Upcoming Events
4th Annual Community Baby Shower
Liberty Green Park 100 Larimer
Ave, Pittsburgh, Thursday, September 28, 2023, 4-6 PM
(Rain
location: Kingsley Association, 6435 Frankstown Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
15206)
Senator Lindsey Williams is hosting her
4th annual Community Baby Shower on September 28th from 4pm-6pm at
Liberty Green Park located at 100 Larimer Ave., Pittsburgh, PA
15206.
The Community Baby Shower is a resource fair for
parents, grandparents, foster/kinship families, guardians, or anyone
looking to start a family. Hope to see you there!
Questions?
Call us at 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison) or email us
at [email protected].
Please register at Community
Baby Shower - Senator Lindsey Williams.
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!
Good News
Visit with
Secretary Mumin at Lincoln Pre-K-5 in Larimer
On September 1st I joined Pennsylvania
Department of Education Secretary Mumin at Pittsburgh
Public Schools Lincoln PreK-5 for a tour of their class garden.
Dr. Mumin also read to 1st grade students as a part of the District's
Black Men Read Initiative, which invites Black male leaders into the
classroom to bring words to life for the Pittsburgh Public
Schools’ youngest readers.
2023
Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade
I had a great time
at Pittsburgh’s Labor Day Parade last week and enjoyed sharing
our famous Union Pride with US
Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su! Thank you to
all of our Union Brothers and Sisters and the Allegheny-Fayette
County Labor Council for organizing this fantastic annual
event -- Pittsburgh is a Union Town!
Birds and More Nature Walk in Fox
Chapel
Thank you to the Beechwood
Farms Nature Reserve - Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania for
hosting last week’s Nature Walk! Despite the heat, we had a
wonderful walk and Chris, our guide, helped us see a few special
birds-- even a warbler! He also educated us about the importance of
native plants to the region’s bird and insect populations. It
was a great way to start the day. I hope everyone had as much fun as I
did!
Habitat
for Humanity Build in Lincoln-Larimer
On
August 30, State Farm agents from Southwestern PA invited us to
a Habitat
for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh (HFH-Pittsburgh) build in
Lincoln-Larimer, where they’re constructing two affordable
townhouses. State Farm also presented HFH-Pittsburgh with a $10,000
grant as part of its Good Neighbor Citizen program. Senator Williams
was in Harrisburg for a legislative session, so D38 staffer Jessica
took her place.
“I was nervous because I have little
practical home repair experience. The HFH staff and volunteer leaders
were so welcoming and patient! They assigned us various tasks and
showed us what to do. I spent the day caulking the kitchen and stairs
in one of the new homes. At the end of the day, I felt accomplished,
having learned a new skill and feeling good that I could participate
in getting this beautiful home ready for a family."
If you are
looking for a new volunteer opportunity with friends or coworkers,
this is a fantastic way to learn new skills and to work with the
exceptional people at HFH. Along with building new affordable housing,
HFH also offers affordable home repair programs to keep people in
their homes.
If you’re looking to get involved or learn
more, click here: https://www.habitatpittsburgh.org/.
Legislative Update
Basic Education Funding
Commission
This week, we kick off the first
three hearings of the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC). This
bipartisan, bicameral Commission is made up of 15 members– 3
Senate Democrats, 3 Senate Republicans, 3 House Democrats, 3 House
Republicans, and 3 members of Governor Shapiro’s
Administration.
Our task is to hear from experts and
examine and evaluate our current Basic Education Funding Formula,
which directs how about 20% of our current education dollars are spent
and make recommendations to the General Assembly on how we can improve
on this Formula.
This work is even more important in light of
the recent Commonwealth Court ruling that declared our current system
of underfunding and unfairly funding Pennsylvania’s public
schools to be unconstitutional. Pennsylvania’s founders knew
something that we often take for granted– that an educated
citizenry is essential for the future of our Commonwealth. This
week’s hearings are the start of how we get to a system of
education that adequately and equitably funds our schools and our
students.
You can watch along with all of the hearings, read
written testimony, and more on my website at SenatorLindseyWilliams.com/BEFC.
Court
ruling on Pa. education funding puts school infrastructure in
spotlight | TribLIVE.com
CHIP
Coverage for PA Kids!
Is your family one of
the thousands in Pennsylvania no longer eligible for Medicaid after
federal rules restarted renewal applications? Your children will
likely qualify for Pennsylvania’s Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides health care
coverage for routine checkups, wellness, and sick visits. Put your
mind at ease as children return to school this fall with CHIP’s
high-quality, low-cost coverage! Learn more at Children's
Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (pa.gov).
If you recently
lost Medicaid coverage, the family may also qualify for low- or
no-cost coverage from Pennie,
Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Marketplace! See how much you
can save at Home
| Pennie!
AARP
Tax-Aide Volunteers Needed
My office
volunteers every year to help schedule tax preparation appointments
for the AARP
Foundation Tax-Aide Program. If you are looking for a way to give
back to the community, you can volunteer with the AARP Foundation
Tax-Aide too!
The program asks individuals to volunteer
virtually or in person in a variety of roles to provide help to
taxpayers. Volunteers come from a variety of industries and ages that
span from retirees to college students. AARP provides training and
support. This is a great chance to learn new skills and help those in
need.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides tax preparation help
free of charge, membership is not required, and taxpayers of any age
can use this service. It is the largest free volunteer tax program
offered in conjunction with the IRS.
Learn more online
or call 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669).
Arbor Aid
2023
Tree Pittsburgh, 32
62nd St, Upper Lawrenceville, Saturday September 16, 2023, 5-9
PM
Don’t miss everyone’s favorite party
for the trees this weekend: Arbor Aid!
Celebrate the
urban forest at Tree
Pittsburgh’s beautiful campus on the Allegheny River. This
year’s celebration includes Pittsburgh delicacies like pierogis,
light bites, the return of the infamous Arbor Aid Cookie Table, live
music, and much more!
Take in the river views, enjoy live
music, and support urban forestry here in Pittsburgh.
For more
information and to get tickets go to Arbor
Aid 2023: A Celebration of Trees! by Tree Pittsburgh
(givelively.org).
Tour de
Sharpsburg is this Weekend!
Originally slated
for late July, Sharpsburg
Community Library's Tour de Sharpsburg Community Bike Ride is
rescheduled for Saturday, September 16th. Keep an eye out on the library's
Facebook page for more updates and hope for clear skies!
Lawrenceville Garbage
Olympics
Lawrenceville is getting serious
about this year’s Garbage Olympics in Pittsburgh! The Garbage
Olympics is a competition between all Pittsburgh neighborhoods to see
who can collect the most trash. If you live in Lawrenceville you can
register for either the Lower, Central, or Upper Lawrenceville teams
and help keep your neighborhood beautiful!
The event takes
place on Saturday, 9/23, from 9-11 AM and will be followed with a
celebration and award ceremony at Threadbare
Cider from 12-2 PM. Email [email protected]
with any questions.
Sign up at PGHGO.org
- REGISTER TO JOIN.
West
View Hub’s “Hubtoberfest”
West View Hub, 435 Perry Hwy,
Friday-Saturday, September 22 & 23
Mark
your calendars - HUBTOBERFEST is September 22 & 23! Take a look at
the schedule below and pick an event to help support the West
View Hub!
- Friday night screening of George A.
Romero's The Amusement Park (shot on location in West
View!)
- Saturday morning/afternoon craft and vendor
fair at West View United Methodist Church
- Saturday afternoon
carnival for kids of all ages at the HUB
- A special Saturday
night Danceland memories dance at West View Banquet Hall
For details and more information go to westviewhub.org/hubtoberfest.
The West
View Hub is a community resource organization that provides a
library, internet cafe, support services, counseling, food pantry, and
more to North Hills communities.
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
