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In this Update:
Meeting with Business & Community Leaders in Carbon County
At a recent Carbon County Chamber breakfast near Palmerton, I was asked a few unique questions which I do not often get to answer. Like many of you, I grew up here in this region—it wasn’t always easy, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. We didn’t realize it at the time, but my friends and I were living the American dream in what we called “half-double” houses just a few hundred yards from the coal mines that stretch from Tamaqua to Summit Hill and beyond. We learned the importance of education from our moms and dads, who often lived paycheck to paycheck and still helped many of us pay for college. We learned how to stretch minimum-wage paychecks in high school and college as much as humanly possible. I noted that we’ve made a lot of progress since the dark days of the past, with verified unemployment rates above 25%, some of the highest rates in the nation. While other parts of the country climbed out of the Great Depression in the 1930s, in the three counties I now represent, VERY difficult economic conditions continued to plague many of our towns throughout the 1950s and 1960s and beyond, with huge losses in mining, railroad, and garment factory jobs. Since that time, so many people have worked together to breathe new life into many of our older cities, towns, and villages. A prime example: one of the fastest-growing, new issues here is no longer jobs, but the need for additional housing— a growing workforce means a growing need for more housing. BUT, if you give me a choice between working on the policies of severe economic decline and the issues of economic growth, I will always prefer the issues of growth. While we’ve made some significant progress, I get it— much work remains ahead! Around the District
Mary Beth Dougherty from my Mahanoy City office, and Jonathan Ulicny, my summer intern, recently attended the PA Outdoor Corps first adult field visit to Tuscarora State Park. The group was working on removing woody vegetation at Locust Creek Dam.
Beth and I recently attended the Hazleton Friends of Scouting Dinner, hosted by the Minsi Trails Council, which serves Luzerne and Carbon counties. This year’s Distinguished Citizen Award recipient was Timothy Genetti of Hazleton, and the Wayne Oberst Good Scout Award recipient was Kenneth Vicklo Sr. of Drums. Congratulations, and thank you for your service to Scouting and our communities. I reminded all in attendance that one of the VERY best things my parents ever did was encourage me to join Scouting!
I was invited to Mahanoy Area High School to present a Senate citation to Lillian Brown, a sophomore and standout member of the swimming team. Lillian was awarded first place in the Class AA Girls 200-Yard Individual Medley event at the PIAA District XI Swimming and Diving Championships. In addition to this achievement, Lillian captured a district title with a time of 2:14:01 and placed second in the 100-yard backstroke at the district meet. Congratulations, Lillian!
I participated in the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon, where we reviewed a wide range of issues including the Governor’s proposed $53.3 billion budget, our successful work last year to eliminate the RGGI electricity tax, childcare funding, the need for more housing, and ongoing economic development projects across the region.
Rep. Tim Twardzik and I were recently invited to read to students at Doodle Bug Preschool & Daycare in North Manheim Township. Doodle Bug Preschool recently earned a Keystone STAR 4 designation, the highest quality designation for a childcare center in PA. Rep. Twardzik and I were pleased to present their team with citations to celebrate this achievement!
My office recently brought together regional housing developers and business leaders at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Tamaqua Campus to review current housing challenges and strategies to encourage new development. The discussion focused on barriers to new housing construction, ways to streamline planning and permitting for residential projects, zoning challenges, available federal and state funding programs, and innovative housing legislation implemented in other states. While we have made progress, there is no issue I hear more about from local employers and employees than the need for more quality housing options. Building new homes and fixing up old homes takes too long and costs too much in PA. Solving this crisis will take increased cooperation from all levels of government and private partners in our communities.
Rep. Dane Watro and I recently met with Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat, Hazleton Area Superintendent Dr. Brian Uplinger, Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo, and other local leaders from across Luzerne County in Hazleton to review ongoing efforts to breathe new life into downtown Hazleton and White Haven, new jobs coming to the area, the continued growth of the Hazleton Area School District, and the success of Luzerne County Community College’s Teach in NEPA program, a partnership with the Hazleton Area School District designed to combat the teacher shortage by offering an affordable, local pathway to a four-year education degree and guaranteed employment. Thank you for a very informative discussion! Argall Report: Reversing the Dental Care Shortage in PA
This month’s Argall Report focuses on efforts to reverse severe workforce shortages in dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. The hearing featured dental professionals, educators, insurance companies, and other advocates who testified how dental workforce shortages harm people’s health and shared successful strategies to encourage more people to pursue these careers. Almost one third of Pennsylvanians do not receive regular dental care, which increases rates of opioid abuse, contributes to heart disease and overwhelms emergency rooms with preventable dental issues. Why is this SO important? As I have shared before, I often point to the tragic stories of eight-year-old Deamonte Driver and six-year-old Alexander Callendar. Deamonte, of Maryland, was waiting for a simple $80 tooth extraction, but his family was uninsured and had a difficult time finding a dentist. Bacteria from the abscess in Deamonte’s tooth spread to his brain by the time he received attention for his toothache. Following six weeks in the hospital and two operations, Deamonte passed away. Alexander, of Mississippi, tragically passed away the same year on a ride home from school due to complications caused by an abscessed tooth that resulted in septic shock. These stories are devastating — and they are totally preventable. This fall, Temple’s new Tamaqua location will expand access to this life-saving care across Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties, training the next generation of dental professionals. Twenty dental students, living here and providing quality care, helping thousands of people… this may be some of the best news in a long, long time! Watch the full Argall Report by clicking here. Focusing on Our Local Communities: Meet Weatherly’s Joe Cyburt
Welcome to the latest edition of “Focusing on Our Local Communities,” where we interview, on a bipartisan basis, a key local leader in one of the 102 municipalities that I represent in Carbon, Schuylkill, and southern Luzerne counties. This week, we focus on Weatherly Borough Councilman, Joe Cyburt. Cyburt, a Republican, has been a member of council for 19 years. Cyburt and his family moved to Weatherly when he was in first grade, where his family stayed, with Cyburt graduating from Weatherly High School in 1979. After high school, Cyburt spent most of his professional life as a truck driver, with over 30 years in the trucking business working for several different companies. Cyburt has also worked at Mauch Chunk Lake Park for the past two years as a seasonal park ranger. “I was in my third or fourth year helping with the Weatherly Hill Climb and I got along with the then mayor and he thought I could do a lot of good if I ran for council. I was looking for a way to get more involved in the community, so I ran and I was elected,” said Cyburt. “I’ve really enjoyed my time being on council and it’s nice to have a say when you have an idea that you think can improve the community.” Cyburt is proud of what council has been able to accomplish during his tenure, as well as his service within the community, especially his efforts in holding the Weatherly Hillclimb each year. Cyburt has been president of the Weatherly Hill Climb Association for 25-plus years. The event brings in 7,000-8,000 people between two events in the spring and fall with 90-100 cars and drivers participating at each event. “The Hillclimb is a big boost to the community. It’s a very well-known event and we get drivers that come from all over the country as far as Arizona. We also appreciate the support we get from Sen. Argall and Rep. Heffley with the Hillclimb. If we ever have any issues, they have always picked up the phone,” said Cyburt. “Our borough council is also proud of the work we’ve been able to do for the community. We were able to build a new municipal complex and police station recently. Our police department is one of the best around. We’re continuing to work on completing the Weatherly Trail which will link to the D&L Trail and we’re doing more work at Eurana Park, putting in another basketball court and a new pickleball court.” May 28: License Plate Replacement Event in Mahanoy Township
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event I’m hosting with Rep. Dane Watro on Thursday, May 28th from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Mahanoy Township Building (1010 W Centre St, Mahanoy City). A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it qualifies for a free replacement. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-773-0891. Quote of the Week
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln |
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