Events

Veterans Service Officer Appointments Available!

My office is offering American Legion Veterans Service Officer (VSO) appointments every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 9 am - 1 pm! Appointments will rotate between my two district offices every month.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, Ross District Office, 5000 McKnight Rd, Suite 405
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Harrison District Office, 1826 Union Ave.

Whether you have a question or just need a fresh review of the benefits you’ve earned, call or email our office to schedule a one-on-one appointment: 412-364-0469 (Ross) 724-224-2131 (Harrison).

Need an alternative date? See the graphic above for appointments available at other legislative offices.

Halloween Costume Drive
Ross or Harrison Township Offices, September 2 - October 4, 2024

We had an overwhelming response to last year’s Halloween Costume Drive, so we are partnering with North Hills Community Outreach again this year 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 2nd and October 4th 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 12, 19, and 26.

5th Annual Community Baby Shower
Sheldon Community Park, 480 Park Ave, Natrona Heights, September 26, 2024, 4-6pm
Rain Location: Deborah D. Booker Community Center, 100 Park Ave, Natrona Heights

We are hosting our 5th annual Community Baby Shower on September 28th from 4pm-6pm at Sheldon Community Park, 480 Park Avenue, Natrona Heights, PA 15065.

The Community Baby Shower is a resource fair for parents, grandparents, foster/kinship families, guardians, or anyone looking to start a family. Some of the organizations attending this year include UPMC Children’s Injury Prevention, Trying Together, Allegheny Family Network, Achieva Early Intervention, Russellton Palmer Pharmacy (flu shots), and many more. Hope to see you there!

Questions? Call us at 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison) or email us at [email protected].

Good News

West Deer VFC Receives Additional Grant Funding!

The new West Deer Volunteer Fire Company #3 fire hall is shaping up to be a fantastic space for the first responders and residents of West Deer! I'm grateful to Congressman Chris Deluzio for adding federal grant money to the state funding that we've previously been able to secure for the Department. It's great to see so many levels of government coming together to support and fund our first responders and the critical work they do every single day!

Want to see the progress at the new fire hall? Join the West Deer VFD at their Open House Sunday, October 6th for 12 - 4pm!

U.S. Secretary of Education Bus Tour Visits Faison K-5

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to join U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten as they visited Pittsburgh Faison K-5 for a tour of this full-service community school to see how it supports students and their families. Dr. Cardona was here in Pittsburgh as part of his 2024 Back to School Bus Tour to highlight federal investments in public education and to celebrate the start of the new school year. Thanks to all of the students, educators, and administrators at Faison who came out to celebrate those efforts with Secretary Cardona!

You can read more about Secretary Cardona’s Bus Tour at U.S. Secretary Of Education Miguel Cardona announces 2024 Back To School Bus Tour | New Pittsburgh Courier.

Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Celebrated

On Monday, I joined State Senator Jay Costa, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, Kyle Webster from Action Housing, and other elected officials to celebrate the passage of the Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program (LOOP). This groundbreaking piece of legislation allows Pittsburgh residents to stay in their homes and in the communities that they helped to build by providing them with relief from skyrocketing property tax increases.

The passage of LOOP is a victory for long-term homeowners in neighborhoods experiencing rapid property value increases and I was proud to support its passage in the Pennsylvania Senate.

I look forward to working with the City to ensure our long-term residents are able to take advantage of this incredible benefit.

Legislative Update

Environmental Hazard Remediation Funding for School Buildings

Five school districts in Senate District 38 will receive funding through the Environmental Repairs Program (ERP) to complete projects that remediate and/or abate environmental hazards in school buildings.

The school districts receiving these funds are:

$3,772 to Hampton Township School District.
$9,243 to Highlands School District.
$274,193 to North Hills School District.
$327,520 to Pine-Richland School District.
$4,108,863 to Pittsburgh Public School District.

As Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I understand how needed this funding is to Pennsylvania public schools. The condition of school facilities is a large piece of the court order that declared the way Pennsylvania funds public schools unconstitutional. I’m glad that we are taking steps to remediate environmental hazards like asbestos and lead in drinking water, but students and educators deserve to learn and work in buildings that are more than safe. I’ll continue to fight for more funding so that all students can learn in school buildings that fosters imagination, innovation, and a sense of belonging.

ERP grants are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Additional information about these grants can be found here. A full list of this year’s recipients can be found here.

News You Can Use

2024 General Election News!

At Tuesday's Allegheny County Board of Elections meeting, the Board approved plans to staff ballot return sites and satellite offices ahead of November's General Election. This will improve access to voting for everyone! Just a reminder: you can only drop off your own ballot!

Allegheny County Ballot Return Sites:

Securely turn in your mail-in ballot at one of the Allegheny County Elections Division’s designated ballot return sites. Voters who made errors on or misplaced their security or declaration envelope may get replacements at the ballot return site.

Open: October 29, 30, 31, & November 4 | 11 AM - 7 PM, November 2 & 3 | 8 AM - 4PM

Allegheny County Emergency Services Building, 150 Hookstown Grade Road, Coraopolis, 15108
Avalon Public Library, 317 S. Home Avenue, Pittsburgh 15202
Boyce Park Four Seasons Lodge, 901 Centerview Drive, Plum 15239
Carnegie Public Library – Squirrel Hill, 5801 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15217
Community College of Allegheny County - Homewood, 701 N. Homewood Avenue, Pittsburgh 15208
Dormont Pool, 1801 Dormont Avenue, Pittsburgh 15216
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, 1 N. Linden Street, Duquesne 15110
North Park Ice Rink, 1200 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford 15090
South Park Ice Rink, 30 Corrigan Drive, Bethel Park 15102

Allegheny County Elections Division Satellite Offices:

Residents can register to vote, request a mail-in ballot, complete it, & return it all on the spot. For mail-in ballot drop off, voters can only drop off their own ballot!

Open: October 15, 16, and 17 | 8 AM - 4 PM:

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall - Auditorium, 4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15213

Open: October 19, 20, 26, and 27 | 8 AM - 4PM:

Community College of Allegheny County - Homewood, 701 N. Homewood Avenue, Pittsburgh 15208
North Park Ice Rink,1200 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford 15090
South Park Ice Rink, 30 Corrigan Drive, Bethel Park 15102
County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh 15219

2nd Round of Funding Open for the Neighborhood Assistance Program Open!

The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and its component Neighborhood Assistance Program – Enterprise Zone program(NAP-EZP) received $36 million dollars in additional funding in this year’s budget. The new application period opened September 9th!

NAP programs provide tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize and strengthen communities. This powerful collaboration between business and nonprofits is a win-win for Pennsylvania’s distressed areas.

For details, guidelines, and to apply for NAP programs, go to Neighborhood Assistance Program, Enterprise Zone Tax Credit (NAP/EZP) - PA Department of Community & Economic Development.

New Regulations for PA Car Dealers Protect Consumers

State Attorney General Michelle Henry recently announced new protections for car buyers in Pennsylvania. The new amendment to Pennsylvania’s Automotive Industry Trade Practices now requires dealers to:

inspect each vehicle within 30 days of when it enters their inventory for certain unsafe conditions;
perform an additional inspection for vehicles that have 500 or more miles before sale; and
disclose any issues in writing prior to sale, even if a vehicle is sold "as is."

The updates should make the process of purchasing a new vehicle more transparent for consumers.

For more information on the amendment go to: AG Henry Announces New Protections For Pennsylvania Car Buyers – PA Office of Attorney General.

Share Your Thoughts on the Next Phase of Electric Vehicle Charging in PA!

Now through Oct. 11, PennDOT is seeking public comment on its plan to support and expand EV charging infrastructure. This plan proposes a framework for “community charging,” which will bring federal investments to communities across Pennsylvania.

Click here to take the survey through 11:59 pm on October 11, 2024: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PANEVIR2.

You can learn more about the plan at: About PA NEVI Plan.

Help Save Lives One Call at a Time!

PA Emergency Management Agency is looking for caring, reliable people to become 911 operators.

No college degree needed
Ample benefits
On-the-job training
Make a difference every day

For more information go to Work for 911 (pa.gov).

To apply to Allegheny County 911 go to Allegheny County Careers Portal -HR Careers.

Open House This Saturday for Pine’s New Branch of Northern Tier Library!

September is Love Your Library Month and Senate District 38 is getting another library to love in the Township of Pine! Northern Tier Regional Library will celebrate the grand opening of The Pine Center THIS Saturday, September 14th from 10am-2pm.

Head over to 100 Pine Park Drive, Wexford PA 15090 for activities, giveaways, scavenger hunts, and a food truck. And you don't want to miss playing with Bluey and Bingo!

Pittsburgh Urban Farm Tour!

Looking for a picturesque activity this weekend? Get tickets to the 2024 Pittsburgh Urban Farm Tour this Saturday, September 14 from 10am - 3pm! The tour is self-guided and there are so many amazing farms featured this year all over beautiful Allegheny County. Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Urban Growers Scholarship Fund.

Allegheny-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum

Do you know about the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society and Heritage Museum?

Located at 224 East Seventh Ave. in Tarentum, the museum seeks to preserve and celebrate the unique manufacturing, labor, entrepreneurial, and immigrant history of the Alle-Kiski Valley region.

The museum is not just for history buffs; it also hosts a variety of events each month (see September event graphics above). The museum is open to visitors Wednesday and Saturday 12-3pm or by appointment by calling 724-224-7666. Your support helps keep the history of the Allegheny Valley alive!

For the full schedule of 2024 events and more information on the museum go to akvhs.org.

Camp Guyasuta Hound Hike!

Camp Guyasuta is featuring a day of dog-gone fun! Camp Guyasuta is nestled in a quiet valley just minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the perfect spot for outdoor fun with your dog. Activities will be dog-friendly and include live demonstrations from local dog groups, dog trainers, pictures with Santa, hiking, food and more!

Where: 300 23rd street, Sharpsburg, PA 15215
When: September 15, 2024, 10:00 - 3:00

For dog requirements and to register online go to: https://scoutingevent.com/527-73785.

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