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In this Update:
Penn State Board of Trustees Officially Votes to Save Schuylkill, Hazleton Campuses
The Penn State Board of Trustees officially voted to keep Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton open last night. I’m grateful that our local campuses will continue serving our communities. The May edition of my monthly TV program covers two roundtable discussion I hosted with our local state representatives about the importance of these campuses to our region. Watch it here. Community Partnerships Create New Opportunities at Luzerne County Community College
I was pleased to join many of my colleagues in the Senate and the House, members of the Luzerne County Council, and Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo at Luzerne County Community College’s (LCCC) legislative breakfast. LCCC President John Yudichak and other college leaders provided updates on their community partnerships, which are addressing serious issues facing our communities. These partnerships include:
I look forward to working to expand access to higher education in Luzerne County and beyond. Sunday: No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum Hosts Car Cruise and Picnic
Visit the No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum between Coaldale and Lansford on Sunday for their annual Memorial Day weekend Car Cruise and Ethnic Food Picnic, featuring food, live music, guided underground tours of the mine, and more. There’s no better place to experience what the job of a coal miner in past decades was like – I know it brought me a greater appreciation for the conditions my great-grandfather Howells worked in. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the restoration and reconstruction of the nearly 150-year-old Dorrance Mine Fans – the latest piece of coal mining history now on display. Hazleton Integration Project Honors Volunteers
While visiting the Hazleton Integration Project (HIP) to honor 26 of their HIP Corp United students for their many hours of community service, I began my remarks with this simple phrase: Gracias por invitarme a reunirme con ustedes! Translated: thank you for inviting me to join you all! In total, the volunteers spent more than 5,300 hours serving the Greater Hazleton area. They volunteered at the SPCA, the domestic violence office, and the women’s shelter, served as volunteer firefighters and mentors to the younger children in the HIP After School Scholars, and taught English to recently arriving senior high students. I was pleased to join Rep. Dane Watro and the Hazleton area’s most famous resident – World Series Champion Manager Joe Maddon, who cofounded HIP – at the ceremony to celebrate this incredible service. Congratulations to all! Celebrating Jim Thorpe: “The Greatest Athlete in the World”
We celebrated the 138th birthday of Jim Thorpe last weekend with his family. Thorpe won two Olympic gold medals for the Pentathlon and the Decathlon in the 1912 Olympics, was an All-American collegiate football player at the Carlisle School, played professional football and baseball, was an award-winning ballroom dancer, and was the first commissioner of the NFL. King Gustav V of Sweden, the patron of the Games of the V Olympiad famously said to him: “You sir, are the greatest athlete in the world.” Those words are inscribed on his mausoleum today. Upon his death in 1953, the boroughs of East Mauch Chunk and Mauch Chunk united to form a new borough – Jim Thorpe. His beautiful memorial contains statues of his track and field and football accomplishments, with a baseball statue to be dedicated in the future. I was honored to be invited to the ceremony, along with U.S. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, Rep. Doyle Heffley, Carbon County Commissioner Mike Sofranko, and Jim Thorpe Borough Council President Gregory Strubinger. Transforming Flooded Homes into a New Pine Grove Park
Operation Hugs and Kisses, a community group based on Pine Grove, dedicated their new park last weekend. The lots previously held homes that were flooded in 2011 and sat vacant and damaged for many years. Through donations and countless hours of volunteer labor, the site was repurposed into a community park, which now greets all who enter the borough on Pottsville Street. Congratulations to all – this is truly a testament to how dedicated, community-based efforts can create positive change. May 30-June 1: First-Ever Pottsville Film Festival
The first ever Pottsville Film Festival will take place from May 30-June 1! Featuring films from local students and others from across the state and nation including special guests who worked on The Sopranos, Netflix’s Wednesday and more, this event is the first of its kind in Schuylkill County. In addition to multiple indoor and outdoor venues, the festival will feature artists and vendors, food and drink, and live music. Community Events in Pottsville, Lehighton, and Orwigsburg – With More to Come!This week, my office hosted events to protect our financial and information security and educate us all about our Second Amendment rights.
In Pottsville, Rep. Tim Twardzik and I hosted a free shredding event. Hundreds of people dropped off unneeded papers with sensitive information to be destroyed. Thank you to all who made the event a success!
In Lehighton, Rep. Doyle Heffley and I hosted a scam seminar to educate seniors about how to avoid the latest scams. We had more than 45 people join us. Special thanks to David Shallcross, the Director of the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, for his thorough presentation.
In Orwigsburg, Rep. Jamie Barton and I hosted a concealed carry seminar. We had more than 90 people join us to learn more about how to safely and lawfully exercise our Second Amendment rights. Special thanks to District Attorney Mike O’Pake, Schuylkill County Sheriff Joe Groody, and Attorney Josh Prince for leading the presentation. We’ll be hosting more of these events soon in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties. See the full list 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 an opportunity to share your questions and concerns with PPL representatives. Grants Available for Firefighting Equipment and Training
Thank you to all the first responders who joined Rep. Jamie Barton and me at the Lewistown Valley Tabernacle on Monday to discuss how we can support their critically important jobs. We discussed strategies to address the significant shortages of volunteers affecting fire and EMS companies across the state, as well as programs to provide funding and equipment upgrades. If you were not able to attend and would like to learn more about the strategies we discussed, please do not hesitate to contact my offices. To assist our first responders, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner has two grant programs that are accepting applications through May 29. Both programs distribute grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. Applications should be submitted online. The Emergency Training Center Capital Grant Program awards funds that can be used to establish or modernize facilities, acquire or renovate structures and repair or purchase equipment. Emergency service training centers, community colleges, county-owned facilities, municipal or fire department-owned facilities and nonprofit, countywide associations are eligible. The Municipal Fire Department Capital Grant Program awards money to municipal fire departments to improve structures and firefighting equipment in the commonwealth. Senate Votes to Improve Communication About School Safety Issues
To empower parents and increase transparency, the Senate passed legislation to improve reporting requirements about potentially dangerous situations at schools. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 246 would require parental and employee notification when there is a weapon on any school property that violates its weapons policy, as well as when there are cases of harassment and bullying. It would apply to public, non-public and private schools. Current law does not require school districts to inform parents about incidents when a weapon is brought onto school grounds or to related activities. Rite Aid Customers Can Redeem Gift Cards Until June 6
As a result of a bankruptcy announcement, Rite Aid will accept gift cards, coupons and other Rite Aid rewards through June 6. Returns and exchanges will not be accepted after June 4. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday encourages any consumers who experience issues redeeming their Rite Aid points, coupons or unused gift cards or with returning merchandise to Rite Aid to submit an online complaint to the Bureau of Consumer Protection. They may also contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555. Read more. Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” – Unknown To all the men and women who selflessly gave their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we hold dear, thank you. To the families who are missing a loved one from their lives, please know that loss was not in vain. We remember, and we appreciate the sacrifice. |
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