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In this update:
Statement on the Attempted Assassination of President TrumpBeth and I are praying for President Trump and all Americans after last weekend’s events in Butler County. Violence has no place in our constitutional republic. Expanding Kayak and Canoe Access to the Schuylkill RiverRep. Tim Twardzik and I were invited to cut the ribbon for the new kayak launch area in Schuylkill Haven Island Park yesterday. The new drop off, driveway, and ramp will vastly improve access to the Schuylkill River for boaters. This launch point would not have been possible when I was growing up in Tamaqua. I wasn’t allowed to retrieve a ball from the Little Schuylkill River because the water was often more black and orange than clear. Now, people are fishing, swimming, and kayaking in the river again, thanks to the work of many dedicated community volunteers. If you’re interested in planning a day on the river this summer, Schuylkill River Greenways has all the information you would need. Brenda Banks: National Champion Girls WrestlerI joined the Panther Valley School Board in congratulating Brenda Banks of Lansford, now a NATIONAL champion in her weight class. She traveled all the way to Fargo, North Dakota to compete in USA Wrestling’s Junior National Championships. What an amazing season – the Panther Valley community is proud!! Brenda will be a Junior at Panther Valley Junior/Senior High School next year. She still has two more years to continue making her mark on Pennsylvania girls wrestling history. Fighting Blight in Freeland and BeyondFrom left to right: Brian Maso, Foster Township Zoning Office; Todd Titus, Foster Township Supervisor; me; Rep. Mike Cabell; Brittany Majewski, Foster Township Manager; John Pavuk, Foster Township Supervisor. Rep. Mike Cabell and I visited Foster Township to see the demolition of a blighted site at the entrance to Freeland’s downtown. We secured a highly competitive state grant of almost $210,000 to assist local officials with returning this site to productive use. The property was formerly an auto service station and residential home, before becoming uninhabitable and a safety hazard. I look forward to seeing what it will become in the future. Blight affects us all by lowering our property values, straining the real estate market, hurting our schools, breeding crime, and posing a serious threat to our safety and well-being. It’s a nasty and complicated problem, but I’m committed to giving communities the tools they need to fight back. Jim Thorpe Visitors Bring New Employers to Carbon CountyFrom left to right: Timm Berger, District Office Manager for Rep. Doyle Heffley, Laurette Christman, Preston Christman, me. I attended the launch party for Jim Thorpe Elopements at the beautiful new Trailside Events facility in Lehighton. Founded by successful wedding photographers Preston and Laurette Christman, this new business will offer visitors to the area a way to elope in style by working with other local vendors to create a complete wedding experience. It’s great to see the positive impacts of the many visitors to Jim Thorpe spreading to surrounding communities. Yuengling Stars & Stripes Summer Celebration Showcases Pottsville RevitalizationThousands of people visited Pottsville last weekend for the annual Yuengling Stars & Stripes Summer Celebration. Thank you to the Yuengling Family for making this event special for the community, year after year. Just a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine Pottsville hosting such a successful event. With Alvernia University’s Pottsville CollegeTowne now open to students, 60 new market rate apartments under development in the Schuylkill Trust Company building at Centre and Market, and new businesses opening their doors, we’re seeing genuine progress in breathing new life downtown Pottsville. Schuylkill County Municipal Authority Celebrates 190 YearsFrom left to right: me; Rep. Dane Watro; Frank Schoeneman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Schuylkill County Municipal Authority; Patrick Caulfield, Executive Director, Schuylkill County Municipal Authority; Amy Batdorf, Assistant Executive Director, Schuylkill County Municipal Authority; Rep. Twardzik, Rep. Jamie Barton. I congratulated the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority on their 190th anniversary. Their tireless work has been critically important to efforts to bring new housing AND employers to our area. Their work was instrumental in constructing the Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital near Orwigsburg. They’ve worked to complete many of the business parks that have brought hundreds of new jobs to our area. Now, they’re working with PennDOT on the long-awaited widening of Rt. 61 from Frackville to St. Clair, ensuring the utilities are in order as this massive project progresses. I look forward to continuing my partnership with them as we work to breathe new life into older communities in Schuylkill County and beyond. Watch Out for New Pennsylvania Turnpike ScamBeware of this text message scam claiming to be from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission! If you get this text, do not click on the link. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General offers free updates about the latest scams targeting Pennsylvanians. They also encourage the reporting of any scamming attempts, to assist their work to protect others. Learn more here. Thank You, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce!From left to right: me, Nathan Gerace, District Director for Rep. Dan Meuser, Rep. Barton, Rep. Twardzik, Rep. JoAnne Stehr. On Friday, I stopped by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf event—not to “attempt” to golf, but to thank their members and staff for their continuing advocacy on behalf of the people of Schuylkill County. A perfect example of one of their many successful efforts is the long-awaited widening of a dangerous stretch of Rt. 61 from Frackville to St. Clair. Without their tireless work, we would all still be braving this dangerous stretch of road with no relief in sight. Instead, this project has now finally begun and safety for all will be improved once it is completed. Replace Damaged License Plates in Schuylkill HavenIs your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event I’m hosting with Rep. Twardzik on Wednesday, July 31 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Schuylkill Haven Borough Hall, 333 Center Ave. A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it qualifies for free replacement. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-773-0891. The announcement of a new state license plate will not impact this event. The new plate design, which features the Liberty Bell in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, will not be available until 2025. Sign up to receive email updates about how to order the new plate here. Easy Ways to Lower Your Energy CostsRising energy costs are compounded by the hot temperatures we have been experiencing. If you’ve been shocked by your energy bill and are looking for ways to lower costs, here are some helpful tips from the Public Utility Commission:
Learn more about how to stay cool while keeping your summer power bills manageable. Recognizing National Hire a Veteran DayThursday, July 25, marks National Hire a Veteran Day. The men and women who served our country have many skillsets and experiences – in addition to a high level of dedication – that can benefit employers. Employers who would like to hire veterans and guard members can list their job opening for free on the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations’ Job Board. Veterans can search the board here. National Hire a Veteran Day also serves as a reminder for employers that it’s important to support veterans by providing resources to them as they transition from military life to the civilian workforce.
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