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Good News

Students Advocate for Life-Saving Legislation

It was an honor to meet with Aidan's Heart Foundation and dozens of students from Downingtown Area School District in eastern Pennsylvania at the Capitol earlier this month. They spent the day meeting with legislators about the importance of AEDs in saving lives. I’m proud to be a co-sponsor of two pieces of legislation, sponsored by Senator Katie Muth, that will bring this life saving equipment and skills into our schools. Senate Bill 512 would require AEDs in all school buildings and Senate Bill 513 would require CPR certification for all coaches and after-school supervisors.

All of the students who visited me were trained to save a life and demonstrated CPR and how to use an AED. Being trained in CPR and prepared with an AED can mean the difference between life and death. Seeing our students take the initiative and stepping up to learn, practice, demonstrate, and advocate for these skills in front of our legislature is an incredibly powerful reminder of their importance.

Thank you to these amazing students and Aiden’s Heart Foundation!

PEHSC's EMS Agency of the Year

Congratulations to Shaler Hampton EMS for being named the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) 2023 EMS Agency of the Year! They received this well-deserved award last Wednesday at their annual meeting, which included Chief Eric Schmidt recognizing two EMTs for exceptional work saving the life of a local resident who had a heart attack.

As a special note-- 14 of the current staff members at Shaler Hampton EMS got their start at A.W. Beattie Career Center. We're so proud of these exceptional programs and the quality services that they bring to our residents!

PEHSC's Rescue Service of the Year

We were also able to celebrate Peebles Volunteer Fire Company being named the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) 2023 Rescue Service of the Year last Wednesday! Peebles VFC has made training and a high level of readiness a top priority in their department, which is obvious when you walk through the door (which is usually open-- stop by and say hi!)

Our fire companies are always looking for members-- but you don't have to run into a burning building to help out. Like any other non-profit, they need help with financial tasks, grant writing, social media/communications, and many other administrative tasks. Just a few hours a month could make a HUGE difference in our community!

I'm incredibly proud of the individuals at Peebles who have gone above and beyond for McCandless and the surrounding community to keep us all safe.

Congratulations to all!

Pine Township Party at the PAC Grand Opening

A little rain couldn't stop us from having a blast at the grand opening of the Township of Pine's new PAC athletic complex on Saturday. The student athletes from Pine-Richland School District were on hand to show off the new facility and Rammy the Ram beat #PotatoPete from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a race!

We also want to congratulate Joni Patsko on her well-deserved retirement from Pine after 30 years of service. What a great way to celebrate a wonderful career! We wish Joni all of the best on her next adventure.

North Hills Community Outreach Block Party

The North Hills Community Outreach threw their amazing annual Block Party over the weekend to raise funds for their programs that support our neighbors in need. Despite the rain, we had a great time! Thank you to everyone who attended!

School Districts Support Universal School Meals

The Fox Chapel Area School Board passed Resolution 2023-2 in support of my Universal School Meals legislation at their May 8th meeting. The Resolution highlights the success of the current Pennsylvania Universal School Breakfast program, noting that Fox Chapel Area School District has seen a nearly 122% increase in breakfasts served daily since the implementation of Universal School Breakfasts. As the Resolution notes, “multiple studies show that students with access to free breakfast have improved attendance rates… improved participation rates, fewer behavioral incidents, lower suspension rates, and better health outcomes.”

Having our locally elected School Boards formally support this legislation is incredibly helpful. Hearing that the Universal School Breakfast program is making a difference for the students, families, teachers, and staff on the ground is wonderful. We can take this Resolution, and others like it, back to Harrisburg to show that this is something that our school districts really value. We need to include the funding for Universal Meals in the FY 2023-24 budget to ensure that all students have access to the nutritious meals they need to fuel their brains and bodies for learning.

Mt. Lebanon School District and Bethel Park School District passed the State’s first resolutions in support of SB 180 and HB 180 in April. Other boards statewide are currently considering similar resolutions.

You can learn more about the Universal School Meals program and how it combats child hunger here. You can also sign on to be a part of the citizen coalition urging legislators to support Universal School Meals legislation and fight child hunger here.

The First Chance Trust Fund Grant Program

Attention Pittsburgh Public School students and the community-based organizations that serve them: applications are now open for the First Chance Trust Fund Grant Program!

This Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) program was created to support the career and higher education goals of at-risk Pennsylvania students and distributes $1.3 million state-wide. The program provides individual scholarships and grants to organizations that benefit children living in regions with higher dropout rates, incarceration rates or high crime rates. In Senate District 38, children in the Pittsburgh Public School district qualify.

To apply, students and organizations complete a Letter of Intent process, which is explained on the First Chance Trust Fund webpage. For eligibility, see the appendix section of the Letter of Intent.

Letters of Intent are due Thursday, June 1, 2023, and are submitted on PCCD’s Survey Monkey link. Questions about the program can be directed to [email protected]. Awards are expected to be announced no later than July 2023.

Pennsylvanians can make private donations to support the fund by visiting the First Chance Trust Fund Program page on the PCCD website.

New Choices Career Development Program

Frustrated with your career path? Consider enrolling in New Choices, an individualized career development program offered by Pennsylvania Women Work that empowers individuals to find jobs with family-sustaining wages. New Choices helps participants transfer past skills, prepare for the job market, and assists with making professional decisions.

Friends of Harrison Hills Park Spring Bird Hike
Environmental Learning Center Parking Lot, Saturday, May 27, 2023, 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Friends of Harrison Hills Park is hosting a Spring Bird Hike this Saturday! Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars and wear your trail boots. You should be able to see a variety of bird species since we are in the middle of peak migration season. Happy birding!

RSVP: [email protected] or 724-487-3586.

West Deer Hazardous Waste Collection Day
Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 10 AM - 2 PM

West Deer is hosting a Hazardous and E-Waste Collection Day next Wednesday! Appointments are required and fees apply to some items.

Reserve your time at Schedule Appointment with Noble Environmental Specialty Recycling (acuityscheduling.com).

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected]. My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

Senator Lindsey Williams