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Energy Educator Retreat Highlights Pennsylvania’s Workforce Opportunities

On Thursday, educators from across the country convened at Penn College for the Energy Educator Retreat, which connects educators with energy industry professionals to provide firsthand insight into energy production, technology and career opportunities.

Pennsylvania’s energy industry is vital to our economy, and preparing the next generation of skilled workers at world-class facilities like Penn College is essential to maintaining our energy leadership.

Programs like this help educators bring real-world experiences into the classroom and show students the opportunities available in this growing field.

Nearly $500,000 Awarded to Recreation Projects in Tioga County

Two recreation projects in Tioga County will receive a total of $494,700 through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2).

Blossburg Borough was awarded $69,700 toward its rehabilitation work at Island Park and Wellsboro was awarded $425,000 toward its rehabilitation work at Packer Park Pool. 

Read more on the projects on my website.

Upcoming Trick-or-Treat Times and Halloween Events

Williamsport’s Shaw Park Phobia Factory haunted experience will be held on Oct. 23 and 24 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $13 for children 17 and under.

Mifflinburg’s annual Halloween parade will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m., starting at the Mifflinburg Intermediate School, down Market Street and ending at the High School gymnasium.

Downtown Williamsport Trick-or-Treat will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 5-8 p.m.

Wellsboro’s Halloween parade and trick-or-treating will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, from 5-7:30 p.m. starting at Packer Park.

Funding Available to Help Volunteer Fire Companies Fight Wildfires

Volunteer fire companies serving rural communities can apply for up to $15,000 in state grants to purchase wildfire suppression, protective clothing, radios and other resources, as well as support firefighter training.

Up to $950,000 is available statewide through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, with applications due by Jan. 7, 2027.

Applications must be submitted electronically through DCNR’s grant website. 

DMVA to Begin Accepting Veterans’ Trust Fund Grant Applications

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will begin accepting applications Nov. 2 for 2027-28 Veterans’ Trust Fund grants to support programs and services benefiting veterans.

County veterans affairs offices and the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs may apply for up to $15,000, while eligible veteran service organizations and nonprofits may receive up to $40,000 for programs focused on mental health, transportation and employment.

Applications are due by 2 p.m. Dec. 18, 2026. More information is available on the Veterans’ Trust Fund website.

Working to Increase Affordability for Pennsylvanians

At a time when families continue to feel the strain of inflation, we know state government must look for ways to implement policies and programs to increase affordability. Fighting for the state budget to respect taxpayers and take less of your hard-earned money, enacting the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Programs, and making homes more attainable are some of the ways we’ve focused on affordability during the 2025-26 legislative session.

The new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit provides meaningful relief for working families across the commonwealth. Families that claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit may also claim the state tax credit equal to 10% of the federal amount. This amounts to hundreds of dollars saved every year for many working families.

We also created the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Program, which provides incentives for businesses to make contributions of up to $500 annually toward their employees’ child-care costs.

And we took steps to make housing attainable to more Pennsylvanians by passing legislation streamlining municipal approval processes, reducing delays, cutting unnecessary red tape, and creating a Housing Development Regulatory Compliance Officer to serve as a single point of contact and improve coordination in the permitting process.

We’re committed to continuing to implement greater government efficiencies and policies to control the growth of spending and help address affordability for families throughout Pennsylvania.

New Law Cracks Down on Robocalls, Scam Texts and Caller ID Spoofing

Legislation we unanimously passed enacting stronger protections from deceptive telemarketing practices will take effect Monday, Oct. 19.

Under Act 47 of 2026, Pennsylvania’s telemarketing law will now cover modern forms of solicitation, including text messages, voicemails, ringless voicemails and robocalls. It also establishes stronger rules for when and how telemarketers can contact Pennsylvanians, including:

• Prohibiting telemarketing calls before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. and on Sundays.
• Requiring prior express written consent for most robocalls and telemarketing text messages.
• Prohibiting telemarketers from falsely identifying themselves or using deceptive caller ID information, including spoofed numbers.
• Requiring telemarketers to stop a solicitation when a consumer asks them to do so.

The legislation also prohibits the use of AI-generated messages to deceive consumers.

Key Election Dates to Remember

Election Day will be here before you know it, and I want to make sure you know the key dates.

• The first step is registering to vote, and the deadline to do that is Monday, Oct. 19.
• If you want to vote by absentee ballot, the deadline to file a request is Tuesday, Oct. 27.
• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

To make sure you’re registered, learn how to request an absentee ballot and find your polling place, visit the state’s elections information webpage.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, most people who use prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend. Removing unnecessary medications from the home can help remove this risk.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs.

Find a local collection site near you at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV breast cancer, is diagnosed when breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. While treatments can help control metastatic cancer and allow many people to live longer, Stage IV breast cancer is currently considered incurable.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s recognize the Pennsylvanians living with metastatic breast cancer every day. Organizations like the PA Breast Cancer Coalition offer programs specific to individuals with metastatic breast cancer including a Stage IV-specific care package program and patient resources.

Metastatic breast cancer research is essential to developing more effective treatments, improving quality of life and extending the lives of those living with stage IV cancer.

Please consider making a $5 contribution to research when you renew your Pennsylvania driver’s license or vehicle registration online. For more information, visit the PA Breast Cancer Coalition website.