Credits: Created by Brad16840 Sorry, an error occurred while processing your request.Annual Polar Bear Plunge attracts 115 participantsEvent raised money for programs at YMCA of Centre CountyLocal educators plunge as part of competition to raise the most money There was a rivalry between the Bald Eagle and Bellefonte area school districts leading up to the 13th annual Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday.But when the countdown began, the four educators stood next to each other and together headed into water from the beach area of Black Moshannon State Park.What district administration called a “friendly competition,” was a way to raise money for a program through the YMCA of Centre County that supports Centre and Clearfield county schools.The district that raised the most got bragging rights.And it also came with polar plunge participation from Bald Eagle Area Superintendent Jeff Miles, Howard Elementary School Principal Skip Pighetti, Bellefonte Area Superintendent Cheryl Potteiger and Bellefonte Elementary School Principal Karen Krisch.“

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought, though my feet are still freezing,” Potteiger said after attempting to warm up from the swim with a sweater and heavy boots.Using a thermometer, Pighetti measured the water temperature at 40 degrees. When the event began at 11 a.m., the air was 29 degrees.“It was actually refreshing,” Pighetti said. Pighetti was originally designated to be the representative for Bald Eagle Area before Miles agreed last week to also do it.Pighetti, 45, is a former Penn State wrestler who said he never lost the motivation to keep active. He said he goes on daily runs or hikes, and takes a swim in Bald Eagle Creek at least a couple times a month throughout the year.He even ran three miles through Black Moshannon State Park before the Polar Bear Plunge.“I always believed you need to set goals for yourself and my goal last year was to take a dip every month in Bald Eagle Creek and challenge myself and my body,” he said.The coldest outdoor temperature he ever swam in was 10 degrees and had to break through ice to get into the creek.

But he wouldn’t recommend others do it unless they’re prepared.mountain dax backpack reviewThere were several local fire and ambulance services and medical technicians on hand at the event for medical emergencies like hypothermia, YMCA branch executive Liz Toukonen said.msi hermes backpack buyThis was the first year the event was held at the Rush Township state park after being moved from Bald Eagle State Park in Howard Township due to a schedule conflict, Toukonen said.“best backpack for asus g750It was a change for us but one that’s working out well,” Toukonen said.The Polar Bear Plunge is held each year leading up to winter as a fundraiser for the YMCA of Centre County. The goal was to raise $60,000 this year, Toukonen said.

That money will help benefit programs including the Backpack Food and Open Door programs.The Open Door Program financially assists eligible families with YMCA memberships.For Bald Eagle and Bellefonte area school districts, the motivation for educators to participate was the Backpack Food Program.Toukonen said the program was started in 2014 in the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District and provides students with food to eat during the weekend. This year, the Backpack Food Program expanded to Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Moshannon Valley, Penns Valley and West Branch area school districts.“We’re stuffing over 600 backpacks with food to feed local youth,” Toukonen said. “We reached out to other districts this year because we know the need is there.”Bellefonte Area raised about $1,300. Bald Eagle Area raised about $600.“We did our best, and in the end it’s for a good cause and helps generate money for those programs,” Miles said. “We’ll probably look next year and see what we can do differently.”

Golden Eagle Backpack Program"To provide weekend nourishment to students in need."The Golden Eagle Backpack Program is  new community support program operating through the Joshua House in Tyrone, PA. With full support and collaboration from Mrs. Lisa Hartsock and the Tyrone Elementary School, we will be offering a weekend supply of nutritious food to children in need. The Backpack Program is a nationwide program, part of the Feeding America network since 1995. It was designed to meet the needs off of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as the weekends and holidays.It is our hope that these resources will support the health, behavior, and achievement of every student that participates. The success in this program in other areas has shown positive changes in attendance, behaviors and grades.The Golden Eagle Backpack Program is accomplished through community financial support, dedicated volunteers and the partnership with Tyrone Area Elementary School and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg, PA.

To learn more about the Golden Eagle Backpack Program and for information on donating to the program, view the full program brochure HERE.PARENTS: To view the letter from the Program Directors and download the "Opt-In" form, click HERE Click on the image above to view the feature that WTAJ's Ashley Doerzbacher did on the Backpack Program.Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is the Internet. I believe I have given correct information, but if you act on my answer and it turns out poorly for you, I may feel bad but I am not responsible.TL;DR:The short version I usually give is:"The handgun must be unloaded and kept in the trunk or in a locked container. Ammunition may next to the gun, but not in it." I transport in a soft-sided lockable range bag. The handgun has no ammunition in the chamber and no magazines in the magazine well. Revolver has no ammunition in the cylinder. In the same range bag, I put magazines (sometimes loaded, sometimes not) and boxes of ammunition. The locked range bag is on the front seat, rear seat, or maybe the cargo area.

The long version:"The handgun must be unloaded and kept in the trunk or in a locked container."As far as I can tell this is distilled from California Penal Codes: 25400, 25850 25610, 16840, and 16850.Figuring out what is allowed can be difficult. CA Penal Code 25850(a) makes carrying any loaded firearm a crime, and PC 25400(a) makes carrying a concealable firearm (loaded or not) in a vehicle a different crime. But, PC 25610 provides an exemption for transporting in a vehicle as long as these conditions are met:(1) The firearm is within a motor vehicle and it is locked in the vehicle's trunk or in a locked container in the vehicle.(2) The firearm is carried by the person directly to or from any motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and, while carrying the firearm, the firearm is contained within a locked container. So we have a method for legally transporting in a vehicle, but if it is loaded, we would be violating 25850(a). There are exemptions to 25850(a), but they usually don't apply to most people.

We are left with the advice: "unloaded and either in the trunk or a locked container". To answer the original question, we need definitions for "locked container" and "unloaded"PC 16850 defines “locked container” as:"locked container" means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, keylock, combination lock, or similar locking device. The term "locked container" does not include the utility or glove compartment of a motor vehicle.Unfortunately, I cannot find a definition for “secure” and “fully enclosed” in the CA penal code. Use common sense and  imagine defending your choices to a police officer or in court. Trigger locks or those thru-the-barrel cable locks aren't "fully enclosed". A twist tie and a garbage bag isn't secure. Many people use the plastic box from manufacturer. These plastic boxes almost always have a spot you can run the shackle of a padlock thru to prevent them from opening. Another common option is a soft-sided range bags. You can pull all the zippers together, and use a padlock through the pulls.

However, I have seen many of these where it is still possible to get to the firearm without unlocking the bag. I wouldn’t transport that way. Note the language about trunks and glove/utility boxes. You may not transport your handgun in a locked glove box or utility box. I play it safe and still use a separate locked container. You are supposed to use a locked container when transporting to and from the car anyway. Some cars have pretty secure metal locking center consoles. Defining "unloaded" or "loaded" can be confusing as the relevant Penal Codes have a few different definitions for different situations. If you read carefully, you will find that PC 16840(b) defines "loaded" as used in a PC 25850:(b) As used in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 4 of Title 4, in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (c) of Section 25400, and in Sections 25850 to 26055, inclusive,     (1) A firearm shall be deemed to be "loaded" when there is an unexpended cartridge or shell

, consisting of a case that holds a charge of powder and a bullet or shot, in, or attached in any manner to, the firearm, including, but not limited to, in the firing chamber, magazine, or clip thereof attached to the firearm.     (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a muzzle-loader firearm shall be deemed to be loaded when it is capped or primed and has a powder charge and ball or shot in the barrel or cylinder.So, no ammunition in the chamber, obviously. I also read this as allowing detachable magazines containing cartridges as long as that magazine is not inserted into the magazine well or otherwise attached to the handgun.The laws concerning firearms in general and their transportation specifically are murky and open to interpretation by both attorneys and police.From the Office of the Attorney General’s website:Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s trunk or in a locked container.

Furthermore, the handgun must be carried directly to or from any motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and, while being carried must be contained within a locked container.Pursuant to California Penal Code section 16850, the term "locked container" means a secure container that is fully enclosed and locked by a padlock, key lock, combination lock, or similar locking device. This includes the trunk of a motor vehicle, but does not include the utility or glove compartment.Notice that it does not discuss the gun’s magazine. The general interpretation is as follows:The magazine, whether in the handgun or not, must be kept empty. Law enforcement officers may interpret the magazine as being a part of the handgun.One has to look at the purpose of the law in order to understand. The reason the gun is to be kept unloaded and kept in a locked box is so that a person must make a significant amount of effort in order to gain access to the gun. This supposedly makes sure that gun owners won’t use their firearm for self defense.

By further making sure that the handgun must be loaded, the gun owner would be further hampered in his or her efforts to use a handgun in self defense. Now, instead of having the ability to simply draw a gun, the case must be unlocked, the gun drawn out of it, ammunition loaded into the waiting magazine, and the slide racked.A loaded magazine cuts back on the time necessary to grab the gun and shoot.That would depend upon whether you are licensed to carry said handgun. If you are, you can carry it into any legal place (courthouses, government buildings, hospitals being notable exceptions) with it fully loaded and a round in the chamber.If you are not licensed to carry that handgun and are, for example, transporting it to a shooting range for practice, you are to have the handgun in a locked container, specifically NOT the console or glovebox of your vehicle. You may have a loaded magazine also in the container but you may not have any ammunition in either the chamber or the handgrip of the pistol.