|
|||||
|
In this Update:
Saving Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton
Thank you to everyone who made our two roundtable discussions about the future of our local Penn State campuses in Schuylkill Haven and Hazleton a success. The goal of these events was to provide as much information as possible to Penn State and demonstrate how strongly our communities feel about keeping these campuses open.
During our roundtable about the future of Penn State Schuylkill, Reps. Tim Twardzik, Jamie Barton, JoAnne Stehr, Dane Watro, and I struggled to understand how this campus ended up on the potential closure list announced by Penn State more than a month ago. We heard data-driven arguments from students, educators, employers, and concerned citizens about why this campus should remain open. Among the highlights:
More than 100 students, educators, employers, and concerned citizens filled the John E. Morgan Auditorium to share their strong opposition to closing this campus.
During our roundtable about the future of Penn State Hazleton, the discussion heavily focused on the Hazleton area’s accelerating economic and demographic growth and how Penn State Hazleton is well-positioned to contribute to this economic resurgence. Senator Lynda Culver, Rep. Dane Watro, Rep. Jamie Walsh and I heard from students, employers, educators, and Penn State Hazleton leadership about how this potential closure could hinder this growth. We had more than 100 people join us at the Hazleton LaunchBox, sending a strong message to Penn State about the importance of this campus to the area. Penn State’s decision is expected to be made by May 9th at the latest, however, this is not the final step of this process. The Pennsylvania Department of Education is required by law to approve any campus closures undertaken by a state-related university. If you have not yet taken our legislative survey about these campuses, you can do so here. We’ll be closing the survey on Monday. Thank you to the more than 5,400 people who shared their thoughts with us – more than 96% do not support closing these campuses. Finding New Uses for the Vacant White Haven Center
Rep. Jamie Walsh and I hosted a community meeting last night to hear ideas from the people of the White Haven area about how to return the vacant White Haven Center to productive use. We had more than 100 people join us, demonstrating how much this center has meant to the community. Those in attendance proposed transforming the property into housing for veterans, affordable housing for seniors, a data center, a public school, and more. The center was closed in 2023, without input from state legislators or the surrounding community. Since then, it has sat vacant with no plan in place for its reuse. The state spent $8.9 million to maintain the 23 empty buildings at the site last year. I look forward to exploring the ideas we gathered last night further – this waste of taxpayer dollars must end as soon as possible. Recognizing Dedicated Carbon County Lawyers
The Carbon County Bar Association recently recognized several attorneys for serving our area for more than 50 years. Congratulations to Joseph J. Velitsky, William G. Schwab, Michael L. Ozalas, Michael J. Garfield, Anthony Roberti, Steven Hartz, and Gary Dobias! Rep. Doyle Heffley and I honored this impressive milestone by presenting them with official citations. Visiting Pottsville Area High SchoolI visited Pottsville Area High School to learn more about their newly created drone pilot certification course and congratulate their boys’ basketball team on winning a district championship.
I visited the track for a demonstration by the first students of the new drone pilot certification course now under development at the school. This program will help students prepare for careers in aviation and other technological fields. I have never flown a drone before – thank you to Principal Tiffany Hummel, Stephen Horvath, who will be teaching the class, and students Adam Klinger and Quinn Evans for the demonstration!
Rep. Tim Twardzik and I met with the boys’ basketball team and presented them with official citations to celebrate their PIAA District 11 Class 5A championship. Congratulations to all on the successful season! Argall Report: Preventing Devastating Floods in Western Schuylkill County and Beyond
The April edition of my local tv program examines successful strategies to protect communities from flooding. The show covers two recent events – a tour of a new flood mitigation project in western Schuylkill County that has significantly reduced flooding in Pine Grove and Tremont and a public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee where engineers and local officials discussed the importance of stream maintenance. Any community that has experienced severe floods knows to plan ahead before the next storm hits. By sharing these strategies with other flood-prone communities and working together, we can protect more of our homes, workplaces, roads, and neighborhoods from the life-changing devastation caused by severe floods. Watch the full show here. Supporting Local Libraries
I met with local librarians from throughout Schuylkill County to discuss how I can best support their important work to provide our communities with access to information. As the son of a school librarian, I know first-hand the impact these invaluable institutions can have on our young people and communities. Thank you all for joining me! Orwigsburg Lions Club Celebrates 90th Anniversary
The Orwigsburg Lions Club celebrated their 90th anniversary this week. Rep. Jamie Barton and I offered our congrats to all who have contributed to their many years of service to the community! We also honored Citizen of the Year Mil Wallace and Lion of the Year Brian Calderone. Visiting Luzerne County Community College
I visited Luzerne County Community College’s Hazleton center to speak to an adult learning and training assistance program class about my role as the state senator for Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties and how they can participate in our civic process. I’ve witnessed firsthand how community colleges can change people’s lives and raise up entire towns. I will continue to support all our local community colleges in any way that I can – the educational opportunities they offer are priceless. Thank you for inviting me! Monday, April 14: How to Write a Grant Seminar
On Monday at 5:30 p.m., I’m hosting a seminar about how to write a compelling grant application at Penn State Schuylkill with Reps. Twardzik, Barton, Stehr, and Watro. Every year, we work with local organizations to secure millions in state grants to support key projects to breathe new life into our area. But we cannot do this alone – it takes strong partnerships and thoughtful planning to turn community revitalization ideas into reality. Linda Falcone, MBA, Educator for Penn State Extension, will provide an in-depth overview of the grant writing process and best practices for writing a successful application. RSVPS are required for this event. Please email shubler@pasen.gov or call 570-773-0891 to reserve your seat. Senate Passes Bill Benefitting Career and Technical Schools
Career and technical education prepares students for rewarding, family-sustaining careers, often at a significantly reduced cost compared to attending college. I’m committed to supporting and expanding career and technical education programs across Pennsylvania because of the life-changing opportunities they offer to local students. The Senate passed Senate Bill 315 last week to support these programs and ensure people have the training needed for in-demand jobs. Read more about career and technical education opportunities in the commonwealth here.
If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. |
|||||
|
|||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2025 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://www.senatorargall.com | Privacy Policy |
