If you are having trouble viewing this
message or would like to share it on a social network, you can view the message
online.
 |
Constituent Stories Constituent Services That Make a Difference My Constituent Services team goes above and beyond every day to help those who reach out to our office. Recently, a constituent’s letter reminded me just how much of an impact that work has. After almost a year of trying to resolve an issue with her utility company, our constituent was getting nowhere. Frustrated, she contacted our office. One of my Constituent Relations Specialists stepped in immediately, worked directly with the utility company, and got a full year’s tax credit—more than $180—applied to the account in a little over a month. In the constituent’s words, our office “not only secured the refund but also restored my faith in the system and spared me considerable additional stress.” That kind of impact is exactly why we do this work—and I’m grateful every day for the expertise and care my team brings to it.
Upcoming Events Get the Support You’ve Earned: VFW Service Officer Appointments Available How can a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) help you? These accredited and certified professionals can
They have a 90% success rate in correcting errors, helping you avoid a lengthy appeals process! They can also help with appeals in situations where you are unhappy with the outcome of your claims. Appointments are required to meet with a VSO. Call or email us today to schedule an appointment at either our Ross Township or Natrona Heights Offices! Ross Township Office 1st Monday of each month from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Upcoming Dates:
Harrison Township
Office Last Wednesday of each month from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - except November and December where dates change for the holidays! Upcoming Dates:
Contact us at 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131 (Harrison), or email us at [email protected] to book your one-on-one session - appointments fill up quickly, so don’t delay! Springdale Trunk or Treat and Costume
Parade Join Senator Williams at Springdale Borough’s Trunk or Treat on October 25th! Decorate your car and pass out candy or just bring the kids to trick or treat. Scan the QR code above for more information and to register! Senior
Resource Fair! Don’t miss Rep. Emily Kinkead’s and my Senior Resource Fair on Thursday, October 30th from 10 am - 12 pm at the Ross Community Center. Meet us, our staff and over 30 vendors with resources and information! Good News Welcome to The Checkup with Dr. Hassie! Hello North Hills and Pittsburgh’s northern bit! I’m Dr. Hasanga Samaraweera, but since that’s a mouthful, most folks call me Dr. Hassie (rhymes with Aussie). I’m a pediatrician and educator who enjoys helping to mold the next generation of doctors. My love of learning has also taken me beyond medicine as I have completed a master’s degree in both public health and public policy (after which I told my wife I was considering pursuing my dream of becoming a magician; she said I had better learn to make my student loans disappear first). After meeting Senator Williams and seeing the genuine care and thoughtfulness she brings to her role, I asked her how I could get more involved in our community. We decided to start by helping to demystify medicine and public health by creating a recurring column in this newsletter where I answer questions submitted by you. You can ask anything from, “Why does my baby throw up?” to “Why does watching C-SPAN make me want to throw up?” My hope is that together we can learn, laugh, and look out for one another’s health and well-being. See you in your inbox, Dr. Hassie Demystifying Harrisburg is one of my favorite things to do, so I’m looking forward to this chance to demystify medicine with Dr. Hassie. Please submit your questions for him by replying to this email and he’ll respond in a future edition! At a time when science and expertise are taking a back seat to ideology and misinformation, starting from our Secretary of Health and Human Services and the gutting of the Centers for Disease Control, I’m proud to partner with local experts like Dr. Hassie to ensure that you have access to the best information available to make decisions about your family’s health. And I’ll continue to fight for affordable, accessible health care for those decisions. Senator Williams
Submit your question for Dr. Hassie
Rachel Carson Park Redesign in Cheswick I was excited to join Cheswick’s Community Day and celebrate the new Rachel Carson Park master plan, which connects visitors directly to the riverfront. Redesigns like this one are part of a growing trend of giving people direct access to the waters that have been cut off by industry for decades. I look forward to working with Cheswick to bring this project to life! Ross Township Community Day! We also joined Ross Township’s Community Day to talk with neighbors and celebrate all that Ross has to offer to residents. It was a pleasure to catch up with the inspiring team from Treasure House Fashions, a resale boutique that also provides quality, donated clothing to women in need. I was excited to hear they are closing their doors from September 29 - November 4 to install an accessible entrance that will allow them to better serve all visitors thanks to state grant funding I helped secure. It's great to see our community becoming more inclusive! NHCO Costume Drive a Huge Success! Thank you to everyone who donated to our Halloween Costume Drive for North Hills Community Outreach! When we wrapped up last week, we had three more boxes (and a giant tub!) filled to the brim with spooky, silly, brave, and whimsical costumes. Thanks to you, a lot of children will have a cool costume to wear trick-or-treating this year. East Liberty Family Health Care Center Panel Discussion Last week, I joined East Liberty Family Health Care Center, local healthcare, higher education, community, and political leaders to discuss how we can work together to create a healthier future for every Pittsburgh community. This was an incredible conversation that addressed the reality that health is connected to so many things– transportation, food, housing, free time, and more. I look forward to continuing these discussions and working together to implement policies that give all Pittsburghers the opportunity to be healthier! La Roche University Leads in Ethical AI Use Thank you to Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at La Roche University for joining us at a joint hearing of the Education and Communications & Technology Committees on AI in Education this week! La Roche is leading discussions on campus about centering the arts and humanities as touchstones to encourage the ethical use of AI and as guidelines to critically evaluate AI results. We had a good conversation about this work, and I look forward to continuing it. Budget Impasse is Hurting Workers
Thank you to the workers of SEIU PA State Council and AFSCME for coming to Harrisburg to tell legislators in person how our lack of a budget is impacting Pennsylvanians every day. We need to pass a budget now, before more people lose their jobs and access to the services that they need to survive.
Legislative Update 100 Days of Budget Impasse I hear from my constituents and from people and organizations across Pennsylvania about the pain that this late budget is causing them daily. People are losing their jobs, rape crisis centers are shutting down, foster parents aren’t getting paid, senior centers are closing, children aren’t receiving the services they need to thrive, all because Pennsylvania has not passed a budget. I have shared some of those stories on the Senate floor over the last few session days. Wednesday marked 100 days without a state budget. I keep hearing talk about passing a “responsible” budget. But I don’t know what exactly is “responsible” about being over 100 days late to doing your constitutionally required job. How is it “responsible to turn a blind eye to the suffering that is happening as a result of not doing our job? How is it responsible to pick winners and losers by offering loans to some people that are hurt by this impasse, but saying to others– like our schools and farmers– too bad? Our counties, human service agencies, non-profits, childcare centers, and schools should not have to borrow the money that we were constitutionally obligated to provide them back in June. They should not have to drain their reserves or take out loans that require interest payments. While counties and providers are borrowing money to stay afloat, the Commonwealth is earning interest by not passing a budget. That money should go back to the entities incurring those costs. That’s why my Senate Democratic colleagues and I are introducing legislation that will pay off interest accrued on any loan taken out by an entity that receives state funding that was forced to take out a loan during the budget impasse. This includes counties, human service agencies, non-profit agencies, childcare centers, and schools that have been forced to take on additional debt to stay open and continue providing necessary services.This legislation attempts to make these entities whole for money that they never should have had to borrow in the first place. People are hurting. It’s time to stop playing games with people’s lives and pass a budget.
News You Can Use Free Hotline for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren The PA Department of Aging recently launched the PA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Line! Users can call 1-877-727-7529 to get help from the SeniorLAW Center. These attorneys will offer legal information, advice, and referrals for older caregivers. Grandparents who call will be able to access a variety of resources, including help with custody proceedings, assistance preparing for court, and connections with caregiver support groups. There are approximately 83,000 grandparents who are caring for nearly 260,000 children in Pennsylvania. This free state-wide legal service will really help our seniors navigate unfamiliar systems as they make the choice to be parents for a second time. In addition to the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Line, there are additional resources for every caregiver in the Commonwealth:
Apply by November 14th for the Environmental Education Grants Program The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has more than $1 million available for the Environmental Education Grants Program. Education projects should address air and water quality, land use, and/or climate change. Project proposals must demonstrate objectives to heighten public understanding of PA’s environmental issues and to increase environmental stewardship and advocacy. Grant applications will be accepted through November 14, 2025. Eligible applicants are public and private schools and universities, county conservation districts, non-profit organizations, and businesses. Examples of past awards include establishing pollinator habitat, sustainable and restorative agriculture projects, stormwater control workshops, green careers, and climate change awareness and prevention. Funding priority is given to environmental education projects that engage people living, working, recreating, and/or attending school within Environmental Justice areas or otherwise underserved communities. The 2026 Environmental Education Grants Manual and other pertinent information can be viewed here. Applications Open Now for Dollar Energy Fund Utility Assistance! With the future of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) uncertain due to federal changes, we want to make our constituents aware of the Pittsburgh-based utility assistance program, Dollar Energy Fund. The program opened for the 2025-26 winter season on October 1st. Households with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level can receive grants of up to $500 to offset winter heating costs. Grants are issued on a first come, first served basis, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you are facing a utility crisis. Go to https://www.dollarenergy.org/ for more information on how to apply. The site also has a search tool for other water, gas, and electric customer assistance programs offered by utility providers! Know
Your Rights Lunch and Learn Workshop Don’t miss the 8th Annual Know Your Rights Workshop/Lunch and Learn Mini-Conference for parents and guardians on Saturday, October 18th! This year's theme is "Education is STILL a Human Right". The conference is a community-centered event designed to equip families with the knowledge and tools they need to protect and advocate for children's educational rights. The conference will feature powerful workshops, passionate speakers, and vital resources covering key topics like:
Click here for more information or to register.
Clean Up Day in West
View Looking for a way to give back to your community? Volunteer with the West View Community Association for their Community Clean Up Day! All supplies are provided and you’ll enjoy a free lunch after all that hard work. For questions or for more information go to https://wvcapgh.org/ or contact Lynn Webster at 412-760-5914 or [email protected]. 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). |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
