books and Beans, 156 Market St., Leechburg. The chapter meets the second and fourth Mondays each month and is open to area women business owners and those in sales in the Armstrong County area who would like to meet to network and share ideas to expand their business. For information contact Brenda DeMeno at 724-339-5310.
• The Allegheny Valley Chapter of the Women's Business Network will meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the UPMC Lighthouse Point at Chapel Harbor across the road from Waterworks Mall, Fox Chapel. The group meets bi-monthly on the first and third Tuesdays each month. Meeting agendas include self-marketing and a business presentation by an individual member For information contact Maryanne Barnes at 412-781-3171 or realtybud@aol.com .
