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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Help Center available for victims of mortgage crisis Over the past several weeks I have met many individuals who were significantly impacted by the bankruptcy filing of Personal Financial Management (OPFM, Inc.) and Image Masters. This is understandably a very stressful time for these borrowers, and I have been working to gather resources and information that will assist families in working through this difficult time. With other Lancaster County legislators, I have helped to coordinate a Help Center at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center to provide professional knowledge to those affected by the mortgage crisis. This Help Center will be staffed by volunteers from the Lancaster Bar Association, H&R Block, the state Department of Banking, the state Attorney General's office, and other state and local agencies; while this is not a substitute for retaining individual legal counsel, volunteers can explain documents and the available options so that victims can make informed decisions about their futures. You can request an appointment at the Help Center by calling toll-free at 1-866- 334-6137, and directions to the Farm and Home Center can be found at www.farmandhomecenter.com. I truly sympathize with all those affected by this situation, and will continue to work with them over the coming weeks and months. TAP529 becomes nowU Pennsylvania's tuition account program has changed its name from TAP529 to nowU, but still offers the same benefits for families saving for their children's college educations. NowU offers both the 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan and the 529 Investment Plan. The Guaranteed Savings Plan allows a family to save for future college expenses at today's costs by tying savings to the inflation rate at a Tuition Level you choose. That is, when you save enough to pay for a current semester of college at your chosen Level, you will be able to pay for a semester of college at that same Level at any point in the future. With the Investment Plan, you may invest in 13 professionally managed mutual fund portfolios. These investments can range from conservative to aggressive, including three age-based portfolios, but are not guaranteed to match the rate of college tuition inflation. Each option allows funds to be used for tuition and other qualified higher education expenses at any school eligible for federal student aid. Also, the funds in a Pennsylvania nowU account are not considered when applying for state financial aid, although other 529 plans are. You can find more information about the nowU program at www.nowU529.com. Brochures are also available at my district office at 301 E. Main Street in Lititz, or you can request to have one sent to you by calling 717-627-0036 or toll-free at 866-738-1601. Kidney screenings to be offered The National Kidney Foundation of South Central Pennsylvania, together with Lancaster General, will provide free screenings for those people at a higher risk for kidney disease. These screenings, part of the Kidney Early Evaluation Program, are designed to identify and educate people at risk – those with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. The earlier problems are discovered, the greater the chance that the disease can be delayed or even prevented. The screenings will take place at the Lancaster General-Columbia Health Center, 306 N. 7th Street, Columbia, on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register or learn more, you can contact the Foundation at 717-292-1007.
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