State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38
Update

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*Upcoming Events**

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*November
Office Hours at the Kingsley Association*

*Friday, November 3, 2023
from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM*

My office hosts monthly office hours on
the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association [link 1]
and will be there again next Friday, November 3rd. Stop by and say
hello to our staff between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM to take advantage of all
of the services our District Office provides including senior citizen
bus passes, disability parking placards, property tax/rent rebates,
unclaimed property searches, illegible license plate replacement, and
more. Hope to see you there!

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*Thanksgiving on Every Table Collection*

*October 16 -
November 6*

North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) [link 3] is
collecting items to make a complete Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds
of families in our area who are experiencing hardship. Our district
offices will serve as drop off sites for the following requested
items:

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Large boxes of stuffing mix

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Large boxes of
instant mashed potatoes

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15-ounce can of cranberry sauce or
yams

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16-ounce can of vegetables

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Any dessert mix

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Corn muffin or biscuit mix

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Turkey gravy mix

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Napkins

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Canvas shopping bags

Food items will be accepted through November
6th. Our district office locations and hours are:

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

Thank you for helping to make a
family's celebration complete this year!

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*Good
News**

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*Universal
School Meals Discussion*

Last week I joined Just Harvest [link 4],
Rep. Emily Kinkead [link 5], and Nicole Paris for a discussion about
Universal School Meals. We had a great conversation about how ensuring
that our kids are fed, safe, and ready to learn is a crucial part of
education.

I look forward to working on the next step of expanding
our current Universal School Breakfast program to include Universal
School Lunches.

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*October
2019 site visit with Rep. Sara Innamorato*

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July
2021 Groundbreaking*

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October
2023 Westinghouse Announcement*

*Etna's 51 Bridge Street Home to
New Westinghouse Transportable Nuclear Battery Operations
Center*

From October 2019 until now, we've seen an amazing
transformation at 51 Bridge Street in Etna. I'm incredibly proud to
have been an advocate for state funding for the redevelopment of this
building from the very beginning-- transforming it from a disused
former steel pipe manufacturing site into a flex space that meets the
needs of upcoming tech manufacturers, like the Westinghouse eVinci
battery operation.

Yesterday we celebrated that Westinghouse [link
6] will invest at least $18 million and create more than 40 new
high-paying jobs at 51 Bridge Street to develop the transportable
nuclear battery technology, which will provide clean energy for a
variety of applications including off-grid communities, remote mining,
defense facilities, and data centers.

Westinghouse to base its
nuclear battery operations in Etna | TribLIVE.com [link 7]

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*Teachers
Make a Difference*

Last week, I had the honor of welcoming my
former high school American government and history teacher, Mr. Russo,
and his wife, to the Senate.

I can't thank my teachers and the
other educators at Wyoming Area School District enough for the start
that they gave me in my educational journey. Without them, I wouldn't
be where I am today.

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*Celebrating
75 Years*

Congratulations to North Allegheny School District [link
8] on their 75th anniversary!

My office joined with House and
Senate colleagues to present members of the School Board and
Administration with congratulatory citations and to thank them for
their work keeping the traditions and excellence of the district going
strong.

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*Legislative
Update **

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*Public
Education is Under Attack*

Since the beginning of September, we
have had eight Basic Education Funding Commission hearings around the
Commonwealth. It has been a grueling travel schedule and I have been
an active participant in each and every hearing.

I came into the
hearings with optimism because that's how I try to show up, especially
when students and their education are involved. This Commission has a
Commonwealth Court decision requiring us to find a way to fund a
comprehensive, effective, and contemporary system of public education
for all Pennsylvania students. We are hearing from experts about how
much it costs to fully and fairly fund our public schools.

But
I've still struggled when people ask me how the hearings are going.
I've struggled to remain optimistic about the outcome of the Basic
Education Funding Commission and the future of public education in
Pennsylvania. But after the last two weeks in the Senate, I know that
my pessimism is rooted in reality.

In the last two weeks, the
Senate Education Committee has held a hearing and voted on legislation
that will ban books from our classrooms and libraries and legislation
that would require that every school building has a gun. The full
Senate passed this book ban legislation, as well as legislation that
would require every school building to post the US and PA
constitutions, and legislation that would require schools to put all
textbooks, syllabi, and academic standards online for every single
course offered.

So far in my many hours of reading and listening
to testimony from experts on the funding needs of Pennsylvania
schools, not one single testifier has asked for more guns, book bans,
or to post their curriculum online.

They have testified, however,
that unfunded mandates result in the need to take money away from
other important funding areas like facilities or reading programs.
They have also begged for more mental health supports for their
students. In Pennsylvania, we have no school counselor to student
ratios. Instead, we have heard that one school counselor often serves
as counselor to more than 400 students in a school building or serves
multiple school buildings.

We also heard from a superintendent in a
rural district that his 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders must share textbooks
because the district does not have enough money to buy textbooks for
each student. We cannot provide the resources for our schools to have
enough textbooks for each of their students - but these bills will
create new unfunded mandates that take away from the textbook budget.
That superintendent will literally be required to purchase guns and
copies of the preambles of the US and PA Constitutions to display in
each school building before ensuring that every student has a
textbook.

When I hosted the Commission at Pittsburgh Public
Schools. At Westinghouse High School, we heard from a librarian who
began her testimony with a story about how, not long after she became
the school librarian, a parent came to her and thanked her for "saving
her daughter's life."
She told us the parent told her that her
daughter would have "never survived high school without her."
Since
then, she's had two other mothers tell her that she helped their
children and used that shocking phrase - that she "saved their child's
life."

The librarian concluded her story by reflecting on what she
had done for those students- and it was the same thing she does for
every student: offer a safe space. And then she posed the question,
"What if that student didn't have a school librarian?"

In fact,
that is already the reality for thousands of Pennsylvania students. We
have dwindling libraries and librarians. In the 2021-2022 school year,
the PA School Library Association found that 52 school districts,
which is 10% of school districts across the commonwealth, did not have
a school librarian assigned to a library.

That means that a student
in a well-resourced school in my district has access to a brand new
library and a full-time librarian who could save their life. In
contrast, the School District of Philadelphia currently has less than
ONE full-time certified librarian for its 217 schools and 114,000
students. Let me repeat that: one full-time certified school librarian
for 114,000 students. Book bans will only make this problem worse.
But this committee doesn't want to fix those problems. The Senate
doesn't even want to talk about those problems.

And the reason is
because the goal is not to fully and equitably fund a system of public
education. It is to destroy public education. Starve schools of
resources. Overwork educators. Deny kids opportunities afforded to
richer and whiter kids. Ignore students and educators who share
countless stories about the emotional anguish they are attempting to
survive. Tell outrageous lies about what our kids are exposed to in
schools to sow fear and distrust in our schools and our educators. All
to divert public money to tax credits for wealthy companies and
individuals so that private institutions that can discriminate against
any child.

Senator Lindsey Williams Denounces Senate Education
Committee Vote on Book Ban Bill [link 9]

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Mr.
Joe Welch from North Hills Middle School, 2020 Pennsylvania Teacher of
the Year* *

*Nominate an Outstanding Educator to be Pennsylvania
Teacher of the Year!*

The Teacher of the Year program celebrates
excellence in teaching and honors individuals who have made
outstanding contributions to the young people of Pennsylvania.
Nominations [link 10] will be accepted until December 15, 2023.

The
finalists are selected and recognized in Harrisburg each fall.
Pennsylvania's 2025 Teacher of the Year will be announced at a state
awards ceremony in early December 2024 and will represent the
Commonwealth at various local, regional, and national functions
culminating in the National Teacher of the Year ceremony at the White
House.

In 2020, Senate District 38 was home to the Pennsylvania
Teacher of the Year, Mr. Joe Welch from North Hills Middle School. Mr.
Welch continues to inspire his students to think about history and
historical figures from a personal perspective in order to connect to
history in new and exciting ways every day!

What's it take to be
PA's Teacher of the Year? Check out Joe Welch of North Hills Middle
School. (nextpittsburgh.com)What's it take to be PA's Teacher of the
Year? Check out Joe Welch of North Hills Middle School.
(nextpittsburgh.com) [link 11].

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[link 12]

*Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline is October
31!*

If you are not already an annual mail-in or absentee voter and
want to vote by mail or absentee in the upcoming November 3rd
Municipal Election, you must submit an application by tomorrow,
*Tuesday, October 31*. The fastest way to apply is online at Ballot
Request Application (pa.gov) [link 13]. If you prefer to print and
complete a mail-in ballot [link 14] or absentee ballot [link 15] paper
application, it must be received by the Allegheny County Elections
Division by 5 pm October 31.

Not sure if you are an annual mail-in
or absentee voter? Check your voter registration status [link 16] and
look under "VOTER RECORD DETAILS" for "YES" or "NO."

For complete
information on voting by mail in Pennsylvania go to Mail-in and
Absentee Ballot (pa.gov) [link 17].

Still have questions or need
assistance? Call us at 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison)
or email us at [email protected] [link 18]. We are
here to help!

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*Curbside Ballot Return Available at County Office
Building Through Election Day

Curbside Pull-Off Begins October 30;
Extended Hours Begin Wednesday, November 1*

Ballot return is
available until Election Day, November 7th in the lobby of the County
Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. Curbside
pull-off for ballot return, with staff available at the Ross Street
entrance (between Fourth Avenue and Forbes Avenue) of the County
Office Building also begins Monday, October 30. The right lane of Ross
Street, closest to the County Office Building, will be sectioned off
to allow motorists to easily pull over near the entrance and return
their completed ballot.

Extended ballot return hours will begin on
Wednesday, November 1.

Voters are reminded of the following:

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State law requires that voters return their own ballot; they may not
return the ballots of others

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Ballots must be placed in the
secrecy envelope; "naked" ballots will not be counted

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Voters
should not mark the secrecy envelope in any way

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If either the
signature or date, or both, are missing, the ballot cannot be
counted

Since Tuesday, October 31 is the deadline to apply for a
mail-in or absentee ballot, voters can also vote over-the-counter in
the lobby 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM tomorrow. The space, accessible from
Forbes Avenue, will be staffed by the Elections Division and has space
for voters to complete their ballot in private. If a voter has made an
error on their ballot, or has not received one previously applied for,
the Elections Division can also reissue the ballot tomorrow
only.

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*Poll Workers Needed!*

Allegheny County is always
looking for folks to work the polls on Election Day, and the 2023
General Election is coming in less than 2 weeks! There is still time
to step up and demonstrate your civic participation by serving as a
Judge, Inspector, or Clerk of Election. Poll workers earn from $150 to
$175 for the day. New poll workers also receive paid training.

Fun
fact - 17-Year-Old high school students are eligible to be poll
workers with permission from their school principal and a parent or
guardian.

For more information on becoming a poll worker go to
Elections | Election Poll Workers | Allegheny County [link 21]. You
can also call the Elections Division office by phone 412-350-4500
(option 5), email [link 22],
or stop in at the County Office
Building, Suite 312 to speak to someone about working the
polls.

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*Whole Home Repair Program Enters Phase 2*

Have you
heard about the Allegheny County Whole Home Repairs Program [link 24]?
Phase 2 of the Program opened on October 16 and closes *Friday,
November 17th, at 4pm*. If you didn't get an application in, you still
have three weeks!

The Whole Home Repairs Program is administered by
Action Housing [link 25] and awards up to $50,000 of repairs for
renovations completed by one of their certified contractors. With
limited funding, they are focusing on homes with the most severe
issues. Funds are available to homeowners who:

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Own & live in a
house that needs repairs in Allegheny County

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Are living in a
home with significant habitability issues such as roof damage, unsafe
electrical wiring, or accessibility concerns.

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Have a total
income that doesn't exceed 80% of the Area Medium Income for Allegheny
County.

Applications can be found online [link 26] or contact
ACTION-Housing at (412) 248-0021 to complete an application over the
phone.

*If you applied in Phase 1 and weren't selected, *you must
recertify your application to verify your income to be considered for
Phase 2! Documents like an IRS 1040 form, W2 form, two months of
current pay stubs, an award letter from the Social Security Office or
welfare office, or a letter from their employer can all be used.
Applicants who need help resetting their password call the Help Desk
at (412) 350-3457, option 2.

For more information go to Allegheny
County Whole-Home Repairs Program - Action Housing [link
27].

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*2023 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Virtual
Forum*

*Thursday, November 2, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM*

Join the
Pennsylvania Department of Aging [link 29] for the 2023 Alzheimer's
Disease and Related Disorders Virtual Forum next Thursday. Topic:
A
Focus on Lewy Body and Frontotemporal Dementias. For more information
and to register go to Alz. & Related Disorder Plan (pa.gov) [link
30].

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*Winter Coat and Clothing Distribution in
Sharpsburg*

*Sharpsburg Family Worship Center, Saturday, October
28, 2023, 9 AM - 5 PM*

Fox Families Care [link 32] and Roots of
Faith [link 33] are partnering again to present their 6th Annual
Winter Coat & Clothing Distribution this Saturday at the Sharpsburg
Family Worship Center, 610 Clay St.

The distribution is open to Fox
Chapel Area School District & Etna Residents. Bring residency
verification with you (driver's license, state ID, utility
bill).

Free coat and clothing for people in attendance only. There
will be limits based upon what is available.

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*Trick
or Treat in District 38*

Get ready for Trick or Treat in your
neighborhood! Check the times for your municipality and make sure that
your little (or not-so-little) ghosts and goblins are safe while they
trick or treat by following these safety tips!

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Dress children
in brightly colored or light-colored costumes.

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Use reflective
tape, flashlights, or glow sticks for added visibility.

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Make
sure costumes and shoes fit properly to prevent trips or falls.

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Make sure your porch and front yard are clear of any potential
tripping hazards.

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Replace any burned-out bulbs in your outdoor
lights.

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Use battery-operated votives instead of lit candles in
your Jack-o'-lanterns.

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Restrain your pets or keep them in
another room.

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Secure inflatable Halloween decorations [link
34].

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Drive slowly and be on the lookout for trick-or-treaters,
including those in dark clothing.

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Exercise extra caution at
crosswalks and intersections.

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Don't text or look at your phone
while you're driving.

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Turn your headlights on earlier in the
day.

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Do not wear Halloween masks or costumes that can obstruct
your vision while driving.

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As
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have
by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 35] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
36] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 37]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams


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Contact
Information:

Website:
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Office Location:
District
Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:
412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928

Harrison Office
1826 Union
Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone: 724-224-2131
Fax:
724-224-2145

Harrisburg Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box
203038
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax:
717-787-8625

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