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In this Update:
Revitalizing Downtown Shenandoah – Turning Blight into a Community Center
Downtown Shenandoah, Inc. (DSI) was awarded a highly competitive grant of more than $1.7 million this week to construct the Center for Education, Business, and the Arts (CEBA) on property that was formerly a row of blighted buildings. The dedicated volunteers at DSI have been working for many years to breathe new life into their downtown and CEBA is key to their plans. This funding will construct a health clinic, event center, and additional business incubator space on the second floor of the building – just one piece of their plans for a property that was a vacant and blighted eyesore just a few years ago. I’ve worked in a bipartisan effort to secure millions in state funding to support their work with former Rep. Neal Goodman, Rep. Tim Twardzik, and Rep. Dane Watro. A recent article from the Republican Herald showcases the passion they have for breathing new life into Shenandoah. During the ongoing construction of the center, a collection of vintage bottles was found as the site was prepared – some dating back to the 1800s – that brought back memories of when Main Street was filled with shops and the population was 30,000. Senate Votes 47 to 3 to End the Waste of Taxpayer Dollars at the White Haven Center
The Senate passed my bill this week to end wasteful spending at the vacant state centers in White Haven, Hamburg, and Polk by a strongly bipartisan vote of 47-3 on Tuesday. Spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year maintaining these three properties with their future uncertain is completely irresponsible. To call this a waste of taxpayer dollars is an understatement – this is a bureaucratic nightmare of epic proportions. It needs to stop now. I have already met with several people who may be interested in purchasing the valuable White Haven Center property. Anyone interested should contact us to learn more. Breathing New Life into Carbon County
Carbon Chamber & Economic Development hosted their annual State of the County Address last week, featuring chamber leaders, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, and Carbon County Commissioner Michael Sofranko. I attended with Rep. Doyle Heffley. As you can see from the slide here, there were MANY exciting developments to discuss – new overnight accommodations, employers, attractions for visitors, and plans to breathe new life into older towns and neighborhoods. The communities in the Panther Valley – Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, Coaldale, and Lansford – were accepted into the Blueprint Communities program, a proven catalyst for community revitalization efforts. The program will assist local leaders with creating and executing a revitalization plan. The former St. Michael the Archangel church in Lansford, one of the most beautiful, historic, and visible sites in the entire valley, is being transformed into Melrose Manor. The former rectory has been renovated into a nine-bedroom short term rental unit, which is now open. The church will become an events and wedding venue. Progress is being made towards restoring and reopening the historic train station in Lansford. Summit Hill is working to open a new interactive visitors center that showcases the history of coal mining in our area. When the massive KME plant at the western entrance to Nesquehoning on Route 54 closed in 2021, many of us feared it might stay empty forever. Thanks to the work of local entrepreneurs, it now houses the Narrow Valley Sportsplex, a Bulldog Fire Apparatus facility, and a new train station. None of this would be possible without motivated members of the community and strong public-private partnerships. Gimbel’s: The Latest Employer in the Tamaqua CRIZ
Gimbel’s, the newest restaurant to locate in downtown Tamaqua, is now open for business. Founded by Megan and Aaron Gimbel, who also own Gimbel Farms in Rush Township, the restaurant features high-quality, farm-to-table ingredients sourced solely from local businesses. Rep. Jamie Barton and I congratulated them and wished them well as they began this new journey last week. Gimbel’s is just the latest employer to open its doors in downtown Tamaqua, thanks in part to the borough’s City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ), an innovative program allows state tax payments from the zone to remain in the community for economic development. Now, many of its oldest buildings are much improved from the days when I grew up in a “half a double” on Arlington Street in the 1960s and 70s, thanks to the tireless work of so many throughout the Tamaqua community. Lehigh Valley Children’s Center Provides Quality Childcare to Jim Thorpe
I was invited to read to a class of Pre-K Counts kids at the Lehigh Valley Children’s Center at the former St. Joseph’s Regional Academy in Jim Thorpe. Their program recently received a Keystone STARS 4 rating – the highest possible score, signifying their excellence in preparing children for the jump to kindergarten. Thank you for the important service you provide for working families in Carbon County!
Reading to classrooms like this always reminds me of one of my family’s favorite pictures of my father, when he was a student teacher many years ago. That experience helped prepare him for a lifelong career as a teacher and school librarian. Happy National Pierogy Day!
This week marked National Pierogy Day – brought to our area by immigrants from Poland and other eastern European nations. Odds are that if you live anywhere in Schuylkill, Carbon, or Luzerne counties you’ve heard of Shenandoah’s Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Hazleton’s T & L Pierogies, and the home-made products made in church and home kitchens across the region. Mrs. T’s produces 11 million pierogies a week making it the largest provider of frozen pierogies in the country. October 8th is the anniversary of the day founder Ted Twardzik, Sr. made his first sale. Now, his son, Tim, serves as one of Schuylkill County’s state representatives! Combating AI-Generated Explicit Images of Minors
Legislation to combat “deepfake” images of minors and child sexual abuse materials generated by artificial intelligence (AI) was approved by the Senate and is now set to be signed into law. Currently, Pennsylvania law makes it illegal to share intimate images without consent but does not clearly address the use of AI deepfake technology for this purpose. This gap in our law leaves many vulnerable to a new form of digital abuse. The bill also prohibits AI from being utilized to generate child sexual abuse material, previously referred to as “child pornography,” which is not currently prohibited under law. Eliminating Costs for Breast Cancer Screenings
Act 1 of 2023, a landmark law we passed in Pennsylvania, eliminates all costs associated with screening breast MRI, ultrasound, genetic testing and counseling for individuals at high risk of breast cancer who are insured under state-regulated plans. The law will be fully in effect by the end of 2025, though many plans will begin coverage between 2024 and 2025. To find out if your plan qualifies, check with your insurer or employer’s human resources. For uninsured or underinsured women who need immediate screenings, Pennsylvania offers no-cost options through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. October 17: Screening of Rare Film Footage of 1920s New Philadelphia
Retired grocer Bill McMullen and historian Helen Smeltz will present rare 1920s film footage of New Philadelphia on Thursday, October 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Schuylkill County Historical Society.
I am excited to be a part of this free event, due to my family’s history in Middleport. My great grandfather and grandmother Argall lived on the corner of Coal and Kaska Streets. My grandfather was a local teacher – his 1930 contract, with a salary of $990 per YEAR, can be seen here. When school officials couldn’t pay their teachers due to the decline in the local coal industry, my grandmother’s job at a local sewing factory helped the Argall family survive through some very difficult times. Learn more information about the event here. Upcoming Events
Rep. Twardzik and I will host a concealed carry seminar on Wednesday, October 16 at the Mount Carbon Fire Company, 122 Main Street, Pottsville to educate gun owners about state laws regarding firearms. It will be led by Schuylkill County Sheriff Joe Groody and Attorney Joshua Prince. Following state laws and safety guidelines is extremely important when exercising our Second Amendment rights. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the program will start at 6 p.m.
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event I’m hosting with Rep. Barton on Thursday, October 17, from 3-6 p.m. at the West Penn Township Municipal Building. A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it’s illegible.
Rep. Twardzik and I will be hosting a free scam seminar at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 25 at the Fairlane Village Mall (former Schuylkill Valley Sports store front). With scammers becoming increasingly brazen and creative, we all need to be aware of how to protect ourselves from falling prey to these criminals. A representative from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Senior Protection Unit will present information and answer questions. RSVPs are required for all three of these events. Call 570-773-0891 to reserve your spot.
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