Upcoming Events

Monthly Community Office Hours
Kingsley Association, Friday, September 1, 2023, 10 AM - 3 PM

Stop by this Friday, September 1, between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM to ask questions or get help with state services like Pittsburgh Regional Transit senior bus passes, Property Tax-Rent Rebate applications, Medical Assistance Renewals, or Unclaimed Property searches. Hope to see you there!

 

Nature Walk with Senator Williams
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 9 AM - 10 AM

Join Senator Williams on Wednesday morning, September 6th for a ‘Birds and More Nature Walk’ with the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania at their Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. The short walk is free and gives you a chance to share issues that matter to you with Senator Williams as we all learn about the flora and fauna on the Reserve. 

Register for this event at Audubon Society of Western PA (aswp.org) or call us at 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison). We hope to see you there!

Investing in Women Event
Virtual or Kingsley Association, Larimer, Thursday, September 7, 6 PM - 8 PM

Join Senator Williams, Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, and Becky MacDicken from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking & Securities for “Investing in Women” on Thursday, September 7th. This presentation will discuss the unique financial obstacles facing women and provide a road map on confidently managing banking, budgeting, credit and investing. It is never too late for financial education!

Register for the event with the QR code above or at Events - Senator Lindsey Williams. If you have questions, please call us at 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison). 

Halloween Costume Drive with North Hills Community Outreach
Ross or Harrison Township Offices of Senator Lindsey M. Williams, September 1 - October 6, 2023.

We are partnering with North Hills Community Outreach to collect new or gently used Halloween costumes for kids in the community. Get into the spooky spirit early by finding the perfect costume for a child in need - everything from scary to sweet will be accepted! 

Drop off your new or gently used Halloween costumes between September 1st and October 6th at one of our district offices:

Ross Township Office
5000 McKnight Rd
Pittsburgh PA 15237
(412) 364-0469
Monday-Friday 9-5pm

Harrison Township Office
1826 Union Ave.
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(724) 224-2131
Monday-Thursday 9-5pm         

North Hills Community Outreach will distribute the costumes at their Coat Shop, a free winter coat event held on October 14, 21 and 28. Thank you in advance for your donations!

FREE Shredding Event and Halloween Costume Drive with Representative Venkat
North Park-Oregon Shelter, Allison Park, Saturday, September 9, 2023, 9 AM - 12 PM

Protect your identity by shredding your sensitive paper documents at our upcoming event with Rep. Arvind Venkat on September 9th! We will also be collecting new and gently used Halloween costumes for North Hills Community Outreach to distribute to community children at their free winter Coat Shop in October. You can get rid of your clutter and make a child smile all in one trip!

This event is FREE and will be held at the North Park-Oregon Shelter from 9 am – 12 pm (or until the truck is full). Shredding will be performed on site and is limited to 2 boxes per vehicle. Only paper will be accepted and please remove all metal fasteners other than staples. No books or binders, please. 

Community Wellness Initiative’s Wellness Fair
Kingsley Association, Larimer, Saturday, September 9, 2023, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Join us at the Community Wellness Initiative of Pittsburgh Wellness Fair at the Kingsley Association on September 9th. The Wellness Fair is a great opportunity to get health screenings, information on a wide range of health and wellness topics, and even see a yoga or Tai Chi demonstration. My staff will be there if you need assistance with state services. Hope to see you there!

Good News

2023 Career and Technical Education Conference in Allison Park

On August 16th, I had the honor of welcoming educators to the 2023 CTE Southwestern Pennsylvania Career and Technical Education Joint In-Service Day Conference at one of my favorite places in my Senate District, the A.W. Beattie Career Center. The conference featured Kathy Parry who spoke about educators building resilient teams in the post-pandemic era. Thank you to A.W. Beattie for hosting and Kathy Parry for inspiring the administrators and educators who make these modern, cutting-edge career certification programs possible!

Shop with a Cop

I was delighted to partner again with the PA State Police, the office of Rep. Emily Kinkead, and Ross Park Mall Macy's employees in a 'Shop with a Cop' back to school event on August 20th. Officers each chose a child from their community to receive a backpack filled with school supplies and $250 worth of clothes from Macy’s! Thanks for always including me in this really wonderful event.

Grant for Northland Public Library

I was proud to support the $500,000 grant for Northland Public Library's Entrance and Stair Replacement project alongside Rep. Emily Kinkead and Rep. Arvind Venkat. This project includes creating an ADA-accessible entrance to the building and replacing the current spiral staircase with a standard staircase, making it accessible for all patrons to navigate, as well as installing a new service desk and new indoor and outdoor seating.

We also honored staff member Willa A. Neil, who is retiring after fifty-five years of dedicated service. To her great credit, she was instrumental in creating a children’s library collection in preparation of the library’s grand opening in October 1968.

HD 21 Special Election Deadline Reminders!

We let constituents know last week about the upcoming Special Election on Tuesday, September 19th to fill the vacancy in State House District 21 due to the resignation of State Representative Sara Innamorato. State House District 21 includes all of Etna, Millvale, Reserve, and Shaler, as well as portions of the City of Pittsburgh. If you live in HD21 and chose to vote by mail for the year, you've likely already received your ballot.

This week we are reminding HD 21 residents that the deadline to register to vote in the Special Election is next Tuesday, September 5th. If you aren’t registered, you can’t vote! Answers to your questions about registration and other Special Election information follow: 

• Not sure if you're in the 21st Legislative district? Check your voter registration here: Check Your Voter Registration Status (pa.gov). 
• Need to register to vote? Again, the voter registration deadline is Tuesday, September 5th. Applications must be received at the Elections Division by 5 PM. The easiest and fastest way to apply or make a change is by using the state’s online voter registration process at Check Your Voter Registration Status (pa.gov).
• Want to vote by mail? Last day before the election to apply for civilian absentee and mail-in ballots is Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Applications must be received at the Elections Division by 5 PM. The easiest and fastest way to apply or make a change is by using the state’s online Ballot Request Application (pa.gov).
• Want to vote your mail ballot over the counter? Visit the lobby of the County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM beginning on Monday, August 21 to apply for a ballot and vote.

For more information on the September 19 Special Election, including links to verify your voter registration, confirm your polling place, apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot, review the candidate list and see a sample ballot, visit Special Election | Elections | Allegheny County.

Literacy Pittsburgh’s Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring Program

An hour a week can change a child’s life!  Become an Oasis tutor and have the opportunity to give back, have fun, and make a difference.  

Oasis is a Literacy Pittsburgh program that recruits and trains adults (50+) to tutor children in grades K-4 in reading and writing in the Duquesne City, Environmental Charter, Pittsburgh Public, Wilkinsburg and Woodland Hills School Districts.  

Oasis has tutors in over 37 schools serving over 230 students yearly.  All training, materials and clearances are free. Three one-day training sessions are available on the following dates:

• Wednesday, September 6, 9 a.m. – 3p.m.
  Oasis Office, 411 Seventh Avenue, 5th Floor,
  Pittsburgh, 15219
   
• Wednesday, October 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center, 6401 Penn Avenue
  Pittsburgh, 15206
   
• Wednesday, October 18, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  Mt. Lebanon Library, 16 Castle Shannon Boulevard
  Mt. Lebanon, 15228

For more information on how to become an Oasis tutor, or other training dates, please call or email John D. Spehar, Director, Pittsburgh Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring Program at (412) 393-7648, [email protected] or go to Volunteer Reading Tutors Pittsburgh | Oasis Tutoring | Literacy Pittsburgh.

Educational Assistance for Families of Veterans

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is reminding eligible veterans with children and their family members that financial assistance may be available to help them pursue higher education. 

The DMVA’s Educational Gratuity Program provides financial assistance to:

• children of honorably discharged veterans who have 100% permanent service-connected disabilities and served during periods of war or armed conflict; 
• or children of veterans who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.

Eligible children:

• must be 16 - 23 years old;
• must be living in Pennsylvania five years prior to application;
• must attend a Pennsylvania school;
• must demonstrate financial need.

Payments are up to $500/semester or term per child to each approved educational institution for a total of eight semesters or terms.

For more information on the program and to apply, contact the Allegheny County Director of Veterans Affairs, Timothy Martin, at 412-621-3622 or [email protected].

Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Offers High School Students an Alternative

Do you know a Pennsylvania teen who is struggling in high school and is looking for an alternative way to reach their goals? Let them know about the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA), a joint effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and the National Guard Bureau in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. KSCA is now accepting applications for their 4th class of cadets starting January 2024. 

The program is open to 16- to 18-year-old Pennsylvania residents who are failing to progress in high school or may not be on a clear path to graduating. Applicants must be willing to be drug free, free of felony convictions, and voluntarily commit to the program. The program lasts for 17 months, with the first five months consisting of residential training at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, PA (Lebanon County) followed by one year of mentorship back in their home communities.

Cadets are introduced to the military structure and focus on eight core components: Academic Excellence; Physical Fitness; Leadership/Followership; Responsible Citizenship; Job Skills; Service to the Community; Health and Hygiene; and Life Coping Skills. Graduates often receive high school credits, credentials, or a GED. There is no tuition cost to attend. Meals, housing, uniforms, and school supplies are provided at no charge.

For detailed eligibility requirements and to begin the application process click here. For a paper application or to talk with someone about the program, please contact the academy by emailing [email protected], or by calling 717-861-7767 or 717-861-8831.

Save the Date for the Pittsburgh Kidney Walk!

National Kidney Foundation Serving the Alleghenies Pittsburgh Kidney Walk is Sunday, October 8th at Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. By participating in the walk, you'll let others know they're not alone. Register today at 2023 Pittsburgh Kidney Walk.

No-Cost Farmers Market at the Sharpsburg Community Library

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is holding its next no-cost farmers market at the Sharpsburg Community Library on September 8! This event is open to the public with no restrictions or registration required. Bring a bag and stock up on precious fresh fruits and veggies. See graphic above for details!

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