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In this Update:
Temple’s Tamaqua Dental Education Center & Clinic is Now Open!
Temple University’s Rural Dental Education Center and Clinic in Tamaqua is now open to the public, with its first patients seen on Wednesday!
Dr. Amid Ismail, Dean of the Kornberg School of Dentistry, shared the following message with his colleagues at the conclusion of their first day:
It is incredibly rewarding to see what was once a vision become a reality. This groundbreaking facility will expand access to much-needed dental care while educating the next generation of dentists right here in our region.
A special thank you to Dr. Ismail, Micah Gursky and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, Congressman Dan Meuser, Rep. Jamie Barton, and the many others whose hard work and dedication helped make this day possible! Read more about the clinic and the first cohort of students here. Penn State’s Local Campuses Are Too Important to Lose
This recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story about Penn State closing some of its small local campuses is an important reminder of just how much was at stake for our region last year. A year and a half ago, our communities came together—students, faculty, employers, educators, legislators and other local leaders, and thousands of residents, including Republicans, Democrats and Independents, through emails and petitions to the University’s Board of Trustees —to make the case that Penn State Hazleton and Penn State Schuylkill are far too important to us to lose, with growing enrollments, beautiful, modern campuses, with the potential to grow even larger in the future. The evidence we all demonstrated at multiple public hearings here was compelling. Today, because of that comprehensive effort, both campuses remain open, giving students across our region access to an affordable Penn State education close to home and providing local employers with a vital workforce pipeline. Our work isn’t finished. We need to continue supporting these campuses, growing enrollment, and expanding programs, so that both campuses remain strong for generations to come—for ALL of us! Strengthening Pennsylvania’s CDL Laws
After the terrible accident which cost State Trooper Michael Pahira his life on I-81 near Minersville in July, especially considering the horrifying details outlined in this article, many local people have been asking me to strengthen our laws regarding unqualified truck drivers. I find it deeply troubling that Governor Shapiro has joined a lawsuit challenging federal access to state commercial driver’s license (CDL) records. For nearly four decades, CDL information systems have helped states and federal transportation officials identify disqualified or unqualified commercial drivers and keep dangerous operators off our roads. The General Assembly recently acted with Act 50 of 2026, which I supported. The measure cracks down on unauthorized CDL mills. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1295 and Senate Bill 1296 to strengthen commercial driver qualifications, English proficiency requirements, and disqualification standards. Both bills are awaiting action in the PA House. The loss of Trooper Pahira is a painful reminder that we must do everything we can to make sure every commercial driver on our highways is properly trained, properly licensed, and qualified to operate a tractor-trailer safely. Bipartisan Town Hall Meetings in Luzerne & Schuylkill Counties
Thank you to everyone who joined me at two recent town hall meetings on Tuesday. Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne), Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne), and I met with constituents in Bear Creek Township on Tuesday morning. At the request of those in attendance, we primarily discussed ongoing data center developments across our region and state.
Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill) and I met with over 40 constituents in Hometown on Tuesday evening. We discussed a variety of issues, including property taxes, ongoing efforts to combat blight in our communities, roadwork occurring across eastern Schuylkill County, data centers, and much more! Hearing directly from constituents about the most important issues in this large Senate district across Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Carbon Counties is always a key part of this job! The Fight Against Blight Continues
Thank you to the 40 local and county officials that attended my Blight Summit in Tamaqua on Wednesday. During the event, we reviewed laws, programs, and initiatives developed over the past decade to help municipalities combat blight and strengthen local code enforcement efforts, and highlighted many successful efforts across Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties. Special thanks to Marty Sowers, Municipal Services Manager for Light-Heigel & Associates, for providing a thorough presentation and to LCCC’s Morgan Center for hosting us. You can learn more about the event here.
As an excellent example of changing blight to bright, a few blocks from our meeting site is a brand-new business which has just successfully renovated a vacant building: Gigi’s Ice Cream Shop. It was the perfect place for me to stop by for a much-needed ice cream cone on my drive home! Around the District
Thank you to the 60 people who joined Rep. Tim Twardzik, the Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance, and me at our senior scam seminar at the Frackville Elks Lodge. Special thanks to David Shallcross, the Director of the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, provided a thorough overview of how to avoid falling prey to the latest scams targeting seniors.
After our bipartisan town hall meeting earlier this week, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski and I met with the Bear Creek Township Supervisors to review ongoing and future improvements at Trailwood Park. Once completed, the park will also feature a fenced tennis and pickleball court.
Rep. Pashinski and I were pleased to secure a state grant to support this project for the Bear Creek community.
I then enjoyed lunch at the Bear Creek Café, an excellent example of breathing new life into a beautiful old building. Congrats to the owners and staff who have restored this important local tradition in Bear Creek Village in the northern portion of this large Senate district!
Rep. Doyle Heffley and I recently held a successful Unclaimed Property Event with PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s staff at the Palmerton Public Library. Special thanks to the Palmerton Public Library for hosting us and to Jolene from the PA Treasury for helping make this event a success! Upcoming Events in Carbon, Luzerne, & Schuylkill Counties
Mark your calendars: Rep. Doyle Heffley and I are hosting our annual Senior Citizens Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Co. in Lehighton. Exhibitors from local, county, and state agencies will be on hand with information about the services they provide. Free flu shots will also be available! Last year, we had more than 1,000 people join us – don’t miss it!
Is your license plate worn out? Rep. Tim Twardzik and I are hosting a Free License Plate Replacement Event on Thursday, September 10, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Citizens Fire Company #1 of Gordon. A local police officer will be on-site to inspect your license plate and determine if it qualifies for a free replacement. To RSVP, call 570-794-4039. Focusing on Our Local Communities: Meet Orwigsburg’s Ed Keyworth
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 Luzerne counties. This week, we focus on Orwigsburg Borough Councilman Ed Keyworth. A Republican and 1983 graduate of Blue Mountain High School, Keyworth continued his education at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, earning a degree in retail management. After starting his career with Dunn & Bradstreet in Denver, Colorado, he returned home to join his family’s business—Pottsville Provisions, a wholesale retail food distribution company that has served the region since the 1940s. Keyworth purchased the business from his parents in 1987 and has proudly served as its owner and operator ever since. Keyworth’s deep commitment to the Orwigsburg community is what inspired him to run for borough council five years ago. “I have been involved in the Orwigsburg community since I was 16 when I joined the fire department and the ambulance association. I just love our community and our county,” said Keyworth. “The richest asset we have is our people. We have generous people and people that care, and I wanted to get involved just to make sure that Orwigsburg stays Orwigsburg. It’s really a gem of a town.” Community service has always been a priority for Keyworth. He is a past member of Friendship Hose Fire Co. and the Orwigsburg Ambulance, and he currently serves on several boards, including SEDCO, PADCO, Lehigh Valley Hospital Pottsville, the Orwigsburg Lions, the Veterans Memorial Building Task Force, and Schuylkill EMS, where he is board secretary. During his five years on council, Keyworth and his colleagues have accomplished numerous key projects throughout the borough. “There’s a lot of good things going on and a lot of that is thanks to public private partnerships. I want to thank Senator Argall, Representative Barton and Congressman Meuser for all their support. I also want to thank our borough office workers, maintenance workers, and police officers for all that they do,” said Keyworth. “Moving borough hall to 333 South Liberty Street has been great for the town. It’s more accessible for our residents and it’s a nice building. We’ve totally updated and revamped our police department building. That’s an impressive facility. A streetscape project is currently underway in the center of town, and we just opened a new playground on Ridge Road. I also really enjoy working with the other council members. It’s a very good council and we’re all there for the right reasons” Happy Labor Day!
Above is a photo of my great-grandfather, Roger Howells, and his actual pink slip that ended his work in the mines that I display in my Capitol office. It serves as a reminder of the backbreaking and dangerous labor that our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents performed to feed our families. So many of our ancestors faced and overcame significant hardships here in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill counties. Quote of the Week
“It is the citizens of our nation who must preserve our system of government, and we cannot forget that.” – Sandra Day O’Connor Pottsville Awarded $90,000 State Grant to Strengthen Its Financial Future
Rep. Tim Twardzik and I were pleased to share the City of Pottsville has been awarded $90,000 through the Strategic Management Planning Program (STMP) to develop a five-year financial and operational plan. This very competitive state grant, agreed to by Republicans and Democrats at both the city and the state level, is another important investment in Pottsville’s future. With the unanimous support of City Council and local legislators, our goal is to continue breathing new life into Pottsville by bringing in new investment and supporting local businesses, helping make Pottsville a destination for residents and visitors alike. A strong financial foundation at City Hall is essential to building on that momentum, protecting essential services, and planning for the future. |
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