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In this Update:
2025-26 Leadership Role: Senate Majority Policy Chair
I was again appointed by President Pro Tempore Kim Ward to serve as the chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the 2025-26 legislative session. In this role, I will continue my tenure as a member of the Senate Majority leadership team, the first senator from the 29th district in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties to serve in Senate leadership since the 1860s. Chairing the Majority Policy Committee allows me to examine a great variety of legislative ideas through public hearings and careful review, including the shortage of quality housing, the spread of blight, and the impact of crime on our largest cities and smallest neighborhoods. When I previously chaired this committee, we crisscrossed the state, holding hearings on the impact of covid-19 lockdowns on employers and schools, waste and abuse in state welfare programs, and repeat DUI offenders. I also chaired ten public roundtables on school safety, hearing from parents, students, and educators. Since then, Pennsylvania has invested hundreds of millions of new dollars into school security enhancements and student mental health support. Capitol Christmas Tree – from Carbon County!
The annual Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony took place on Tuesday in Harrisburg. This year’s 24-foot Douglas Fir was again grown in the 29th district, at Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton. It’s the tallest tree in the Capitol Main Rotunda in more than a decade. A second, 22-foot Douglas Fir also from Crystal Spring Tree Farm—where Beth and I purchased our tree on Sunday—is located on the Capitol steps. The tree is decorated with more than 700 ornaments hand-crafted by Pre-K students and older adults from across Pennsylvania, including from Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties. The following local senior centers donated ornaments: Jim Thorpe/Penn-Kidder Senior Center, Lehighton Senior Center, Weatherly Senior Center, Hazleton Active Adult Center, and Diakon Community Services. If you’ve never been to our State Capitol during the holidays before, it’s worth a visit! The tree in the rotunda will be lit daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and the tree on the Capitol steps will be lit daily from 5 p.m. until midnight through January 8, 2025. Breathing New Life into the Angela Theatre in Coaldale
The Angela Triplex Theatre in Coaldale has now reopened after a four-year closure and major renovations, including the installation of a new roof. In addition to screening movies, the historic theatre now features a Virtual Reality (VR) room. The Angela has been a key piece of Coaldale since it first opened in 1949 – when you lose buildings like this, you can’t replace them. We’ve seen in Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe, and other communities how preserving and reusing historic properties can provide a significant boost for older towns. I’m excited to see the historic marquee lit and listing movies once again! Don’t Miss the Christmas Village in Hazleton!
A city-wide initiative – Hazleton for the Holidays – has brought holiday cheer to Hazleton this year! If you haven’t visited yet, Hazleton’s Christmas Village at CAN DO Community Park will be open for two more days this year: Sunday Dec. 15 and 22 from 2-7 p.m. Learn more about everything the village features here. Expanding Opportunities to Learn a Trade
Schuylkill Technology Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Program at their north campus in Frackville on Tuesday. A new classroom and facility were constructed to support this program, which will be available for high school students and adults looking to learn these valuable skills. There’s a serious need for more skilled employees in the trades across Pennsylvania. As the chair of the Senate Education Committee, I was proud to support increased funding for career and technical centers in last year’s state budget. Joining me were Rep. Jamie Barton; Bob Carl, President and Chief Executive Officer, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce; Derek Bennett, New HVAC Program Instructor, Schuylkill Technology Center; Rep. Tim Twardzik; Rep. JoAnne Stehr; Shannon Brennan, Assistant Executive Director and Director of Career and Technical Education, Schuylkill Technology Center; and Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess. Congrats to New Eagle Scout Maxwell Masser!
Congratulations to Maxwell Masser – Schuylkill County’s newest Eagle Scout! Maxwell is a member of Troop 662, Valley View. For his service project, he constructed a pickleball court at the Hubley Township Recreational Park. I congratulated him at his court of honor on Sunday night, along with Rep. Barton, Commissioner Boots Hetherington, Commissioner Larry Padora, and Rep. Stehr. Wreaths Across America Convoy Visits Schuylkill County
Blue Mountain Middle School hosted a beautiful Wreaths Across America ceremony on Thursday morning to remember and honor our brave veterans who fought to preserve our freedom. We must never forget their sacrifices on behalf of our great nation. Every year, a convoy of trucks travels from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery carrying wreaths for the headstones of the thousands of veterans buried on that hallowed ground. It’s widely considered the largest veterans parade in the nation. The convoy also stopped at Penn State Schuylkill and St. Ambrose Church in Schuylkill Haven. More ceremonies will take place on Saturday. You can help by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath at a cemetery near you, volunteering or donating to programs. Search for the nearest participating cemetery here. Fostering Greater Educational Opportunities for Students
Throughout the 2023-24 legislative session, the Senate advanced numerous initiatives to expand educational opportunities and dedicate record-breaking levels of funding for our students. A newly implemented law now gives schools the option to use funding for resources to limit student smartphone use during school hours to improve students’ mental health and academic performance. Another measure is now working to improve early literacy rates – critical to lifelong success – by bolstering reading instruction, identifying struggling readers and properly training educators. We know skilled and dedicated teachers are vital to providing students with a strong educational foundation. To attract and keep passionate educators in our commonwealth, Grow PA Scholarships are available to in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in a high-demand industry, and agree to live and work here after graduation. 2025 Fishing Licenses, Permits and Gift Vouchers on Sale
Fishing licenses, permits and vouchers for 2025 purchased now from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are valid immediately through Dec. 31, 2025. They can be purchased online, through the FishBoatPA mobile app or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents. Customers can choose from annual or multi-year licenses and permits with three-, five- and 10-year options. All documents can be printed immediately after purchase or saved digitally to a smart device which serves as proof of possession. People may also purchase vouchers to be given as gifts and redeemed by recipients. Tips to Stay Safe Throughout the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a special time when many of us spend time with loved ones enjoying long-loved traditions. Because these special activities can come with extra risks, taking some precautions is wise. Candles, which cause the most fires on Christmas day, should be kept at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. Trees should be at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles and heat vents. It’s best to dispose of the tree when it’s dry or after the holiday season. Discarding string lights that are worn or damaged also protects against fires. Read more about winter fire prevention.
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