Good News

Tree Pittsburgh’s Net Zero Energy Building in Lawrenceville

Earlier this month, I toured the new Tree Pittsburgh Net Zero Energy Building. As the Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, usually when I’m thinking about new buildings, I’m thinking about schools. But a lot of what we want to see in our school buildings applies to anywhere people are going to spend time - what we build should reflect our values. You can see that environmental stewardship and community are the driving principles behind every decision made at the new Tree Pittsburgh headquarters, from the seedling nursery to the Education Center. 

I am incredibly proud of the work that Tree Pittsburgh has done all across Allegheny County, and I know that this new facility will allow them to expand and enhance their future work. 

Teen Mental Health Collaborative Meeting in Lawrenceville

Two weeks ago, I joined the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s Teen Mental Health Collaborative and other legislators at the Boys & Girls Club of Western PA in Lawrenceville. We were there to brainstorm about establishing sustainable funding for the more than 25 youth organizations that the Jewish Healthcare Foundation supports.

These community-based youth organizations have seen a steady increase in program participation since the pandemic but are all on fixed budgets. Teens need safe spaces with walk-in services, programming that is focused on teen mental health, and referrals and connections to higher levels of services when needed. I’m grateful to have such an incredible group of people in our region who are available to support our teens, and I’m looking forward to working to implement some of the ideas we came up with at the brainstorming session!

Hard-to-Read License Plate Event

On October 10th, Rep. Lindsay Powell, Rep. Emily Kinkead, and I hosted a free illegible license plate replacement event at the Ross Township Department of Public Works. It was a beautiful fall day, and we had a great turnout. Thank you to the Ross Police Department for helping our constituents replace their peeling plates!

Collection for Hurricane Victims

Our collection of personal hygiene kits and cleaning supplies with the Township of O’Hara for victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton was a huge success. Senate District 38 donations filled an entire SUV! We were impressed by the organizing effort already underway when we arrived with donations at the O’Hara Municipal Building where supplies were being divided into buckets for transport by Brother’s Brother, Pittsburgh to disaster-affected communities. 

Thank you to O’Hara Township, Brother’s Brother, Pittsburgh, and everyone who dropped off donations at our Ross and Harrison Township District Offices. Your generosity and compassion is overwhelming!  

In brief: Herald area events for the week of Oct. 28, 2024 | TribLIVE.com

Senior Fair in Ross Township

A big thank you to everyone who came out to our Senior Fair with Rep. Emily Kinkead on October 17th! This annual event is one of the highlights of our year-- and I hope it's one of the highlights of yours as well! 

Thank you to Ross Township for hosting us, to Deniz Mediterranean Cuisine for a delicious breakfast, to Waltmire Pharmacy for providing vaccines, the PA Fish and Boat Commission for delighting everyone with their rescued iguana “Blue,” and to all of our vendors!

Over $5M in Local Share Account Grants Awarded in Senate District 38!

I’m proud to announce that municipalities and organizations throughout Senate District 38 will receive $5,727,018 in Local Share Account (LSA) grant funding. This funding comes from gaming revenues and is intended to support projects of public interest within the Commonwealth.

The projects receiving Local Share funding from state gaming revenues today are identified as priority projects by their local community leaders. Many of these projects will help ensure that residents have continued access to clean, safe water, which is guaranteed by the Pennsylvania constitution. Other projects will improve public safety by funding our first responders and making repairs to the infrastructure that we use every day. I’m proud to have worked with municipal leaders and legislative partners to help secure funding for these critical community projects that will improve the lives of residents across Senate District 38. 

Projects receiving LSA funding are:

• Aspinwall Borough will receive $250,000 towards their water system lead service line investigation project. 
• Blawnox Borough will receive $47,722 to repair the steps that make up a portion of the sidewalk along McKinley Avenue. 
• Cheswick Borough will receive $300,000 for the multiphase North Highland Avenue Waterline Replacement project. 
• The Deer Creek Drainage Basin Authority will receive $118,888 to repair 23 manholes in West Deer Township and Indiana Township. 
• Frazer Township will receive $61,043 for the purchase and equipping of a police vehicle. 
• Harrison Township will receive $317,654 to complete the rehabilitation and restoration of the storm sewers along Garfield Street and Chestnut Street.
• Harrison Township will receive $154,939 to purchase upgraded equipment for its police department.
• McCandless Township will receive $166,000 to repair bridges along Blazier Drive No. 2, Blazier Drive No. 3, Meinert Road, and Old Perry Highway Over Railroad. 
• McCandless Township will receive $60,485 to purchase new police vehicles.
• McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority will receive $200,000 to purchase a new ambulance. 
• The Bloomfield Garfield Corporation will receive $250,000 for the Rotunda on North Negley. 
• O’Hara Township will receive $500,000 for the Mary Street retaining wall project, located behind the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department. 
• The North Hills Council of Governments will receive $401,736 to purchase a Special Response Team (SRT) rescue vehicle. 
• Ross Township will receive $250,000 for the Nelson Run Bridge #2 Replacement Project. 
• The Allegheny Land Trust will receive $130,000 for the purchase of 29 acres of woodland in Ross Township for permanent conservation.
• Shaler Township will receive $535,200 for the Fall Run Park Improvements Project. 
• Springdale Borough will receive $982,355 for their Waterline Replacement Project along Orchard, Logan, Moyhend, and Walnut Streets. 
• Springdale Borough will receive $74,868 for the purchase and equipping of a new police vehicle. 
• Tarentum Borough will receive $300,000 to upgrade their water treatment plant. 
• FamilyLinks Vintage Center for Active Adults will receive $325,000 for their senior center renovation. 
• The Urban Redevelopment Authority will receive $246,128 for renovations to the Lottery Store at 501 Larimer Street. 
• The West View HUB will receive $55,000 to purchase a new van for their food pantry. 

1. Senator Williams, our staff, and Allegheny Land Trust staff on a hike. 2. Harrison Township Police Department at our License Plate Replacement Event. 3. West View HUB staff and Senator Williams at the HUB. 4. Senator Williams at McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority for EMS Week. 5. Senator Williams at The Rotunda. 6. Senator Williams and Town of McCandless Supervisors. 7. Senator Williams tours Vintage Center for Active Adults.

You can read more about these projects at Senator Lindsey M. Williams Announces $5.7 Million in Local Share Grant Funding and $8.9 Million in Public School Facility Improvement Grants,  Harrison sewer work addresses critical need in Natrona and Springdale to replace old, deteriorating water lines on 3 borough streets.

Veterans Place Partners with Duquesne Light on a New Workforce Center

Last Friday, I had the honor of attending the Grand Opening of the Duquesne Light Veterans Workforce Center at Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard in Larimer. I am so proud to have Veterans Place in my district and advocating for them is some of my most important work. Housing is a human right, and now Veterans Place will be able to help those who have served with housing and with the next step on their path to success with on-site employment resources.

I am thrilled to see this partnership with the Department of Labor and Duquesne Light and can’t wait for our Vets to start experiencing the benefits of this partnership!

Legislative Update

Supporting our Conservation Officers

Last week, I joined the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Quarterly Commissioners' Meeting to speak in support of our Waterway Conservation Officers. Over the years, I've been fortunate to  meet and work with a number of the officers who serve this region. But only one of those officers has been here for my entire term in office. This isn't because the others were transferred or promoted-- it's because they left the Fish and Boat Commission because they couldn't afford to live. They loved their jobs but couldn't make ends meet on their salaries. That is unacceptable.

I wanted to be at this meeting to show my support for these Officers and to say that we need to do better for them. The Commission should do everything in their power to recruit and retain the quality officers who keep us safe every day.

I've also joined my colleagues Senator Tim Kearney and Senator Brewster in asking the Governor's Office and the Executive Board to negotiate in good faith a fair and decent competitive wage for our Conservation Officers. Their wages should be more in line with their counterparts across the country, and more in line with the work they do protecting us and the environment and reflect the dangers they face doing so.

News You Can Use

Mail Ballot Return Deadline is Tuesday, November 8, 8pm!

General Election Day is this Tuesday, November 5! If you are voting by mail this year and haven’t returned your ballot yet, you can turn it in directly to one of the Ballot Return Sites across the County or at the Elections Division downtown. But it must arrive at Elections by this Tuesday at 8 pm!

Satellite Ballot Return Locations:

Hours:

• 11:00 am - 7:00 pm, weekdays through Monday, November 4th
• 9:00 am - 5:00 ppm, Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd

Locations:

• Allegheny County Emergency Services Building
• Avalon Public Library
• Boyce Park Four Seasons Lodge
• Carnegie Library Squirrel Hill
• CCAC Homewood
• Dormont Pool
• Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank
• North Park Ice Rink
• South Park Ice Rink

Allegheny County Elections Division: 

Hours:

• Open weekdays through Monday, November 4th from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, GENERAL ELECTION DAY 7 am - 8pm.

Location:

• County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Ross Street Entrance

Remember, all ballots must be received by 8pm on General Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. POSTMARKS DO NOT COUNT!

Voters may only return their own ballot unless they have completed authorization forms to return a ballot on behalf of someone who physically is unable to do so. For individuals requiring assistance in voting or returning a ballot, contact the Elections Division at 412-350-4500.

In-Person Voting

If you plan to vote in-person on General Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, the polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. If you are in line by 8 pm, stay in line. You are allowed to vote!

Have questions about voting in person? Be prepared ahead of time by going to In-Person Voting on Election Day - Allegheny County, PA to get answers to questions like: 

• Where is my polling place?
• I just moved and am voting for the first time at my new address, what ID do I need?
• How is my vote cast?
• And more!

If you prefer to talk to a person about your voting questions, call the Pennsylvania Elections Hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772).

If you encounter violations to your voting rights, there is help available. Call the Voter Protection Line at 1- 866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). If you see or experience something, say something!

 

“I Voted!” Sticker Contest

Calling all 9th-12th graders living in Allegheny County! Get ready to show off your art skills and hype up the democratic process.

The Allegheny County Government Elections Division is hosting their first ever "I Voted" Sticker Design Contest. The winning design will be printed and given to voters in the 2025 Primary and General Elections!

All entries must be submitted electronically no later than Friday, December 20, 2024, at 11:59 pm. Designs must contain the phrase “I Voted” on a 2-inch circular design, be nonpartisan, and must not include copyright images or trademarks.

For more information and to enter go to: "I Voted" Sticker Contest - Allegheny County, PA.

Fall Foliage Peaks this week in Allegheny County

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Fourth Weekly Fall Foliage Report, our trees were approaching their color peak when Team 38 staffer Grace hiked three miles through the Rachel Carson Trail last Tuesday!

The leaves in our region are peaking THIS WEEK! PA's fall foliage season is longer and more varied than anywhere in the world. Get outside for the hues and views this week! 

For the current fall foliage map click here. 

For more information on the Rachel Carson Trail go to Rachel Carson Trail — Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy. 

FREE Two-Day Dental, Vision and Hearing Clinic
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Friday & Saturday, November 1st & 2nd, Opens 6 am.

Dental, vision, and hearing office visits are expensive and completely out of reach for so many people. Please help us spread the word about Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh’s annual FREE two-day dental, vision and hearing clinic at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center this Friday, November 1st and Saturday, November 2nd. Here are the details:

• Doors open at 6am
• No appointments or patient scheduling.
• Care is given on a first come, first serve basis, so the earlier you can get there the better!
• No eligibility requirements - no insurance needed, no payments.
• Veterans are prioritized.
• Adults and children 2 and up are welcome.
• Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

If you have any questions regarding the event or would like to volunteer, visit: https://mompgh.org/.

2020 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year, Joe Welch

Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Nominations Now Open

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 will be accepted until December 16, 2024.

Submit your nominations here.

In 2020, PA's Teacher of the Year was North Hills School District's own Joe Welch! Mr. Welch is now working with the NHMS History Club to create the first-ever Military Veterans Hall of Honor. They are asking the community to share information about themselves or a family member that is a North Hills or West View High School graduate who served in the military or who is currently serving. Posthumous honors are welcome.

PRT Needs Your Feedback on Their First Draft Bus Line Redesign

Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s (PRT) Draft Network 1.0 for Bus Line Redesign is ready and they need your input! 

Draft Network 1.0 was designed to create more opportunities, add new one-seat rides between communities, and better connect routes to grocery stores, health facilities, and job centers. This draft network proposes changes to routes and is a commitment to working with the community to design a network that provides consistent, reliable service.

Check out the interactive map at BusLineRedesign.com and share your thoughts by phone, email, or online survey by:

• emailing the PRT team at [email protected]
• submitting comments to PRT Customer Service team by calling 412-442-2000
• and/or posting a comment directly on the Draft Network 1.0 map. 

If you prefer to give your input in-person, attend the next Bus Line Redesign Pop-Up in Senate District 38 in West View and Aspinwall:

• November 6^th 6pm-7:30pm
  Aspinwall Borough Building, 217 Commercial Ave.

• November 7^th 2pm-5pm
  West View Giant Eagle bus stop, West View Plaza

Bus Line Redesign team members will be there to review the Draft Network 1.0 and gather your input. Go to Bus Line Redesign Events | Bus Line Redesign | Engage PRT for details and a list of all upcoming events.

For all the Bus Line Redesign engagement options go to: https://engage.rideprt.org/buslineredesign/BLR-giveinput.

Your feedback is crucial to shaping a better transit system for everyone in our region! 

Halloween Tips

If Trick-or-Treaters and drivers alike follow these Halloween safety tips, the only thing that should really scare you tonight is running out of candy! 

Trick-or-Treat Times in Senate District 38

This year, every SD 38 municipality that observes Trick-or-Treat is celebrating on Halloween proper, Thursday, October 31st! 

Check out the time for your municipality above so you are ready when the kids arrive on your doorstep for tricks or treats!

Remember, a lit porch light tells visitors you're participating in Trick-or-Treat!

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