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In this Update:
Transforming St. Michael’s in Lansford into Overnight Accommodations…and more!
We’ve all heard about the need for more overnight accommodations in our area. Now, because of the large increase in visitors – to see Jim Thorpe, bike or whitewater raft, visit the No.9 Coal Mine & Museum, or enjoy an old train ride – we’ve seen local entrepreneurs step forward to address that need. In Tamaqua, the Bischoff Inn and The Village at Houser’s Crossing are open for business. Joining them now is Melrose Manor at the former St. Michael the Archangel rectory in Lansford, one of the most beautiful, historic, and visible sites in the entire valley. This week, I visited the simply amazing renovation of the former rectory into a nine-bedroom short term rental unit, which is now open. It’s a great option for families, sport teams, and groups traveling together. Future plans include renovating the school into more rental suites and the former church into an events and wedding venue. With the new Narrow Valley Sports complex and train station in Nesquehoning and the plans to create an interactive visitors center in Summit Hill and restore the Lansford Train Station, it’s an exciting time for the Panther Valley! Tamaqua Railfest is Tomorrow!
Visit downtown Tamaqua tomorrow from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for Railfest – a variety of railroad-themed vendors, exhibits, and more, all centered around the beautifully restored 1874 Tamaqua Train Station, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The Reading and Northern Railroad is running two passenger train rides to celebrate the day. Their all-day train excursion to Tamaqua will depart the Reading Outer Station at 10 a.m. and arrive in Tamaqua by 11:30 a.m. Riders will then have four hours to enjoy Railfest before the return trip. A very popular 70-minute round trip train ride from Tamaqua to the Hometown High Bridge will depart at 1 p.m. All the information you need to plan your day can be found here. Breathing New Life into the Pumpy
I was invited to visit the “Pumpy” – the Pumping Station Dam in East Union Township – to meet with volunteers and local officials from Shenandoah and East Union Township about how we can breathe new life into this beautiful recreation area near Locust Mountain. Members of the Pumpy Association were full of stories about the good times they had there and passion for bringing these same opportunities to a new generation. By working together, I’m hopeful that Rep. Dane Watro, Rep. Tim Twardzik, all three Schuylkill County Commissioners, and I will find a way to help them reach this goal! Maintaining the Historic Castle in Hazleton
Rep. Watro and I visited the Castle – the 98-year-old school that is currently Hazleton Elementary/Middle School – to see the completed renovations to the Wiltsie Auditorium. The auditorium has been closed for a while due to water damage, but now looks better than ever! So many of us have fond memories of this historic and distinctive 1926 building, but it was set to be demolished in the late 1990s before a groundswell of community objections led to it being fully restored and returned to use. Now, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to be a proud landmark in the Hazleton area. Rep. Watro and I also met with Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat to discuss many of the ongoing projects we’re working together on to improve the city, including the demolition of the blighted former Matuella’s Dairy Building on 6th Street. Modern Apartments with Historic Touches Coming to Orwigsburg
“Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” was the key issue in Schuylkill County for many years. Now that many new jobs have come here, the question is often where can the employees live, without long, expensive, daily commutes from outside our area? I visited a local entrepreneur with an answer to that question—modern apartments with historic touches. On Orwigsburg’s historic square, we toured the Arcadian House— new apartments set to open in the coming weeks. The building was originally constructed in the early 1800s and will contain eight market-rate apartments and retail space on the bottom floor. Thank you to Metz Properties Rentals President Bill Metzinger and Project Manager Rebecca Sinclair for showing me around! With these apartments and the 900 West Market units at the former St. Francis Orphanage, Bill and his team are bringing new housing options to Schuylkill County – which are MUCH needed. Expanded Access to Benefits for PA Disabled Veterans
A new Pennsylvania law that went into effect this month exempts 100% of disabled veterans’ benefit payments from income calculations for any commonwealth program or benefit. Act 27 of 2024 ensures veterans who receive disability compensation will not have those payments counted against them when applying to programs such as the Real Estate Property Tax Exemption, the Educational Gratuity Program, the Veterans Temporary Assistance Program and the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. The exclusion also applies to unspent veterans’ benefit payments and is extended to the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran upon that veteran’s death. Celebrating Back to School Month by Brushing Up on School Bus Safety
As students head back to school, school buses require additional caution from drivers. School districts are now permitted to use automated cameras on stop signal arms to enforce the school bus stopping law. Learn more and find parent safety tips and a reminder of other laws here. Pennsylvania law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses when their red lights are flashing and their stop arm is extended. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety. Penalties for failure to obey school bus safety laws can result in a $250 fine and a $35 surcharge to be deposited into the School Bus Safety Grant Program account, five points on a driving record and a 60-day license suspension. Upcoming Events
Rep. JoAnne Stehr and I will be hosting a Coffee and Conversation event on Tuesday, September 3 from 8-9 a.m. at the Hegins Area Ambulance Association. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-621-3400.
Rep. Doyle Heffley and I will be hosting a Senior Expo in Lehighton on Wednesday, September 4 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. More than 50 vendors will be there with information about their programs and services.
Rep. Watro and I will be hosting a Coffee and Conversation event on Friday, September 6 from 8-9 a.m. at the McAdoo Borough Building. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-521-9441.
Rep. Watro and I are hosting a seminar for senior citizens about how to avoid the latest scams on Tuesday, September 10 at 10 a.m. at the Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens Center. The seminar will be led by a representative from the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Information will be provided on how to look out for and avoid scammers posing as banks, caregivers, grandkids, government agencies, and more. RSVPs are required for this event. Call 570-773-0891 to reserve your spot today.
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event I’m hosting with Rep. Heffley on Thursday, September 19 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Kidder Township Municipal Building. 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 Meeting with Constituents in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne CountiesI traveled throughout the 29th district this week, hosting community events and hearing directly from the people I represent about what issues they would like to see our state government address. Thank you to all our generous hosts!
Rep. Heffley and I met with constituents at the Albrightsville Fire Company.
Rep. Watro and I met with constituents at the Ringtown Area Senior Center.
Rep. Watro and I also met with the employers who make up the CAN DO, Inc. Park Association to discuss how we’re working together to help grow the regional economy. We then toured the American Eagle Outfitters Distribution Center in the Humboldt Industrial Park.
Rep. Watro and I also hosted a free event to replace damaged license plates in Hazle Township. Special thanks to Trooper Anthony Petroski from the Community Services Unit of Pennsylvania State Police Troop N, Hazleton who conducted the plate inspections.
Rep. Twardzik and I met with constituents at the Cressona Fire Company No. 1.
Rep. Jamie Barton and I hosted a senior scam seminar in Orwigsburg. The most important takeaway: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Special thanks to Joshua Goodin from the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for leading the discussion. |
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