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On the Horizon…

The Williamsport StrEAT Food Festival will be held this Saturday, October 7th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Downtown Williamsport. The festival will be located between W. North St. and W. Edwin St. by the Williamsport Grower’s Market.

Wellsboro’s First Friday will be held this Friday, October 6 at 5 p.m. on Main Street! Games, music, and activities for all ages.

Some of the world’s most beautiful fall colors are right here in Northcentral and Northeastern PA! Find prime viewing locations, driving tours, and foliage reports HERE.

PennDOT announced all driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday, October 7 through Monday, October 9, in observance of the Columbus Day holiday.

Op-Ed: David vs. Goliath

It’s a tale as old as time in Harrisburg, but for those who read about games of skill for the first time an obvious question often remains; how is this different from gambling?

Skill games are not found in glitzy casinos. They’re found in our neighborhood convenience stores, our American Legions, our VFW posts, volunteer fire companies, and local taverns.

The story of skill games and the casino and lottery industry is, quite literally, David vs. Goliath. READ MORE…

Celebrating the Eastern Hellbender License Plate

I was thrilled to join representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), along with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) for a press conference to celebrate the new Eastern hellbender license plate to support the Wild Resource Conservation Program.

The Eastern hellbender is the largest and most unique salamander in North America. It serves as a meaningful symbol of Pennsylvania’s clean water and biological diversity and is worthy of this important designation. I am grateful to the Wild Resource Conservation Program for recognizing the hellbender and encouraging citizen engagement in its preservation and protection.

This week, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors and staff, along with staff of the Pennsylvania State Data Center, hosted a press conference at the State Capitol in Harrisburg to present Pennsylvania population projections featuring age and gender cohorts for each county through the year of 2050.

The projections indicate that by 2050, the population within rural counties is expected to shrink by 5.8%. Additionally, the total growth rate for all of Pennsylvania over the next 30 years will be less than what it was between 2010 and 2020. Between 2010 and 2020, the Commonwealth’s population grew at a rate of 2.4%. Between 2020 and 2050, projections suggest an overall growth rate of just 1.6%. Furthermore, the overall population of the Commonwealth is expected to slightly decline between 2040 and 2050 by -0.2%.

These projections reveal significant population and demographic changes forthcoming in Pennsylvania, and it is more important now than ever, to start the discussion on long-term solutions to not only preserve and sustain rural areas in the Commonwealth, but also help them to thrive.

Funding Opportunities

The Lycoming County Board of Commissioners is seeking projects that address affordable housing to include in its 2023 Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) application to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA). Interested parties may submit applications to the county by October 19th. More information HERE.

The Center for Dairy Excellence is reminding dairy producers of five key grant programs now accepting applications for funding:

• Dairy Excellence Grants: Support projects to improve dairy farm efficiency, cow comfort, milking facilities, housing facilities or feeding systems.
• Marketing, Branding and Labeling Consultant Grants: Help value-added dairy businesses looking to build their brand, develop an effective label, create a marketing plan, and identify appropriate strategies to increase product sales and consumer access.
• Climate-Smart (CARAT) Grants: Support a move to climate-smart agriculture that is profitable, regenerative, actionable and trustworthy.
• Dairy Decisions Consultants Grants: Provide dairy farm families with one-on-one professional consulting resources to help make decisions that will shape the future of their farm.
• Team Program Grants: Help individual farms to establish either a Dairy Profit, Transition or Transformation Team. 

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) is now accepting applications from qualified museums and official county historical societies for nearly $2 million in Cultural and Historical Support Grants. All applications must be completed by Monday, November 6, 2023. Information on eligibility and applications available HERE.

The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General is providing Community Drug Abuse Prevention (CDAP) grants to organizations and coalitions in an effort to cultivate parent, school, and community groups leading grassroots efforts to prevent the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Learn more about eligibility, process and funding HERE.

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) announced the 2023-24 Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF) is accepting grant applications for programs and services benefiting Pennsylvania veterans. Grant applications must be received no later than 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 8. More information HERE.

Senate Favors Harsher Penalties for Drug Dealers

The Senate voted to enact harsher penalties for drug dealers who sell products that lead to the poisoning death of a victim, including drugs laced with fentanyl.

Senate Bill 235 would establish a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a minimum $15,000 fine for anyone convicted of selling or distributing drugs that result in a death. Under current guidelines, drug dealers who poison victims with fentanyl can be back out on the streets in two years or less.

The bill would not apply to drug users who share drugs with family members or friends, or those who seek medical help for individuals who overdose.

Bill to Provide New Career Paths for Individuals in Recovery Passes Senate

Individuals in recovery for substance use disorder would be able to maintain meaningful employment and chart a new path under a pilot program approved by the Senate.

Senate Bill 69 would create a Recovery to Work pilot program to connect individuals in recovery with high-priority occupations through local workforce development boards. The boards would work with the treatment and recovery community as well as local employers and training providers to find job training and employment opportunities.

The pilot program would be led by the Department of Labor and Industry with the assistance of the departments of Health, Community and Economic Development, and Drug and Alcohol Programs, as well as the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Senate Votes to Improve Bridge Maintenance and Safety

This week, the Senate passed legislation to make state funding available for local bridge projects.

Currently, state Motor License Fund dollars are made available for the construction and repair of county bridges. While the funds are used to repair county-owned bridges, spending guidance fails to note how the funds could be used for bridges owned by municipalities within the counties. As a result, municipal bridges suffer and go without repair while remaining funds go unused due to ambiguous guidance.

Senate Bill 799 would give counties the flexibility they need to fund local bridge projects.

Bill Offering Free Credit Monitoring to Data Breach Victims Receives Senate Support

The Senate approved legislation to strengthen notification requirements for data breaches and provide affected citizens with free credit monitoring.

Senate Bill 824 would provide citizens affected by a data breach a free credit report and a year of credit monitoring while they recover. The bill also strengthens state notification requirements and requires Attorney General notification if a data breach occurs in the commonwealth.

The measure would cover instances in which an individual’s first and last name or first initial and last name have been accessed in combination with any of the following information: Social Security number, bank account number, driver’s license or state ID number.

Stocking PA’s Waters with Trout

Pennsylvania’s waterways are being restocked with approximately 117,500 hatchery-raised adult Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout in 119 stream sections and lakes. The effort, which began this week, will continue through mid-December.

The stockings will replenish popular fishing spots across the state and provide ice fishing opportunities. Review the trout stocking schedules here. They are subject to change because of water temperature fluctuations and hatchery logistics.

Trout that are stocked during fall and winter can be fished for immediately. Anglers ages 16 and older must have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and trout permit. You can buy 2023 fishing licenses and permits online or at a retail license issuing agent.

Tour State Game Lands on Oct. 8 and 15

Across the commonwealth, you can tour state game lands the next two Sundays: Oct. 8 and 15. The drive-through tours, offered by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, are free and held rain or shine for vehicles licensed to travel on public roads.

The tours offer the opportunity to learn about the historical aspects of the game lands and the habitat improvements being made on them.

Find specific locations and times for the tours here.

Recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pennsylvania’s waterways are being restocked with approximately 117,500 hatchery-raised adult Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout in 119 stream sections and lakes. The effort, which began this week, will continue through mid-December.

The stockings will replenish popular fishing spots across the state and provide ice fishing opportunities. Review the trout stocking schedules here. They are subject to change because of water temperature fluctuations and hatchery logistics.

Trout that are stocked during fall and winter can be fished for immediately. Anglers ages 16 and older must have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license and trout permit. You can buy 2023 fishing licenses and permits online or at a retail license issuing agent.

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