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Upcoming Events My office is now scheduling AARP Tax-Aide appointments! We are scheduling taxpayer appointments at the Shaler Undercliff Fire Company and the Ross Township Community Center locations for the AARP Tax-Aide Program again this year. This program provides free tax assistance and tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with an emphasis on those 50 or older. To schedule your free appointment, please call the office at 412-364-0469. For more information and to find other AARP Tax-Aide sites, visit AARP Tax-Aide Allegheny County, PA (taxaide-pittsburgh.com). If you can’t make it to one of the AARP Tax-Aide sites, you may qualify for the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. These programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals all over Allegheny County, including:
To learn more about VITA or TCE tax preparation services, you can view their website. You can find a VITA or TCE location near you at Get Free Tax Prep Help and schedule an appointment with United Way by calling 2-1-1 or online at VITA - Free Tax Preparation - PA 211. Monthly
Office Hours at the Kingsley Association My office hosts monthly office hours on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association. Stop by and say hello to our staff between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and get access to all of the services that our District Offices provides. Free notary service is also available. Please contact our office to schedule with a notary at our Community Office Hours, or in one of our District Offices:
Sharing the Warmth Hampton Township’s Social Services Department is holding a Valentine's Day blanket drive to benefit local nursing homes, and we're excited to offer our District Offices as collection sites! Drop off your new blankets now through Wednesday, February 12th: Ross Township Office Harrison Township Office
Good News Universal School Meals “4 the Record” Join me on WTAE-TV Pittsburgh "4 the Record" on Sunday, February 9 to talk school lunches and Universal School Meals legislation!
Making New Friends, While Keeping the Old This week, we welcomed Girl Scouts from across the state to Harrisburg! These incredible young women kindly extended the invitation for legislators to join Troop PA, an honorary Girl Scout Troop that gives us a chance to connect with scouts and inspire them to pursue a career in government. I am so proud to have been a Girl Scout growing up, and I'm proud to be a member of Troop PA today! Welcoming our Students to Harrisburg I was proud to welcome three PIAA Championship teams from the North Allegheny School District to Harrisburg this week! Congratulations to the students, coaches, and families of the Boys Golf, Boys Water Polo, and Girls Volleyball teams for all of your hard work this season! Our New Judges I want to congratulate Alyssa Cowan, Esq., on her confirmation by the full Senate as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. Ms. Cowan handled pointed questioning by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee with grace and ultimately received bipartisan support without compromising her values. Ms. Cowan has devoted her career to protecting children, ensuring their well-being, and advocating for them during their most vulnerable moments, giving them a voice in the legal system. I can think of no better qualities in a judge—someone who is compassionate, fair, impartial, and deeply aware of the impact a judge’s decisions can have on people’s lives. She will make an excellent addition to the bench here in Allegheny County. In addition to Alyssa Cowan, the Senate confirmed Simquita Bridges, Esq., an exceptionally qualified and compassionate addition to the Allegheny County bench.
Supporting Our EMS Agencies I'm grateful to all the EMS agencies from across the County who took the time to meet with legislators last Friday to educate us on the crisis they are facing, including staffing shortages, lack of training centers, and rising costs. It's time for the legislature to stop saying that we support first responders and to actually give them our support. I'm looking forward to working on legislation that will create a statewide EMS fee schedule. This will require insurers to pay at a fair rate, protect consumers from significant out-of-pocket expenses, and ensure that EMS agencies are paid directly. www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/pittsburgh-ems-agencies-discuss-challenges-lawmakers Legislative Update Celebrating Women and Girls in Sports This Wednesday marked National Women and Girls in Sports Day, which celebrates girls being physically active and recognizing their power. This includes trans girls who deserve the same opportunities for teamwork and community sports provided as cis girls. Sports were incredibly important to me in high school. Even though, like the majority of our student-athletes, I wasn’t ever going to go pro or even be a competitive college athlete, being able to be physically active and participate with my teams was a huge part of my life. Participating in sports gave me confidence, time management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively, which enabled me to run for office. And absolutely nothing about having another student participate on those teams, consistent with their gender identity, would have taken those things away from me. Having them as teammates and competitors would likely only have enriched my experience. All girls deserve to grow, develop, play, and learn with other kids. I will always oppose any legislation introduced that excludes or discriminates against trans kids and any children that don’t fit the mold of gender stereotypes. To our trans youth: I stand with you loudly and proudly, and I will always have your back.
Black History MonthFebruary is Black History Month, and over the next four weeks, we will highlight some of Pittsburgh’s most influential figures from its vibrant history.
First Black Woman Professionally Trained as a Librarian February is National Library Lovers Month, so we're beginning our Black History month features with Virginia Proctor Powell Florence, the first Black woman in the United States to earn a degree in library science. Born in Wilkinsburg, Virginia graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1919 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Despite her qualifications, she struggled to secure a teaching position upon returning to Pittsburgh. Undeterred, she turned to library science and earned a Bachelor of Library Science degree from the Carnegie Library School (now the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences) in 1923, becoming the first Black woman to achieve this milestone in the U.S. Virginia went on to work at the New York Public Library and served as the school librarian at Seward High School in New York, later moving to Cordoza High School in Washington, D.C. In recognition of her groundbreaking contributions, the American Library Association honored her by ranking her 34th on their list of the 100 most influential leaders of the 20th century. Virginia Proctor Powell Florence’s legacy continues to inspire both Black history and the history of librarianship, solidifying her place as a trailblazer in both fields. For more information on Virginia Powell Florence’s life go to Virginia Proctor Powell Florence - Wikipedia. Pittsburgh’s First Black Librarian Did you know that the first Black librarian in Pittsburgh was Vivian Davidson Hewitt? Born in New Castle, she developed a deep love for books early on—reportedly getting her first library card as soon as she could write her name. Vivian graduated from Geneva College in 1943 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Library Science in 1944 from the Carnegie Library School at the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon University). After graduation, she became the first Black librarian at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, where she made history serving the community. She later moved to Atlanta, where she worked at Clark Atlanta University and went on to become the first Black president of the Special Libraries Association. Vivian, along with her husband John Hewitt, became renowned art collectors, spending over 50 years curating what is considered to be one of the finest collections of African-American artwork. In 2016, she was honored by Queen Elizabeth II with an appointment to the Venerable Order of St. John as a Dame, a testament to her lifelong contributions to the arts and culture. In her honor, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh began the Vivian Davidson Hewitt Initiative in 2024. The goal of this Initiative is to honor the work, legacy, and leadership of Vivian Ann Davidson Hewitt by increasing CLP’s resources and capacity related to the following:
The Vivian Davidson Hewitt Initiative also includes an annual lecture series held during National Library Week in April. Look for more information on this year’s lecture coming soon! For more information on Vivian Davidson Hewitt’s life go to Vivian Davidson Hewitt - Wikipedia. Black History at Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh Our Carnegie Libraries are the perfect place for curated book lists and events that celebrate Black History Month’s 2025 Theme: African Americans & Labor. Go to Black History Month - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to get started! News You Can Use Public Comment on PA’s Outdoor Recreation Plan There’s still time to share your thoughts on ways to improve and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania! Public comments on the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources draft of the 2025-2029 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) are open through March 3, 2025.
Want to learn more before you comment? Register for one of the remaining webinars on the draft plan's five priority areas:
States must have a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan for federal grants that fund projects like parks, historic sites, habitat conservation, and recreational opportunities for activities such as hunting and fishing. Don’t miss your chance to influence Pennsylvania’s recreational priorities! Report Sick or Dead Wild Birds! The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced updated guidance regarding the Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu. To protect the health of wildlife, domestic animals, and humans, they're asking the public to assist their effort. If you encounter sick or dead wild birds, call 1-833-742-9453 to report them to the Game Commission. Learn more at this link: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-health/wildlife-diseases/avian-influenza.html. Free Radon Test Kits Available The Allegheny County Health Department is offering free do-it-yourself radon test kits to residents in collaboration with the American Lung Association and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that can infiltrate homes and buildings through cracks in foundations, posing a serious risk of lung cancer. Given Pennsylvania's heightened vulnerability to elevated radon levels, the DEP strongly encourages testing in all residential and public buildings. You can pick up your free test kit on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allegheny County Health Department’s Housing and Community Environment office on Sassafras Way in Polish Hill. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one per household while supplies last. Call ahead to ensure availability at 412-350-4046. For information on radon gas, testing, mitigation, and mitigation grants go to Radon in the Home | Department of Environmental Protection | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. LIHEAP Grants It’s not too late to apply for Pennsylvania’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)! The 2024-2025 LIHEAP season is open and accepting applications for families living on low incomes who need help paying their heating bills. LIHEAP is a cash grant program.
Don't wait, apply today, and keep your family warm all winter long! Ways to apply:
To read more about LIHEAP click here. Nominations Open for Lowe’s 2025 HOMETOWN Projects As part of its goal to make communities better for all, Lowes is accepting nominations for the fourth year of its Lowe’s Hometowns program, a five-year, $100 million impact program aimed at revitalizing community spaces. This year, Lowe’s will award $10 million in grants to fund 100 renovations across the U.S. Shaler Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company received this grant in 2024 which made long-overdue renovations possible. Shaler Undercliff VFC was an ideal candidate for the Hometowns grant because it is a central community space that hosts fundraisers, meetings, elections, AARP Tax-Aide, and more. Hometown grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that support community improvements, safe and affordable housing, and many other causes. Any project involving a community space’s physical improvement or renovation is eligible. All grants must go to a local nonprofit that is willing and able to take on the project. Helpful Links:
Nominate a community project in your hometown through February 18 at: https://corporate.lowes.com/our-responsibilities/lowes-hometowns. Upcoming State of Pittsburgh Water’s Community Presentations If you have questions about your water service, consider joining Pittsburgh Water (formerly Pittsburgh Water and Sewer) for their upcoming State of Pittsburgh Water updates. Presentations will include current initiatives and open discussions about:
Upcoming Meetings:
Bring your questions and learn everything you need to know about your water service! For more information and a list of all Pittsburgh Water events and meetings go to: https://www.pgh2o.com/news-events/events-meetings. Distribution Dates for Lower Valley Community Food Bank in Springdale Lower Valley Community Food Bank has released their 2025 Distribution Dates! Distribution times are from 1 PM - 3 PM every 2nd and 4th Thursday at the Springdale Boro Building: 325 School Street, Springdale, PA 15144.
*Denotes changes in distribution weeks to the 1st and 3rd Thursday of November and December. Visit www.lowervalleyfoodbank.org or Lower Valley Community Food Bank 's Facebook page for updates or closure due to inclement weather. Community
Bridge Program Community Meeting If you are interested in learning about an organization that’s making a difference for Pittsburgh’s homeless population or know someone who could benefit from their services, come to the Community Bridge Program’s community meeting on February 11 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Union Project. See graphic above for details. Family Valentine's Dance Party in Morningside Grab your loved ones and put on your best attire (or your PJ's so you can dance til bedtime!) for City Squeaker’s Family Valentine's Dance Party on February 12, 6-8pm at the Morningside VFW, 1820 Morningside Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Learn more and buy tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/family-valentine-dance-party-registration-1111796897449?aff=oddtdtcreator. 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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