Good News
Hampton
Heroes
Last week I joined the Hampton
Township School District in celebrating the 2023 Class of Hampton
Heroes, which honors local Veterans. This year's honorees are Gavin
Church, Mark D’Amico, Bill Daugherty, Robert Kuhn, Bill Marsh,
Timothy Tocci and Wayne Koble.
Thank you to all of the
students who made this event so special for the community-- it's a
wonderful way to recognize and thank our Veterans!
Good Jobs Principles for
Pittsburgh
I was happy to join U.S.
Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su, Mayor
Ed Gainey, City Solicitor Krysia Kubiak, Steve Mazza from Carpenters
Pittsburgh Training Center, Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Executive Deputy Secretary
Cheryl Moon-Siriani, and other local leaders last Wednesday to
celebrate Pittsburgh’s designation as a Workforce
Hub.
I and other community members publicly endorsed
and committed to uphold the Good
Jobs Principles for Pittsburgh. These guiding principles
will help provide pathways into good paying jobs and careers for
thousands of people who call the Pittsburgh region home.
West Deer
VFC #3 Celebrates 60th Anniversary
On November
4th I joined the members, families, and community of West Deer
Volunteer Fire Company #3 to celebrate the Department's 60th
Anniversary!
New
Flagpole Dedicated at Southwestern Veterans
Center
On Veterans Day, I had the honor
of joining resident Veterans and staff at the Southwestern
Veterans Center and members of Boy Scout Troop 9329 for a new
flagpole dedication at the Center. The flagpole replacement,
surrounding courtyard redesign, and dedication ceremony were all
planned and carried out by Life Scout and Senior Patrol Leader Brenna
Collery as part of her Eagle Scout Project.
Because many
of the Veterans at Southwestern Veterans Center have mobility
difficulties, Brenna designed the courtyard for maximum accessibility,
which will allow all residents to participate in flag raising and
lowering every day.
Thank you to Brenna for this
thoughtful and meaningful tribute to our Veterans for all of their
service!
2023 Marine
Corps Birthday Ball
Thank you to the Allegheny
Valley Detachment 827 of the Marine Corps League for inviting me to
their annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball! It was wonderful to celebrate
the history and sacrifices of the Marine Corps with members and their
families. I was incredibly honored to help their detachment secure
funding to replace the building’s roof earlier this year and to
work alongside this organization that gives so much back to the
community. Happy Birthday and thank you for your service!
Lowries Run
Slopes Expansion Project in Ross
Last week my
staff and Representative
Emily Kinkead met with the Allegheny
Land Trust to explore the Lowries Run Slopes Expansion Project
that will create and protect a 67-acre greenway in Ross Township. We
also got to see a map of the potential site drawn by two of the
projects' young neighbors!
Protecting this land would help to
address water quality and flooding issues in Lowries Run by allowing
the continued absorption of 20 million gallons of rainwater annually.
It would also help to maintain air quality by annually sequestering
97,000 pounds of carbon and removing 1,700 pounds of other
pollutants.
You can learn more about the project at
Lowries Run Slopes Expansion Project - Allegheny Land
Trust
Legislative Update
Transgender Awareness
Legislation
I’m honored to be the Prime
Sponsor of the Senate Resolution recognizing Transgender Awareness
Week as November 13 - 19 and Transgender Day of Remembrance as
November 20 in Pennsylvania again this year, along with my fellow
Members, Senator Amanda Cappelletti, Senator Katie Muth, and Senator
Tim Kearney.
We observe Transgender Day of Remembrance every
year in November by taking time and space to remember and celebrate
the lives of those transgender and non-binary individuals’ whose
lives were lost over the previous year. Members of the community may
be unable to properly grieve these losses at the time, for many
reasons. That could include mis-reporting of the individual’s
death through the accidental or intentional use of dead names by
family or law enforcement, and ongoing concerns about safety.
The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is a way for the community
to claim and honor their dead. In that spirit, I would like to lift up
the names of two of our fellow Pennsylvanians who were lost this year:
Theadora “Thea” Cassidy and River Paige Olmstead.
Thea Cassidy was an 18-year-old freshman at Millersville University,
where she was majoring in Social Studies Education with plans to be a
history teacher. Thea loved medieval history and fantasy and was an
avid player of Dungeons & Dragons. She loved the arts, spending
time painting minifigures for her D&D campaigns and working on her
sketching. Thea also loved spending time with her family and friends
and her dog, Leo. Family described Thea as an “incredibly
empathetic” person who wanted to help others.
River
Olmstead was a 17-year old student at Manheim Township High School.
River loved music. They were an accomplished musician who played the
mellophone in marching band and aspired to be a music therapist
working with children when they grew up. River also found music in the
written word and was an avid reader and writer. River was a devout
Christian, and an active volunteer with their church Sunday School and
with Lydia’s Closet, which provides free clothing to school-aged
children in need. River met challenges with compassion and combined
their activism efforts with prayer and devotion to their fellow
humans.
Both Thea and River loved the outdoors and the
Renaissance Faire. They both enjoyed spending time with family and
friends.
But tragically, Thea Cassidy and River Olmstead died
by suicide this fall. Their lives, their love, and the possibilities
that they carried within them, lost to their families, friends, and
community.
I want to lift up the lives of Thea and River and
all of those we have lost. I want to lift up the families and loved
ones of all of those we have lost. WE SEE YOU, WE SEE YOUR CHILDREN,
AND WE SEE THE STRUGGLE OF THE TRANSGENDER AND NON-BINARY COMMUNITY.
We see what the rhetoric that comes out of Harrisburg does to you and
your families. We see what legislation that denies your right to see
yourselves reflected in literature, your right to free expression, and
your right to just EXIST does. We reject those efforts and we will
fight for you and your children every time they come up.
As the quote on Thea’s obituary says, “Pain doesn’t
make people, It’s love that makes people. The pain is
inconsequential. It’s love that saves them.” Love must
win– the love of family, community, of one another. Love must
win.
Until the day that love does win, we will
lift up their names and do the work in their memory.
LIHEAP
Application Period is Open!
The Pennsylvania
Department of Human Services (DHS) is now accepting applications
for the 2023-2024 Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season! LIHEAP is a
grant program for low-income families that pays from $300 to $1,000
toward heating utility bills. This is a grant and does not have to be
repaid!
How to apply:
- Online: at
Pennsylvania’s COMPASS website (www.compass.state.pa.us).
- Download a paper application: from the DHS
LIHEAP website and return completed paper applications to the
Allegheny County Assistance Office, located at 5947 Penn Avenue, 4th
Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206.
LIHEAP is funded by the
federal government and eligibility is based on the Federal Poverty
Income Guidelines. The 2023-2024 income limits are listed in the
graphic above.
After your application is received, you will
receive a written notice explaining your eligibility and the amount of
assistance you will receive. Payments are generally sent directly to a
utility company or fuel provider and will be credited to your heating
account. Crisis grants may also be available if you have an emergency
situation and are in jeopardy of losing your heat. For more
information, please contact the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095 or
412-562-0330. Individuals with hearing impairments can call 711.
PA MEDI
for Your Open Enrollment Medicare Questions!
The 2023 Medicare open enrollment period runs from October 15th -
December 7th and we are reminding seniors to take advantage of
Pennsylvania's FREE Medicare counseling program called PA
MEDI (Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision
Insight).
Open enrollment is the period of time
every year that new Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare
Prescription Drug coverage and health plans that complement Medicare.
Current Medicare beneficiaries can renew and join, switch, or drop
Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Coverage to better meet their
needs during the open enrollment. Any changes you make will take
effect on January 1, 2024.
There are an overwhelming
number of Medicare health insurance options out there, but the Pennsylvania
Department of Aging (AAA) PA MEDI counseling service is available
to help you make informed decisions based on your individual needs.
Counselors are trained to optimize your cost savings and access to
healthcare and benefits. They do not sell or endorse Medicare
insurance products, companies, or agents. Consultations are free,
confidential, and unbiased.
This work is done with the
help of approximately 250 dedicated PA MEDI volunteers housed in local
AAAs across the Commonwealth. PA MEDI Counselors can help you
understand:
- Medicare eligibility and enrollment
- Benefits & Services covered under Parts A & B
-
Financial Assistance Programs
- Benefits under Long-Term Care
policies
- Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Benefit
Individuals can learn more about PA MEDI, events and
programs, or becoming a volunteer by clicking
here or by calling the PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067, Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or the Allegheny County Area
Agency on Aging at 412-350-4234.
Pennie
Open Enrollment
Pennie
open enrollment started November 1, 2023 and runs through January 15,
2024. You still have plenty of time to sign up through Pennie,
Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace, for high-quality,
affordable health insurance coverage in an unexpectedly simple and
approachable way.
- If you enroll by December 15th,
you will have a coverage effective date of January 1, 2024.
- If you enroll by January 15th, you will have a coverage effective
date of February 1, 2024.
You can apply and get
covered through Pennie if you are a PA resident who is a citizen, a
U.S. national, or if you have qualified immigration status. If
you’re not covered through your employer or another program like
Medical
Assistance (PA’s Medicaid), you can enroll in a high-quality
plan through Pennie.
If you’ve lost your Medicaid
coverage, Pennie can help! Pennie and the Pennsylvania
Department of Human Services (DHS) are working together to ensure
that qualified Pennsylvanians have access to health coverage either
through Medical Assistance, the Children’s
Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or affordable, high-quality
coverage available through Pennie.
To compare plans, get a
quote, or get help from a Pennie navigator, go to Home
| Pennie or call 1-844-844-8040. To enroll you will need the
following:
- Photo ID(s) – driver’s license,
passport, or other document proving your identity
- Social
security number(s)
- Last four weeks of pay stubs
-
Immigration documents, if applicable
- Most recent tax
return(s)
For more information go to Home
| Pennie. If you have questions contact: Contact
Us | Pennie: Connecting Pennsylvanians to Health Coverage or call
Pennie Customer Service Call Center at 1-844-844-8040, 8 AM - 7 PM
Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 7 PM Saturday, closed Sunday.
PHEAA
to Host Public Service Virtual Webinars
The Pennsylvania
Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has announced their
November and December Public Service Virtual Webinars! Funding for
higher education can be confusing. These webinars will cover topics to
prepare families for filing for Financial Aid and understanding the
next steps!
Understanding the Offer
Letter and Balances:
The Offer letter, or Financing
Plans, that you receive to provide an idea of the cost associated with
attending post-secondary education can be confusing as each school
formats their information differently. Learn to understand and
navigate through the types of Aid that are listed, what you are being
offered and identifying the balances and next steps needed so you can
make knowledgeable and affordable decisions. Q&A interaction is
encouraged!
- November 30 Thursday, 6:30pm
-
December 14, Thursday, Noon;
- December 19, Tuesday,
6:30pm
Covering the Gap: Pieces of the Puzzle
to Help Pay Your Education Bill:
Understanding
education balances can be confusing and whether you’re trying to
address the costs or beginning to plan for higher education, this
review is for you. Join PHEAA representatives Linda Pacewicz and
Daniel Wray for a 1-hour webinar that will emphasize best practices
(such as seeking grants and scholarships first), remind families about
additional resources (such as payment plans), and review
private/alternative loans as a last resort in the process of covering
the Gap and keeping balances affordable. The discussion will also
include the basics of credit, what factors impact a credit score, how
can a credit score be improved and the effects on your borrowing
capability.
- November 28th Tuesday Noon
Financial Aid and Planning Q&A with PHEAA:
Articles related to funding a higher education are in the news
almost every day and it can lead even the most knowledgeable of us
into information overload. Have you ever wanted to simply ask a few
specific questions, yet couldn’t find anyone to ask? Maybe you
have questions about planning for college, finding the right school,
applying for scholarships and for federal and state aid, understanding
offer letters, competing loan applications, comparing federal loans to
private loans, repaying/refinancing loans after graduation –
etc. Join Linda Pacewicz and Daniel Wray of the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for a wide open one-hour Q&A
session. Ask your questions in an open forum or privately via
chat.
- December 12, Tuesday, 6:30pm;
- December
21, Thursday Noon
Register for sessions here: Pennsylvania
Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) Webex Enterprise
Site.
Coats
for Kids Winter Clothing Drive with the Pittsburgh
Firefighters!
Join the Pittsburgh Fire
Fighters, Duquesne Light Company, MSA, and the Pittsburgh Penguins
this Sunday, November 19 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM for
a free winter coat distribution at the Pittsburgh Fire
Fighters Local No. 1 Union Hall, 120 Flowers Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15207.
Coats are available for children from
Kindergarten through grade 5. Children must be present to receive a
coat!
This distribution is first come, first served.
Please contact [email protected]
with any questions.
ACHD Air
Monitoring Network Plan Needs Your Input!
The
Allegheny
County Health Department (ACHD) is accepting public comment
through Friday, December 1 on its 2024 Air Monitoring Network Plan.
The plan is an annual report that provides a detailed description of
how and where air pollution is monitored in Allegheny County.
The 2024
Air Monitoring Network Plan is a document required by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It provides the specific
location of each monitoring station, sitting criteria, monitoring
methods and objectives, frequency of sampling, pollutants measured at
each station and aerial photographs showing their physical
location.
The network includes the following 10 locations
within the county: Avalon, Clairton, Glassport, Harrison,
Lawrenceville, Liberty, North Braddock, Parkway East (Wilkinsburg),
South Fayette, and a new location in Chateau.
One or more of
the following pollutants is measured at each site: Sulfur dioxide,
Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, total reactive nitrogen, Ozone,
PM10, PM2.5, and other air toxics.
Comments may be submitted
via email to
[email protected] or by mail to:
Allegheny
County Health Department
Attention: David D. Good
Air Quality Program
836 Fulton Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
All correspondence must include
first and last name and a complete mailing address.
Job
Openings and Volunteer Opportunities at NAMS in
Sharpsburg
The Northern
Area Multi-Service Center (NAMS), headquartered in Sharpsburg, has
been helping at-risk individuals in Allegheny County since their
founding in 1968. NAMS focuses on seniors in the region and keeping
them independent and living at home in their communities. Their agency
is one of the largest ACCESS Transportation providers in the area;
they manage four senior centers and provide home delivered meals to
over 400 individuals three days per week via the Meals on Wheels
program.
NAMS also works with Landmark Home Health
Care, which provides a one-stop shop for seniors who are independent,
but might need additional care in their homes following a
hospitalization or surgery.
The NAMS organization
is full of wonderful staff members and volunteers, but they are
currently looking to add to both groups. Information on current
employment and volunteer opportunities is listed on the graphics
above.
If you want to learn more about NAMS employment
opportunities or to submit an application, please contact Brian Metzer
at [email protected]
or call 412-781-1176 x 2072. To volunteer or receive more information
about volunteer opportunities contact the Sharpsburg NAMS Senior
Center Coordinator, Pegi Prycl at 412-781-1176 x 4499.
