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In this Update:
Penn State Meeting to Decide Fate of Local Campuses May Violate the Law
The Penn State Board of Trustees will soon vote on a final plan determining the fate of 12 of their 19 commonwealth campuses, including Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton. According to a recent article, their currently scheduled virtual meeting regarding this decision may violate laws regarding transparency for government meetings. The facts strongly support saving these two local campuses, and our region has loudly voiced its support. If you haven’t filled out our survey yet, please do so here. Saving Local Childcare Centers
I was invited to speak with many of my Hazleton-area constituents about the serious workforce crisis facing childcare centers across Pennsylvania by Start Strong PA. When a childcare classroom shuts down because of a teacher leaving, it doesn’t just affect the children who miss out on learning. It leaves families scrambling and unable to work and harms the ability of employers to find enough quality employees. A recent study from Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Investment Commission found childcare shortages result in an annual loss of $6.65 billion in lost earning, productivity, and tax revenue. This is a real crisis that impacts everyone.
Thank you all for visiting and making your voices heard about this critically important issue. Addressing the Workforce Crisis at Long-Term Care Centers
Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center. The professionals who make sure they are cared for are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. The number of Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2040. Despite this sharp increase, Pennsylvania saw a 14% decrease in long-term care professionals. To support these employees, residents, and their families, the Senate passed a bill I introduced this week to remove barriers for those looking to enter this workforce by a strongly bipartisan vote of 47-3. A second bill of mine to address this crisis was approved by the Senate Education Committee. These bills must advance to the governor’s desk as soon as possible, to ensure that our loved ones can receive the quality care they deserve. May 15: Shredding Event at the Fairlane Village Mall
Rep. Tim Twardzik and I are hosting a free shredding event at the Fairlane Village Mall parking lot on Thursday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a great opportunity to fight identity theft by having documents containing personal information shredded on site for free. Attendees are limited to a three bag or box limit. Bring personal financial documents that are no longer needed, including any papers with confidential information, such as account numbers and signatures, which include, but are not limited to:
All shredded paper will be recycled. These events allow for the protection of the safety and security of your personal financial information and help to prevent identity theft. Protecting Nesquehoning from Reckless Truck Drivers on SR 93
Photo courtesy of Amy Miller, Times News Lehighton Last year, I met with Nesquehoning Borough leaders, PennDOT officials, and Rep. Doyle Heffley to make State Route 93 safer in the borough. There have been frequent crashes involving tractor-trailers driving illegally down the Broad Mountain from the Hazleton area. A truck detour was created to protect the safety of local motorists, yet many trucks illegally continued using the dangerous downhill stretch, resulting in near misses and serious accidents. To prevent further tragedies, we demanded that Amazon and other businesses follow the law and avoid sending trucks down this road. Since then, according to the Nesquehoning Police Department, it’s now a much safer road for all of us! Maple Manor Students Discuss the Dangers of Smoking and Vaping
I often wonder, if dad had quit smoking, would he have been able to enjoy his grandchildren’s weddings, or the birth of his great-granddaughter? A group of constituents from the Hazleton area, including students from Maple Manor, invited me to discuss the serious health impacts of smoking and vaping. Thank you all for visiting our State Capitol and sharing your stories about the negative impacts of these very bad habits. Do You Have Unclaimed Property?
My staff in Pottsville, Mahanoy City, Hazleton, and Harrisburg assist the people of Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties every day with state-related issues, including connecting people with their unclaimed property. My offices have contacted more than 150 people and worked to return more than $400,000 in unclaimed property directly to their bank accounts. Many of them were not aware that their money was just waiting to be claimed. The amounts we’ve assisted with range greatly, from less than $10 to more than $10,000. This week, we celebrated another success – connecting Child Development, Inc. with more than $4,300! Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks, and more. Essentially, it is YOUR money that the state is holding on your behalf. I would MUCH rather see it back in your pocket than sitting in a state government bank account. If you would like us to check if YOU have unclaimed property, contact any of my offices. Meeting with Carbon County Sheriff Dan Zeigler
I met with Carbon County Sheriff Dan Zeigler as part of Sheriffs Day on the Hill. He presented me with four patches worn by Carbon County Sheriffs, which are now hanging in my office at the State Capitol. To Sheriff Zeigler and all our local law enforcement officers: thank you for your tireless work to keep our communities safe. New Hegins Township Municipal Building Now Open
Hegins Township officials and residents recently celebrated the grand opening of their new municipal building. Seth Hubler, my Outreach Director, attended on my behalf. Hegins did not previously have a dedicated municipal building – the township supervisors met in the garage for many years. Rep. JoAnne Stehr and I worked to secure a highly competitive state grant to support this important project, which will help them to better serve their 3,300 residents. Supporting Kidder Township First Responders
This week, the Carbon County Community Foundation established the Kidder Township First Responders Fund to support the important work of local fire companies, police departments, and EMS agencies, including the Albrightsville Fire Company, the Lake Harmony Volunteer Rescue Squad & Ambulance, the Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company, and the Kidder Township Police Department. The recent brush fire near Jim Thorpe drive home how important the job of our local first responders is. This new fund is a very generous way to support their work. Read more here. Breathing New Life into Downtown Lehighton
To raise money to revitalize Lehighton, the Lehighton Downtown Initiative hosted the 6th annual Wine on the River event on Saturday at Baer Memorial Park. While there, Beth and I learned that some of the funding raised this year will go to refurbish the historic old caboose on Sargent Stanley Huffman Boulevard. Rep. Doyle Heffley and I were pleased to support Lehighton’s ongoing revival efforts by securing a highly competitive state grant of $250,000 to update the facades of downtown buildings. Meeting with Constituents in Frackville
Rep. Tim Twardzik and I met with constituents on Thursday morning in Frackville to discuss hotly debated issues now confronting our state government. We had a passioned discussion about legalizing marijuana for recreational use, fighting the spread of blight in our communities, preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in state welfare programs, and more. Thank you to all who attended for spending an hour with us. Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance Honors Annual Award Winners
The Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance (SEAPA) hosted a luncheon to recognize the winners of this year’s Hornbrook Award, which is given to individuals that selflessly improve the welfare and quality of life for those over the age of 60, and present scholarships to local students. This year’s Hornbrook Award winners were Ms. Cathy Clouser and Dr. Greg Dobash. Congratulations to all! SEAPA tirelessly works to create greater awareness of elder abuse throughout Schuylkill County. Learn more about their services here. May 27: PPL Hosts Open House in Orwigsburg
PPL invites local residents to an open house on Tuesday, May 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Orwigsburg Veterans Community Center about electric reliability improvements and ways to save money on energy bills. This is a great opportunity to share your questions and concerns with PPL representatives. May 15: Senior Scam Seminar in Lehighton
Rep. Doyle Heffley and I are hosting a scam seminar on Thursday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lehighton. With scammers becoming increasingly brazen and creative, we all need to be aware of how to protect ourselves from falling prey to these criminals. David Shallcross, the Director of the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, will lead the discussion. RSVPs are required for this event. Please call 610-377-6363 to reserve your spot today. May 19: Replace Your Hard-to-Read License Plate in Hazle Township
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event Rep. Watro and I are hosting on Monday, May 19 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Hazleton State Police Barracks. A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it’s illegible. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-453-1344. Happy Mother’s Day!
To all the women who put their family first, thank you for being such a source of strength and support in our communities. Happy Mother’s Day!
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