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In this Update:
Remembering Beth’s Mom, Betty Koch
I’m really going to miss Betty – Beth’s mom, a loving grandmother to AJ and Elise, and great-grandmother to Amelia – who welcomed me into her family more than 37 years ago. Read her obituary here. Demolishing Blighted Eyesores, Creating Green Spaces in Downtown Tamaqua
Three blighted and decaying buildings will be demolished on Railroad Street in Tamaqua – just across from the historic 1874 Tamaqua Railroad Station – to build a new park showcasing a Liberty Tree. When I was growing up in a “half a double” on Arlington Street, I never would have imagined the new life that we now see in Tamaqua. This honor doesn’t just bring attention to the rich local history of the borough – it also creates a new green space in the midst of downtown and will allow railroad station visitors to walk through the park to Stoker’s Brewing Company, the Tamaqua Arts Center, and beyond. Funding to tear down these decaying buildings came from the Schuylkill County demolition fund. We’ve worked to secure millions of dollars in state grants and successfully written new laws to provide much-needed dollars to this fund, so we can repair some old buildings for new housing needs and tear down others to breathe new life into older neighborhoods. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation in 2026, Liberty Trees are being planted across the country as symbols of our enduring freedoms. The final tree was located at Saint John’s University in Maryland, until it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1999. Now, new Liberty Trees are being planted from the remains of this final tree at locations of note across our nation. One tree will be planted in each county in Pennsylvania. I was joined by Tamaqua’s Borough Council and Manager, Rep. Jamie Barton and Schuylkill County Commissioners Larry Padora, Boots Hetherington, and Gary Hess at last Friday’s announcement. Preventing Accidents on Route 93 in Nesquehoning
Yesterday, I met with Nesquehoning Borough leaders, PennDOT officials, and staff from Rep. Doyle Heffley’s office about how to make State Route 93 in Nesquehoning safer. There have been frequent, sometimes deadly crashes involving tractor-trailers driving down Broad Mountain from the Hazleton area. We’re hoping to find a solution to this serious issue as soon as possible, to prevent more tragedies. Honoring Community Leaders in Carbon County
The Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation hosted their annual awards gala at Blue Mountain Resort last Friday. Congratulations to all award winners:
Pictured here are Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, Rep. Heffley, Commissioner Michael Sofranko, and me. Protecting the Penn Lake Dam in Luzerne County
Rep. Mike Cabell and I recently secured a state grant of $750,000 to support the rehabilitation of Penn Lake Dam in Penn Lake Park Borough. The dam was originally built in 1905 and needs repairs to continue operating in the years to come. I visited Penn Lake Park Borough for a public meeting about the status of the dam over the summer. It was clear why so many residents are so passionate about saving the lake – it’s a beautiful location right in the heart of the Luzerne County community. We’re hoping to have more good news to announce soon – stay tuned! Preventing Flooding in Western Schuylkill County
The Schuylkill Conservation District was awarded a grant of $280,800 to reclaim abandoned mine land and restore acres of wetlands along the Swatara Creek in Ravine. Once completed, this reclamation project will decrease the number of devastating floods in Pine Grove, Tremont and other downstream communities and reduce pollution. The project will remove coal refuse along more than 1,500 feet of Swatara Creek, restoring more than 6 acres of wetlands in the area. Renewing the wetlands will provide a safer location for potentially dangerous floodwaters to accumulate in the event of a severe storm. The decade-long effort to end the destructive flooding along the Swatara Creek is truly a testament to what we can accomplish when we all work together – in this case, a team of conservation experts, municipal officials, local employers, and state legislators and agencies addressed a serious problem that threatens the health and well-being of thousands of people in western Schuylkill County. Touring Downtown Tamaqua’s Revitalization
Last Friday, I welcomed Secretary Valerie Arkoosh of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and Secretary Rick Siger of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to Tamaqua for a tour of the revitalized downtown district. We first visited the St. Luke’s Hometown Primary Care and Dental center, a rural health center that features dental service, mental health care, primary care, and Pennsylvania’s first rural family medicine residency program. The services offered at the center are in extremely high demand, especially dental services. We also visited a nearby property to discuss a state-funded project to transform vacant upper floors of downtown buildings into market-rate apartments, where construction should begin soon. There is a serious need for more housing in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties, to prevent long, draining commutes for local employees. Sharing Scholarship Opportunities with Local High Schools
Normally when I visit local schools, it’s to discuss my role as the chair of the Senate Education Committee. This week was very different – I visited Tamaqua Area High School, Marian Catholic High School, and Minersville Area Junior/Senior High School to discuss the John E. Morgan Endowed Scholarship, which can provide up to $7,000 a year for students who graduated from a high school in Schuylkill County, and other generous financial aid options available at my alma mater, Lycoming College. My hope is by sharing this opportunity, more students will have the opportunity that my brother and I enjoyed there. I remember well how worried my parents and I were about paying those tuition bills, more than “a few” years ago. Thank you to the college’s admissions staff for inviting me to join them today, and to all the local students who joined us! Expanding Access to High-Speed Internet
The Pottsville Free Public Library will receive 30 laptops and the Dimmick Memorial Library in Jim Thorpe will receive 20 laptops from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority to provide citizens with greater access to high-speed internet. These devices will be essential resources for education, job training, and digital literacy for our community. High-speed internet is an absolute necessity in today’s world. I’m grateful that these devices will support the mission of both libraries to make knowledge accessible to everyone. Penn State Schuylkill Celebrates 90th Anniversary
Penn State Schuylkill celebrated its 90th anniversary at its campus in Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi shared remarks about the power of higher education to change lives and uplift communities. This campus has had an incredible impact on Schuylkill County and the entire region, teaching students career-defining skills and connecting them with in-demand jobs in our area. They also host a wide variety of community events, including my annual Senator for a Day student government seminar. In the past five years, they have bucked national trends by increasing enrollment. I’m pleased to see them continue to succeed, despite the serious challenges facing higher education. Congratulations to everyone who has worked to make this campus such a crucial and vibrant part of Schuylkill County. Assisting Local Veterans at Pottsville CollegeTowne
Schuylkill Community Action hosted a Veterans Resource Fair at Alvernia University’s Pottsville CollegeTowne campus. The event offered information and educational presentations about veteran’s services in the Schuylkill County and beyond. My office hosted a table, along with Reps. Barton, JoAnne Stehr, Tim Twardzik, and Dane Watro. When I worked with many local leaders to bring this college campus to Pottsville, we envisioned it to be more than a place where people could get the education necessary for a productive career. A property that was vacant and blighted just a few years ago helped connect local heroes with valuable resources. Helping Nonprofits Secure State Funding
My office hosted a nonprofit grant seminar with Schuylkill HIVE at Penn State Schuylkill. Many local organizations have ideas that could transform their communities. While state dollars are available, the process to receive them is highly competitive. Thank you to everyone who joined us, including more than 40 nonprofits, Rep. Twardzik and Madison Colaco from Congressman Dan Meuser’s office. Respecting Our Neighbors, Friends, and Family
In these divisive times, we must always remember to respect each other. Political disagreements are not worth casting aside family members and lifelong friendships. |
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