State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*Remembering
Foxwall EMS Chief Anthony Cuda**

Last week, Western Pennsylvania
lost an incredibly important member of the community with the
unexpected passing of Foxwall EMS Chief Anthony "Tony" Cuda. Chief
Cuda's career in emergency services began when he was 16, when he
joined the Swissvale Borough Fire Department and started his training
to become a paramedic. He later served as an EMT with Wilkinsburg EMS,
Seneca Area EMS, Penn Hills EMS, East Ambulance, Medline Ambulance
Service, Guardian Angel Ambulance Service, Northwest EMS, and AHN
Prehospital Services. Chief Cuda was also a life-member of the
Aspinwall Fire Department.

In addition to his work as an EMT, Chief
Cuda served as the program coordinator of ALS Programs at the Public
Safety Institute of CCAC. The lives he touched as an educator are
innumerable and the impact of him helping to create a current and
future generation of dedicated EMTs and paramedics will be sorely
missed.

Over the last five years, as a member of the Senate
Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, I've gotten the
chance to meet many of the members of the EMS and volunteer fire
community- they have all been incredibly generous with their time and
their knowledge. And Chief Cuda was no exception to that. I benefited
greatly from his expertise.

Back in May, Chief Cuda extended an
invitation to me to join the crew at Foxwall for EMS Appreciation
Week. This was the first time that I got to visit the Chief at the
station--we had talked over Zoom and by email numerous times--but
between the pandemic, his incredibly busy schedule, and my schedule,
we hadn't connected at the station.

I cannot tell you how much I
enjoyed that visit. I had the chance to visit with and to share a
snack with the many members of the Foxwell crew, including Chief Cuda.
During that time, we had a great conversation about the many issues
facing EMS crews. It was obvious to me then, as it is now, that this
was more than a job for him. It is a calling. It is a family. It's
both deeply personal and meaningful, and something that he and all of
our EMTS do for the entire community.

Toward the end of that visit,
Chief Cuda gave me a Foxwall EMS challenge coin. Since I became a
Senator, I've received a few challenge coins, and every one of them
carries a lot of meaning to me--I know that they aren't given
casually. But this one will always have a special place on my desk and
in my heart now, because Chief Cuda gave it to me the last time I
spoke with him. We never know when it's going to be the last time that
we talk to someone--what that last conversation will be. The kindness
and the respect that he showed me by honoring me with this challenge
coin means even more now--and that will never leave me.

Chief Cuda,
you will not be forgotten--we will all carry your spirit of service
and dedication forward with us in your honor.

Foxwall EMS Chief
Tony Cuda recalled as mentor, inspiration for departments across the
A-K Valley | TribLIVE.com [link 1]

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*Upcoming
Events**

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[link 2]*

*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:

-
Large boxes of stuffing mix

-
Large boxes of
instant mashed potatoes

-
15-ounce can of cranberry sauce or
yams

-
16-ounce can of vegetables

-
Any dessert mix

-
Corn muffin or biscuit mix

-
Turkey gravy mix

-
Napkins

-
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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*Fall
Senior Fair at Ross Community Center*

We hosted our annual fall
Senior Fair with Rep. Emily Kinkead [link 4] at the Ross Township
Community Center on October 26th and it was a phenomenal success with
over 350 attendees! We were so grateful to the 54 vendors who came to
share information, to the Ross Township [link 5] Community Center for
being a wonderful host, Dunkin Donuts [link 6] in Etna and Eat 'n Park
[link 7] for delicious refreshments, Pittsburgh Regional Transit [link
8] for issuing free senior bus passes, and Waltmire Pharmacy [link 9]
for providing flu and COVID-19 shots to attendees!

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*West
View Halloween Parade *

I had a great time judging West View
Borough [link 10]'s annual Halloween Parade Costume Contest on October
30th. Thank you to all the businesses and volunteers who contributed
to this year's parade and helped make it a success!

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*Discussion
with Teen L.E.A.D.*

On October 30th I also spoke to Teen L.E.A.D.
at the Kingsley Association [link 11] in Larimer about what it is like
to be a legislator in Pennsylvania. Our discussion was one of many
Teen L.E.A.D. (Leadership. Education. Assistance. Development.)
meetings where people from different occupations talk to youth about
what they do. I think I learned as much from them as they learned from
me! Thank you to Teen L.E.A.D. for helping young people recognize
their leadership potential and for helping them become better equipped
for post-secondary life.

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*Legislative
Update **

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[link 12]*

*Water, Sewer, & Stormwater Infrastructure **Policy
Hearing*

On October 25th, I joined Democratic Policy Committee
Chair Senator Katie Muth [link 13] and Senator Maria Collett [link 14]
in hosting a policy hearing on water, sewer, and stormwater
infrastructure issues facing Pennsylvania communities.

One of the
top issues I hear about from constituents and municipalities is the
importance of funding water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure.
That's why Senator Muth, Senator Collett, and I co-sponsored
legislation last year that resulted in $320 million in American Rescue
Plan money being allocated for projects like these. But over a billion
dollars in infrastructure projects had to be turned away -
demonstrating that the need is dire in Pennsylvania to fund projects
that protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents across the
Commonwealth. I look forward to taking what we learned and working to
find more ways to fund these critical projects.

Senate Dems Discuss
Water, Sewer, Stormwater Infrastructure at Capitol Hearing
(senatorlindseywilliams.com) [link 15]

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*Election
Day is Tuesday, November 7th!*

The 2023 Municipal Election is
tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7th. Whether you ordered a mail-in ballot
or plan to vote in-person, your vote is your voice. Make sure you have
a plan to complete the voting process before Election Day deadlines so
your voice is heard!

*In-Person Voting*

All 1,324 polling
places in Allegheny County and polling places across Pennsylvania will
be open on Election Day, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Anyone in line
at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

There are 36 polling places in
Allegheny County that have changed since the May 2023 Primary, but no
polling places have changed in Senate District 38. Note - if polling
places change, voters receive letters from the Elections Division
advising them of the new location.

To verify your polling place go
to Polling Place Information (pa.gov) [link 16].

First-time voters
at a polling place will be asked to show identification. Accepted
forms of identification are listed here [link 17].

*Mail-in Ballot
Voting Reminders*

If you are voting by mail, read the instructions
you receive with your ballot carefully!

After completing your
ballot, you must seal it in the inner secrecy envelope that indicates
"official election ballot." *Do not make any marks on the inner
secrecy envelope.* Your ballot must be enclosed and sealed in the
inner secrecy envelope that indicates "official election ballot" or it
will not be counted.

Seal the inner secrecy envelope in the
pre-addressed outer return envelope. Complete the voter's declaration
on the outside of the outer return envelope with the date and your
signature. If you do not complete the declaration on the return
envelope your ballot will not be counted.

**You must mail or drop
off your ballot in time to be received by the Elections Division
downtown by 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 7th.** When the Elections
Division receives your mail-in ballot, you will receive an email
notification.

Instructions for completing mail-in ballots are
available here [link 18].

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*Convenient
Ballot Return Still Available Downtown*

If you waited too long to
return your mail-in ballot via the US Postal Service or need your
ballot reissued it is not too late!

Ballot return is available
through 8 pm on Municipal Election Day in the lobby of the County
Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.

Easy
curbside pull-off for ballot return, managed by staff, is in place at
the Ross Street entrance (between Fourth Avenue and Forbes Avenue) of
the County Office Building. Voters can briefly park in the sectioned
off right lane of Ross Street and return their ballot to Election
staff directly inside the entrance doors. Remaining days and hours of
operation are listed below:

*Day/Date *

*Hours *

Monday,
November 6

8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Tuesday, November 7

7 a.m. - 8
p.m.

Remember:

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

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

-
Voters should not mark the secrecy envelope in any
way.

-
Voters must sign and date the declaration envelope; if
either the signature or date, or both, are missing, the ballot cannot
be counted.

The lobby will be staffed by Elections Division workers
and also has space for voters to complete their ballot in
private.

**If you make an error on your ballot, or have not
received one you already applied for, the Elections Division can
reissue your ballot during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30
p.m.**

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[link 19]

*AARP Volunteers Needed for the 2024 Tax Season!*

The
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program [link 20] is looking for individuals
to volunteer virtually or in person in a variety of roles to provide
help to taxpayers. Volunteers come from a variety of industries & span
from retirees to college students. AARP provides the training,
support, and volunteers gain new skills while helping those in
need!

Volunteers can participate in-person or virtually for the
following roles:

-
Client Facilitator

-
Tax Counselor

-
Technology Coordinator

-
Leadership & Administrative
Volunteer

-
Communications Coordinator

-
Bilingual
Interpreter

Learn more about volunteering online [link 21] or call
1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669).

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[link 22]

*November Pittsburgh Regional Transit Redesign Public
Meetings*

Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) needs your input for
the Bus Line Redesign project to ensure our region's commuting system
meets the needs of riders now and in the future. The most important
part of Bus Line Redesign is public input!

PRT is hosting pop-up
input stations on commuter routes throughout November but, is also
holding two online meetings in November:

-
November 14, 2023 @
5:30PM
Online Public Meeting

-
November 16, 2023 @
11:30AM
Online Public Meeting

Attendees can register at Bus Line
Redesign | Engage PRT (rideprt.org) [link 23].

If you don't want
to attend an online meeting or go to a pop-up input station, you can
share your input directly on the project website, Bus Line Redesign |
Engage PRT (rideprt.org) [link 24], or take the NextTransit Bus Line
Redesign survey [link 25]. PRT needs to hear from current riders as
well as non-riders!

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[link 26]

*Coats for Kids Distribution!*

*Local No.1 Union Hall,
120 Flowers Ave., Sunday, November 19, 10 am - 2 pm*

It is that
time of year again and we are helping Pittsburgh Fire Fighters [link
27] get the word out to families or groups in need of warm coats about
the upcoming Coats for Kids Winter Clothing Drive. Pittsburgh Fire
Fighters have worked all year to raise the funds necessary to provide
warm coats to the City kids they've dedicated their lives to protect.
Hats and gloves will be available while supplies last and children
must be present to receive coats. If you have questions email
[email protected] [link 28].

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*Children's
Institute of Pittsburgh Offers Back to School Therapies*

For
students and young children requiring support during their return to
childcare, preschool, or school, The Children's Institute [link 29] of
Pittsburgh offers a variety of outpatient services in several
convenient locations across the region, including Squirrel Hill [link
30],
Bridgeville [link 31] and Irwin [link 32].

-
The Physical
Health [link 33] team assists students in person or virtually having
difficulty with common issues such as poor handwriting, voice
projection/articulation, or difficulty navigating the playground.

-
The Behavioral Health [link 34] team is prepared to assist those
children in person or virtually experiencing depression, anxiety, or
other mental health concerns with talk therapy or if the family
chooses, medication management.

-
For children newborn to age 3
experiencing developmental concerns, early intervention in partnership
with the Early Learning Institute [link 35] is available in a child's
home at no cost to families.

The Children's Institute's expert
therapists are available to help with a variety of services to assist
physical and mental health wellness:

-
Physical Therapy [link
36]

-
Occupational Therapy [link 37]

-
Speech Language
Therapy [link 38]

-
Behavioral Health [link 39]

-
Autism
Services [link 40]

-
Educational Services [link 41]

-
Early
Intervention (teli) [link 42]

To make a referral for an evaluation,
contact the Children's Institute of Pittsburgh online [link 43] or
call them at 412-420-2400.

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[link 44]

*Tree Planting Events*

The Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy [link 45] is looking for volunteers for their TreeVitalize
Pittsburgh [link 46] tree planting events. Planting trees is an
invigorating fall activity and a great way to meet like-minded
volunteers that want to make our communities greener!

Upcoming
Plantings in Senate District 38:

-
Wednesday, November 1st, 9am:
Harrison

-
Tuesday, November 7th, 9am: Garfield

-
Tuesday,
November 14th, 9am: East Liberty

Sign up for a shift here
at
Events Archive - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
(waterlandlife.org) [link 47].

Fun fact: Richland Township boasts
Allegheny County's oldest tree, 425 years old! You can read about it
at Richland Township's Penn Tree oldest in Allegheny County |
TribLIVE.com [link 48].

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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 49] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
50] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 51]. 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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