Senator Argall E-Newsletter

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In this update:

  • Johnson College Brings Two-Year Technical Degrees to Hazle Township
  • Veterans Outreach Appointments Coming to Mahanoy City
  • Bischoff Inn Open in Tamaqua
  • January Argall Report: Alvernia Revitalizing Downtown Pottsville
  • Local Progress in the Fight Against Blight
  • Shapiro Must Decide Future of Death Penalty in PA
  • Legislative Survey: Voter ID
  • Educational Gratuity Program Helps Children of Fallen Military Members
  • Watch PA Wildlife Anytime from Home

Johnson College Brings Two-Year Technical Degrees to Hazle Township

A new technical college is coming to Hazleton! Rep. Dane Watro and I joined officials from Johnson College today for the announcement of their new satellite campus at the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township.

Thanks to collaborative efforts between CAN DO, local employers, and Johnson College, people willing to learn the technical skills that are so much needed across northeast Pennsylvania can take the classes they need right here in our community!

As the new chair of the Senate Education Committee, one of my key goals is encouraging better connections between the classroom and the workplace – here in Luzerne County, we now have a perfect example of how to achieve this goal.

Veterans Outreach Appointments Coming to Mahanoy City

Veterans or their dependents who have issues or questions about what benefits or services they may be eligible for can now schedule an appointment to meet with an American Legion service officer at my joint office with Rep. Dane Watro in Mahanoy City.

I would encourage all veterans in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne Counties to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the American Legion’s service officers.

Appointments will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, beginning February 28, 2023, and will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 1 West Centre Street, Mahanoy City. Call 570-773-0891 to schedule your appointment today.

Bischoff Inn Open in Tamaqua

The Bischoff Inn is now open for business in downtown Tamaqua. I was honored to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony with Rep. Jamie Barton.

Maria Stabio, the owner of the inn, did a stellar job transforming the 1865 Conrad Bischoff Planing Mill and Furniture Factory into a five-room hotel while also preserving the history of the building. Thanks to the efforts of Maria and funding from Tamaqua’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone, Tamaqua now has new overnight accommodations!

January Argall Report: Alvernia Revitalizing Downtown Pottsville

Argall Report Feb 2023

The February edition of my local TV program features the recent opening of Pottsville CollegeTowne, Alvernia University’s new downtown Pottsville location.

Congratulations to all involved who turned this dream into a reality. Pottsville is living proof that when a community works together, positive results happen. With several new businesses, restaurants, microbreweries, and now a new college campus, Pottsville is the prime example of a community on the comeback trail.

All editions of the Argall Report can be viewed on my website.

Local Progress in the Fight Against Blight

A formerly blighted and vacant building was demolished on the 200 block of Pine Street in Tamaqua this week. The property will now be used for parking. This was made possible by state demolition funding awarded to Schuylkill County and Tamaqua Area Community Partnership working together with the borough.

To date, 24 municipalities in Schuylkill County have taken advantage of demolition funding since 2017 – over 100 decaying eyesores have been demolished!

The Times News also reported on progress in Nesquehoning, where Councilwoman Abbie Guardiani gave an update on the borough’s efforts to fix their worst properties.

I look forward to working with communities in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties to continue this fight and breathe new life into our older communities.

Shapiro Must Decide Future of Death Penalty in PA

Governor Shapiro expressed opposition to the death penalty in the past but has not yet made a final determination as to whether he will continue the moratorium put in place by Governor Wolf.

Despite the death penalty currently being legal in Pennsylvania, the last time a person was executed was in 1999. During Governor Wolf’s two terms, he placed temporary reprieves on the executions of eight people convicted of murder.

In a 2019 court case, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to outlaw the death penalty, and then-Attorney General Shapiro argued the General Assembly should make the final decision as to whether it be outlawed or not.

Legislative Survey: Voter ID

I want to hear from you! Do you think the people of Pennsylvania deserve the chance to decide whether voters should be required to present identification at the polls? Visit this link to cast your vote.

Educational Gratuity Program Helps Children of Fallen Military Members

We owe a debt of gratitude to Pennsylvanians who served in the military, especially those disabled or killed during conflict. Part of paying that debt is helping to care for the impacted families.

The Educational Gratuity Program provides education financial assistance for children of honorably discharged veterans with service-connected disabilities who served during war or armed conflict, or children of veterans who died during war or armed conflict.

Children of eligible veterans must be between the ages of 16 and 23, living in Pennsylvania five years prior to application and attend a school within the commonwealth. You can read more about eligibility and applying here.

Watch PA Wildlife Anytime from Home

You can watch black bears, eagles and snow geese this winter through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s round-the-clock livestreams.

A new 24-7 livestream from a black bear den in Pike County brings to four the number of livestreams the Game Commission plans to run into the spring of 2023. Also showing are the Farm Country Eagle Livestream, which provides a bird’s-eye view into a long-established nest in a giant sycamore overlooking scenic farmland, the popular Hanover, Pa. Eagle Livestream and the agency’s Snow Goose Livestream capturing the migratory action at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Pennsylvania’s black bears usually are born in January and begin walking in about eight weeks. They leave the den when three months old. Bald eagles typically lay eggs in mid-February and the eggs hatch in mid- to late March. Snow goose migration typically peaks at Middle Creek from mid-February to March.

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