| Dear Neighbor, I hope you are well. Happy October! As we return to session this week, I’d like to update you on a few happenings in Harrisburg and our community. I also want to remind everyone that our Witting Tree display at Lower Providence Community Library will be there until Saturday, Oct. 5th.
As always, I hope you find the information below informative and useful.
| | | Legislation Update
|  | | My bill HB 2450 passed the PA House by a vote of 108-94 on Tuesday. Under the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS), this bill clarifies membership eligibility for new non-public employees from state-related organizations. It also guarantees the continued eligibility of those who are currently in the program.
It now moves to the PA Senate for consideration.
| | | Election Reminders
|  | | As we approach Election Day, those who have applied for Montgomery County mail-in ballots are now receiving them in their mailboxes. If you receive a mail-in ballot, it will include important information to ensure you recognize the ballot is two-sided. After filling it out, it must be returned sealed in the secrecy envelope, and that envelope must be signed and dated with the date of your signature.
General Election Key Dates:
Monday, October 21st: 2024: Last Day to Register to Vote
Tuesday, October 29th: Last Day to Apply for Mail-In / Absentee Ballot
Tuesday, November 5th: Election Day
If you have any questions, please call our office at 484-200-8263 or visit Montgomery County Voter Services.
| | | Witting Tree Recap
|  | | Thank you to each person who made it to the Witting Tree ceremony on Thursday, even with the rainy weather. The powerful stories from our speakers made for a special gathering as we honored veterans, shared resources, and talked about veteran suicide. Veterans help veterans, and yesterday showed each of us how we can help, too. Please check on veterans you know, share resources like the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, and let them know you are thankful, and they are not alone. The Witting Tree will be on display at Lower Providence Community Library today through Saturday, Oct. 5th.
| | | Carpenters Tour
|  | | Last Tuesday, colleagues and I attended a tour of the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Center in Philadelphia. We talked about apprenticeships, the programs and careers they offer, benefits, and the safety standards they prioritize. It's important to support our unions, and it's great to see what's available now and for the next generation of workers. Thanks for having us.
| | | NAHS 9th Grade Community Day
| |  | | Yesterday my office traveled to Norristown Area School District for its 3rd Annual 9th Grade Community Day. Our table had information about how voting works, who your elected officials are, how to participate in an election below the voting age, and lollipops! In addition to our resources, students were able to engage with community organizations and browse through available clubs and activities.
| |  | | Over the weekend, I went to a few events in our community. On Saturday I attended a Scam/Fraud event at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with the Attorney General’s Office and the Upper Providence Police Department. Available to attendees were resources to share and tips on how to avoid scams. Skippack Historical Society was my next stop. I was
invited to celebrate George Washington’s encampment in the area during fall 1777. The society held tours and historical demonstrations. I ended my Saturday at the 3rd Annual Montco Heroes Festival in Lower Providence. The festival supports the Montgomery County Hero Fund, which provides first responders and their families with “immediate and ongoing relief services.” Thanks for each invite.
| | | Community Days
|  | | Listed below are dates for more community days on the horizon. Make sure you stop by our table this Saturday for Lower Providence’s Community Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Eagleville Park. We look forward to seeing you there!
|  | | | PennDOT 8th Annual “Innovations Challenge”
| | PennDOT has announced their 8th Annual “Innovations Challenge” which is open to all Pennsylvania students in grades 9-12 and offers a $6,000 award to the winning team. In a competition format, PennDOT challenges students to solve real-world transportation problems that will continue to improve and promote safety on the roadways.
This year’s challenge asks students to develop a cost-effective, innovative solution that can help PennDOT more effectively increase awareness of seat belt safety and change behavior to improve roadway safety.
For more details and submission guidelines, please visit this website. The deadline to submit is Jan. 31, 2025.
| | | 511PA.com, Travel Resources for Penn State Football Home Games
| | If you want customized travel alerts, PennDOT is encouraging motorists to use 511PA.com to plan trips and find real-time travel information. This is important, especially if you’re traveling to a jam-packed event like a Penn State home football game. Traffic alerts for home games will be available Thursday through Monday and the page includes a parking map for Beaver Stadium, average travel times with alternative routes, incidents, weather, construction and more. Please use this if you are traveling to a game this season to ensure your safety and well-being on the roads!
| | | Upcoming Observances
| | October 2nd – 4th – Rosh Hashanah
|  | | Happy Rosh Hashanah! Tonight at sundown marks the start of the Jewish New Year. As one of Judaism's holiest days, this two-day celebration is a time for prayer and reflection. Wishing those who celebrate a happy and healthy year.
| | October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
|  | | The month of October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in the world is breast cancer. Thanks to improved treatments and early detection, significant advancements have been made and death rates among women have declined 42% from 1989 to 2021. But the work is far from
finished. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and an estimated 2,790 new cases will be diagnosed in men in 2024. Please check with your insurance to see if you qualify for a free breast cancer screening through Pennsylvania’s Department of Health.
| | October 5th – World Teachers’ Day
|  | | October 5th is World Teachers’ Day. Teachers throughout the world not only educate the next generation, but work hard every single day to inspire, relay valuable life lessons, and support our children. And they go the extra mile to accomplish this. Make sure you take a moment to reach out to a teacher and thank them.
| | | | Neighborhood Events
|  | | There are a few upcoming events that you may be interested in:
Veterans Resource Fair from Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, from 9:30AM to 11:30AM
Greater Plymouth Community Center, 2910 Jolly Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Register: 2024 ROD Veterans Resource Fair Registration (office.com)
Montgomery County Battle of the Badges: Blood Drive from Montgomery County
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, from 12PM to 5PM
Montgomery County Coroner's Office, 56 Eagleville Road, Eagleville, PA 19403
See available times here: Schedule a Blood, Platelet or Plasma Donation | American Red Cross (redcrossblood.org)
Collegeville Fire Company’s 13th Annual Hero Run from Collegeville Volunteer Fire Company
Sunday, October 6th, 2024, from 8AM to 12PM
Collegeville Station, W. 3rd Ave., Collegeville
| | | Please continue to stay safe, healthy and well-informed.
And, if you have questions about any state-related issue, please contact my office at 484-200-8263 or email [email protected]. If you wish to unsubscribe to this email, please scroll to the bottom where it says “visit this page to manage your email preferences".
Sincerely,
Rep. Joe Webster
State Representative
150th Legislative District
| | | | | | Pennsylvania House Democrats are committed to ensuring better jobs, better schools and better communities for all Pennsylvanians. More information on these successful efforts is available at pahouse.com/deliveringforpa.
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