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2024 Events Review!It’s hard to believe that 2024 is almost over! As we’ve done in previous years, we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite events from 2024 in the upcoming issues of our newsletter. With 17 events hosted over the past 11 months, selecting just a few to feature is no easy task! We’re kicking things off by showcasing two events that addressed legal challenges our constituents could face: our Expungement and Clean Slate Event and our two Hard-to-Read License Plate Events. Expungement of Records and Clean Slate Workshop in Highland Park In March, we hosted an Expungement of Records and Clean Slate Workshop in Highland Park with Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. Presenters included Magistrate Katherine Lovelace and Seth Barkley from the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office. Participants learned about the complex process of expungement and clearing criminal records in a way that was accessible for the public. Judge Lovelace’s colorful courtroom provided welcome inspiration in the face of this difficult topic. If you missed the workshop, you can watch the recording and get access to other workshops at Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts - YouTube. You can also see additional workshop recordings and get information at https://www.pmconline.org. If you have questions about criminal record clearing, you can reach out to:
Hard-to-Read License Plate Events Our office began hosting Hard-to-Read License Plate Replacement Events to help drivers replace their peeling license plates and avoid a $100 fine. This year, we co-hosted two events in Ross Township where police officers verified that plates were illegible and in need of replacement. Afterwards, our office processed the forms and replacement plates were mailed directly to constituents. We would like to thank AAA East Central, Pittsburgh Regional Transit Police, and the PA State Police for co-hosting our April event, and Rep. Emily Kinkead and Rep. Lindsay Powell, Ross Township Police Department, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office for co-hosting with us in October. If you missed our events but still need a replacement plate, feel free to stop by our office or call us to request a form at your convenience! Office Locations: 5000 McKnight Road Ste.
405 1826 Union
Ave. Good News East Liberty Health Care Center I had the chance to meet with Arsenial Runion, the CEO of East Liberty Family Health Care Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) here in District 38 and tour their Lincoln-Lemington facility. We talked about the need for Pennsylvania to fund our FQHCs in the annual budget. East Liberty Family Health Care Center focuses its care on the underserved, uninsured, and underinsured community, providing complete care, including behavioral health, dental, medical, pediatrics, OB/GYN, and pharmaceutical care to the communities they serve.
Veteran $cam Jam in Springdale! We had an excellent turnout for the Veteran $cam Jam we hosted in Springdale on November 14th! Military retirees and Veterans are especially vulnerable to scams, with reported fraud losses totaling $350 million in 2023. This event drew both Veterans and the general public, all of whom gained valuable insights into how to protect themselves from investment fraud and everyday scams. Attendees also had a chance to win prizes with a few rounds of "fraud bingo." A big thank you to the PA Department of Banking and Securities for co-hosting, as well as our speakers from the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, Pittsburgh Regional Transit Police, the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the PA Attorney General’s Office. We also appreciated the delicious hot lunch provided by Chef Rey Catering! Brownie Meeting Last month, I had the pleasure of joining the Hampton Girl Scout Troop 40921 for one of their meetings. We discussed the role of legislators, what they do, and the issues that matter most to constituents. Afterward, the girls split into groups to brainstorm issues important to them and chose "health" as the focus for their next service project! These girls represent our future, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their thoughtfulness and determination to make the world a better place! Lite Up Night in Shaler A little rain couldn't dampen our holiday spirits last weekend as Shaler Township celebrated "Lite" Up Night! A big thank you to everyone who made the evening so special, and to Santa and Mrs. Claus for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop by! Etna Senior Center Visit On Monday, I enjoyed a delicious lunch and spent time with the wonderful people at Etna’s Senior Center, located in the First Congregational Church. We talked about the various services our office provides, including free senior bus passes, Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, and disability placard applications. It was great to assist with completing several bus pass applications on the spot! We also reminded everyone to reach out to our office in late January or early February to schedule a free tax preparation appointment for AARP’s 2025 Tax Aide program. I am grateful to have 19 senior centers in Senate District 38, four of which are managed by the Northern Area Service Centers: Sharpsburg, Tarentum, Etna, and Allison Park. At a time when loneliness is at an all-time high, our senior centers play a vital role in building community and supporting independence by offering free hot meals, educational classes, exercise programs, and social activities. Legislative Update Expanding Universal School Breakfast to Include No-Cost Lunch This week, my colleague Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and I announced that we will reintroduce our Universal School Meals legislation. This legislation is aimed at fighting child hunger and helping our students succeed by expanding Pennsylvania’s current Universal Breakfast Program to include lunch. Every day in Pennsylvania, 1 in 8 kids goes hungry. In rural areas, as many as 1 in 5 kids experiences hunger. When students are hungry, they cannot learn. The Universal School Meals program connects kids to healthy foods every day so they can learn and succeed. High prices at the grocery store are hurting everyone, and our families are feeling the pinch. Expanding Pennsylvania’s Universal Breakfast Program to include lunch for all students ensures that every student is fed and ready to learn every day. It also reduces grocery bills for families, while driving down grocery costs for everyone. This legislation is an incredible win for every Pennsylvanian. A Wharton School economist study found that expanding school meals lowers grocery prices. Fewer meals being prepared at home means that fewer groceries are being purchased. This lower demand leads to lower prices. The study found that big chains saw grocery sales decrease by 10% in areas where students receive no-cost meals, which was enough to cut prices 2.5% at store locations throughout the entire region, not just at stores within the school district. Residents across Pennsylvania will see the benefits of lower grocery prices as a result of Universal School Meals. States around the country have recognized the value of investing in school meals. Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont have all stepped up to provide state funding to ensure healthy meals for all their students, and many other states are working towards similar legislation. Pennsylvania has provided no-cost breakfast to all students since October 2022, when Governor Wolf established the program after Senator Williams’ urging, following the end of federal waivers that provided universal free meals for students during the pandemic. According to statewide polling, eight in 10 Pennsylvania voters support expanding no-cost school breakfast to include lunch in K-12. Pennsylvanians of all ages in all parts of the state understand the incredible benefits of connecting kids to healthy foods. Senator Williams joined the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania (SNAPA) on Thursday for a Day of Action in support of the legislation. You can join SNAPA’s efforts by signing the Universal School Meals petition here. Read more about the Universal School Meals Legislation here. News You Can Use Achieva Family Advocacy Meeting Achieva is hosting a Family Advocacy meeting this Friday, December 6th for self-advocates and family members who are navigating the waiver system. Come with questions and ideas about support services! In-person and virtual options are available. To attend, please register here. Property Tax Rent Rebate Deadline is December 31, 2024! Have you filed for your Property Tax/Rent Rebate yet? The income limits and rebates were significantly increased this year, so even if you weren’t previously eligible, you may qualify now! The deadline was extended to December 31, 2024 so there is still time. More than half a million PA seniors have received their rebates-- don't miss out on yours! Ways to file:
Applications will not be accepted after December 31, 2024, so don’t wait! December PHEAA Webinars Are you confused by higher education financing? Set yourself up for success by joining one of the upcoming December webinars hosted by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)! It’s never too late to learn about the true cost of higher education so you and your family can make informed decisions. For webinar details and to register go to Financial Aid Webinars. AARP Volunteers Needed for the 2024 Tax Season! There is still time to become a volunteer for the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program! Every year, our office helps the AARP Tax Aide program by scheduling free tax preparation appointments for seniors. And every year there is greater demand for appointments than there are volunteers to prepare their taxes. You don’t need specialized knowledge or prior experience to volunteer because AARP provides excellent training for a variety of virtual or in person roles. They draw volunteers from varied industries and the age groups span from retirees to college students! You’ll get training and work with wonderful people throughout the tax season and gain valuable skills as you help those in need. Volunteers can be trained for the following roles:
Learn more about volunteering online or call 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669). A Very
Ruby Holiday Concert Get into the holiday spirit early at A Very Ruby Holiday, a choir concert featuring the Renaissance City Choir and WVU Chamber Singers. You will be treated to your favorite holiday standards along with a sing-along to the 12 Days of Christmas! The concert is in the beautiful and historic East Liberty Presbyterian Church and will be followed by a cookie social. Special Buy One, Get One Ticket Offer: To kick off the start of their 40th Anniversary and the holiday season, the Renaissance City Choir has a BOGO ticket offer for A Very Ruby Holiday concert! Use the code HolidaySLAY24 when you buy your tickets to receive the offer. Must buy 2 tickets for the offer to be valid. To purchase tickets and more information go to Tickets for A Very Ruby Holiday in Pittsburgh from TicketLeap.
Lawrenceville’s Holiday Cookie Mall and Cookie Tour Return! Lawrenceville United is hosting its Cookie Mall on December 14th from 1-4:30 PM in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, Radiant Hall's Pop Up Market, and New Alliance Federal Credit Union. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your holiday spirit into full gear with neighbors and friends! Cookie Mall will include:
Lawrenceville Corporation's Cookie Tour returns this holiday season too on December 14th-15th from 12-5 PM all along Butler Street and surrounding blocks. Lawrenceville United is looking for volunteers to help Cookie Mall run smoothly. If you are able to assist please sign up at Cookie Mall - Lawrenceville | Pittsburgh Cares. Donate to PajamaJam for the Holidays - Deadline December 15! Our next-door neighbors at Q92.9 FM are collecting pajamas for the Foster Love Project! All you need to do is buy a new pair of PJ’s – sizes newborn through age 18, girls and boys – and bring them to one of these convenient drop off locations:
Pajamas will be accepted at all locations through the end of the day Sunday, December 15th. All pajamas collected will be delivered to the Foster Love Project which is dedicated to providing love in action to kids in foster care and support to the families who care for them. Foster Love Project offers a "Free Shopping Center" where twice a year foster and kinship families are welcomed by appointment to bring their foster children to come shop for clothing items, toiletries, bedding, baby gear & more - free of charge. Go to: Foster Love Project FLP Shopping Center - Foster Love Project for more information and to make an appointment. For more information on Pajamajam go to: PAJAMAJAM on Q92.9 FM | All Hits | Pittsburgh's Q92.9 FM | Pittsburgh, PA. Get Your County Park Winter Season Passes! Looking for outdoor winter fun without driving for hours? Stay close to home with Winter Season Passes for the county ice rinks and for the Boyce Park Ski Slopes! Adult and senior ice rink season passes are available and can be used at both North Park and South Park. Rates do not include equipment rental. Lift tickets for children 5 and under are free. Buy your Season Passes online today: Season Passes - Allegheny County, PA. 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). |
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