Dear Neighbor, I hope you are well. Below, I have a bunch of information for you this week, including a recap from our events for Veteran Suicide Prevention Week, updates from Harrisburg, local events in our community and more helpful information. As always, I hope you find the information below useful. | | Important Updates/Highlights | Veteran Suicide Prevention Week Witting Tree | As we recognize Veterans Suicide Prevention Week, it's important to not only honor those we have lost but also raise awareness and take action. Taking action can be something as simple as reaching out to check on a veteran you know, being kind to a stranger or sharing critical resources like the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. I joined officials from Montgomery County, Lower Providence, the VA and Montgomery Suicide Prevention Taskforce to dedicate this Witting Tree at Eagleville Park Pavilion. I’m thankful that the taskforce and VA were able to attend both events and present helpful resources and materials that attendees can share.
We placed 17 dog tags to symbolize the number of veterans lost to suicide each day. The Witting Tree will be on display at the Eagleville Park Pavilion until sundown on Saturday, Oct. 4. Check out the video here. | Veteran Suicide Prevention Week Flag Raising | Last Friday, we held a ceremonial flag raising at the Montgomery County Courthouse to recognize the veterans we have lost to suicide and to acknowledge Veteran Suicide Prevention Week here in Montgomery County. Each day that passes by is another day we lose 17 veterans to suicide nationally, and it’s up to us as a country to get that number to zero. How do we get there? Continue to raise awareness about veteran suicide, share critical resources and check in with a veteran you may know. Your phone call, text, or visit can be the difference not only in someone's day but in how they get through their night. Thank you to everyone who attended our flag raising, including veterans, my fellow members of the General Assembly and their staff, officials and staff from Montgomery County, the VA and law enforcement throughout the area. Special thanks to Rep. Nancy Guenst, Senator Tracy Pennycuick, Commissioner Jamila Winder, Commissioner DiBello, and Montco Suicide Prevention Taskforce Veteran Subcommittee Chair Shardae Wescott for taking the time to speak at this event, and thank you to Rep. Greg Scott, Rep. Melissa Cerrato, Rep. Donna Scheuren and staff from Rep. Matt Bradford, Rep. Ben Sanchez, Rep. Napoleon Nelson, Senator Maria Collett and Senator Amanda Cappelletti for attending. | Statement on Gun Violence & Gun Legislation | While we wait for the Senate to return to session and we remain without a state budget due to their inactivity, my colleagues and I in the House returned to Harrisburg on Monday and resumed our work. Throughout the week, I met with constituents and other lawmakers to discuss policy. I also attended multiple events including serving on a Moms Demand Action/Everytown Gun Safety Discussion Panel and press events for Americans for Contraception, Disability Saving Medicaid and Conservation Voters of PA/Penn Future. | I’m pleased to share that my bill co-authored with Rep. Sanchez, HB 664, passed the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee by a 14-12 vote on Monday, with all Democrats voting in the affirmative. Our Road Salt Management bill directs PennDOT and the Dept. Of Environmental Protection to collaborate and develop the best management practices for the use and reduction of salt to treat our roadways. I look forward to the bill being considered on the House floor. | On Tuesday, I was grateful for the invitation to participate in the PA Humanities’ Rain Poetry Project in Harrisburg alongside my colleague Representative Joe Ciresi. Rep Ciresi and I had the honor of pouring water over sidewalks to reveal 24 poems written by youth from across Pennsylvania (see the images above for some of my favorites!) This project promotes student literacy and provides a creative outlet for their ideas. I am in talks with PA Humanities to see if we can bring something similar to our area. | Norristown Area High School 9th Grade Community Day | Today my staff was honored to participate again in the Annual Norristown Area High School 9th Grade Community Day. All 9th grade students have the opportunity to meet with local organizations and government offices that can provide resources to students and families. This year, my Temple University MSW intern, Nicole, created an interactive display about government and civics with questions students could answer to win prizes. About 600 students participated in the fair. Thank you to Principal Dr. McGriff and staff for welcoming my team to the school today and thank you to all the students they met! | Mitzvah Circle Foundation, a Montgomery County nonprofit that partners with hundreds of schools, charities, faith groups, agencies, organizations and individuals to provide relief to families in crisis throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, recently experienced a fire. A significant number of donations slated for distribution throughout the region were damaged. Members of the PA House and PA Senate have offered to serve as donation drop-off points to help replenish the most immediate critical needs. - Sneakers (all sizes: women's, men's, and children's; new or gently used)
- Underwear (women's, men's, and boys'; new)
Please contact my office with any questions, and feel free to drop off donations Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 35 Evansburg Road. | We had a great time at Trappe’s Community Day last weekend! Make sure you stop by my booth this Saturday and say hello to my staff at Lower Providence’s 37th Annual Community Fall Festival at Eagleville Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. And take a look at the list below for upcoming fall festivals/community days in our area! Lower Providence 37th Annual Community Fall Festival Saturday, October 4, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Eagleville Park, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA West Norriton Annual Fall Festival Saturday, October 11, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Centennial Park, 2050 W. Marshall Street, Jeffersonville, PA | October Mobile Office Hours | If you’re unable to make it to my district office for state-related assistance, my staff is available for mobile office hours on the first and second Wednesday of each month. Check out the October schedule below:
Wed., October 8 W. Norriton Township Building
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Collegeville Borough will host another concert in the park tomorrow, Oct. 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Collegeville Community Park (Corner of Park Avenue & W. 3rd Avenue), with American Ramblers set to perform. Please note that donations will be collected at the event for Daily Bread Community Food Pantry. Check the text below for the list of the most critically needed items. - Canned Tomatoes, Pasta, Potatoes, Veggies
| Collegeville Parks Master Plan | Collegeville Borough and the Montgomery County Planning Commission will be hosting an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 8, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Collegeville Fire Company (29 E. 5th Avenue, Collegeville, PA). The meeting will discuss Collegeville Borough’s parks and open spaces while allowing for community suggestions on improvements to Collegeville Community Park, Water Works Park, Hunsberger Woods and Creekside Park. | Montgomery County Resource Expo | On Wednesday, Oct. 15, the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit will be hosting the Montgomery County Resource Expo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 2 W. Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA. This event will have a range of resources and services to support individuals with disabilities and their families, including postsecondary opportunities, advocacy support, mental health services, transportation and more. You can register by visiting this link: learn.mciu.org/mcre25 | The Victim Services Center of Montgomery County is offering free virtual support groups for Fall 2025. The groups include adult survivors of child sexual abuse (18+), adult survivors of sexual assault (18+), survivors of homicide loss (18+) and young adult survivors of sexual assault (16-24). You can sign up and find out more information by visiting their website at www.victimservicescenter.org/groups | If you’re a senior 65 or older, you can ride SEPTA for free! Stop by my district office at 35 Evansburg Road with a valid form of ID and my staff can help you sign up for a free SEPTA Senior Fare Card. My office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | If you need state-related assistance, my office can help you! Please feel free to contact my staff with any questions by calling 484-200-8263 or emailing [email protected] | Yom Kippur – Sundown on Oct. 1 | Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in Judaism, is celebrated at sundown today. I want to take a moment and wish everyone who celebrates a meaningful holiday as they rest, reflect, pray and fast. | Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October | Each October we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s important to check and see if you qualify for a free breast cancer screening through the Pennsylvania Dept. Of Health because it’s one of the most common forms of cancer that’s diagnosed in the world. While significant progress has been made with early detection and treatment, there’s still a long road ahead. In 2025, over 300,000 women and nearly 3,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. For more information about a free screening, click here. | By the Light of the Moon from Upper Schuylkill Valley Park Friday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m. & Saturday, October 4, at 6:30 p.m. 1615 Black Rock Road, Royersford, PA 5th Annual "Fore the Kids” Golf Outing from Coffee Closet with Barista Jake Friday, October 10, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1615 Black Rock Road, Royersford, PA More information & sign up here. Birds of Prey from Upper Schuylkill Valley Park Saturday, October 18, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 1615 Black Rock Road, Royersford, PA 6th Annual Trunk or Treat from Lower Providence Township Saturday, October 18, from 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Eagleville Park, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA | 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, “Update Email Preferences.” Sincerely,
Rep. Joe Webster
State Representative
150th Legislative District | Pennsylvania State Capitol 125-B East Wing P.O. Box 202150 Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 787-0419 | District Office 35 Evansburg Road
Collegeville, PA 19426 (484) 200-8263 | |
