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Meadowlark Counseling Services Expansion
Did you know an average person makes about 35,000 choices a day? Starting with, what time should I wake up? If you assume a person is awake for 17 hours a day, that is over 2,000 choices an hour! Think for a moment of the kinds of choices you make throughout your day. Simple ones like what to eat for breakfast, what to wear, what time to leave for work, which way I should go to work, should I answer this phone call, should I schedule a doctor’s appointment, should I take the test. Then some more complex decisions such as should I take this pill, should I look at these photos, should I watch this video and the list goes on and on. Now consider that every choice has a consequence, a good one or a bad one. All people fall short and make some bad choices. The result of our choices impacts not only ourselves but those around us, especially our loved ones. When we make a poor choice, we could end up in an addiction that may create the consequence of a lifetime battle in recovery.
Within Bradford and Tioga counties, there are several recovery centers available to those who have found themselves in an addiction to drugs or alcohol. The choice to seek recovery, as well as the choice to walk alongside your loved one, co-worker, or employee, is a good one that can result in a positive life-saving outcome. There are many qualified, well-trained counselors to help right here close to home.
Part of developing a thriving rural community is responding to the need for resources to be more accessible in multiple locations, so people in need of counseling services can stay closer to home and work, spending less time travelling for appointments. It is with much respect and appreciation I look forward to the grand opening of the newest addition to the Meadowlark Counseling Center (Website) out of Mansfield to a new location in the “Valley” area, coming this summer. Meadowlark Counseling Services (FB) is dedicated to providing quality outpatient counseling services to the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.
If you or someone you love are battling with drug or alcohol addiction, may you have the courage to choose the path to recovery and connect with a qualified counselor. Help is available and growing widely. Together we can help the people of Tioga and Bradford counties thrive.
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Tioga County Special Olympics
The Tioga Special Olympics (FB) 2024 was a super success! The mission of Special Olympics PA is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness; demonstrate courage; experience joy; and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
I look forward to this day every year! To witness the immense support from our community in volunteering to make all aspects of this event possible is so encouraging! Observing high school students from the district getting out of their comfort zone to partner up with, encourage, guide, nurture, and befriend an athlete while showing humility, selfless service, and kindness. It’s a joy to congratulate the athletes in handing out their earned ribbons. Nothing sweeter than an accomplished person with a huge smile on their face as their eyes light up in anticipation of receiving their award. Congratulations to all the participants and a huge thank you to all the volunteers for a wonderful morning at the Tioga Special Olympics last week.
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Secretary of Transportation Meets with CVHS
Cowanesque Valley High School students welcomed PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll to the school for discussion of a proposal to address the logistical challenges the students face in obtaining their learner’s permits. The students and their teacher, Jamie-Jo Sickler, reached out to me late last year, prompting the idea for me to introduce House Bill 1929, which seeks to create a three-year pilot program allowing schools to administer the written portion of PennDOT’s learner’s permit test.
Mrs. Sickler and her students were well prepared to share their testimonies as to the many barriers that often prohibit a student from taking the knowledge test. It was a privilege for these students to meet directly with Secretary Carroll in their school. Their hope is that he would leave with a deeper understanding of the need and benefits to the Commonwealth. If we can increase the number of licensed drivers prior to high school graduation, it would promote workforce growth and future success for these young adults in independence and positive contributions to our state.
It's not every day that a state secretary meets students in their school, to listen and learn what is happening in the lives of our students. Not every student can say they have learned more about state government from the point of view of the executive branch. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for taking time to visit and inspire our future generation Pennsylvanians. We are all encouraged by his commitment to continuing to work with us on this issue.
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Feedback is Beneficial
Our region’s outdoor assets make it a popular destination for fishing, boating and all kinds of phenomenal water recreation. As a steward for many of these assets, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission wants to make sure they are doing everything possible to provide positive experiences for our residents and visitors to the area. If you would like to share your positive or negative experiences with the commission, please contact my offices in Wellsboro (570-724-1390) or Troy (570-297-3045) to share your experiences or access their Complaint Verification Document.
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Your Summer Electric Bill
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding consumers that most electric distribution companies across the state adjusted their electric generation prices this past Saturday for non-shopping, or default service, customers.
With energy prices set to increase in some areas and decrease in others, the PUC encourages consumers to stay informed about these changes and evaluate their energy options, even if they already have a contract with a competitive electric generation supplier. For more information, including a list of “price to compare” adjustments, click here.
You may also learn more about managing energy costs by visiting PAPowerSwitch.com, which includes access to competitive offers as well as energy-saving tips.
Additionally, PAGasSwitch.com, another site run by the PUC, helps consumers compare prices for natural gas providers.
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Voter ID Update
House Democrats continue to stonewall efforts to give Pennsylvania voters the final say on whether they should be required to present identification each time they cast their ballots.
Earlier this spring, House Republicans launched a discharge petition in hopes of forcing action on House Bill 891, which proposes to amend the state Constitution to require presentation of an accepted form of identification by those who seek to vote.
If the bill is approved by the House and Senate this session, the measure could be placed on the ballot for consideration by voters this fall.
A new member sworn into office recently became the 101st member to sign the petition. However, with new partisan House operating rules requiring 25 members from each caucus sign the discharge petition, the proposal will remain bottled up in committee despite the bipartisan support of 101 members within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 73% of Pennsylvanians.
I joined my colleagues in signing this petition and will continue to advocate for this vital election integrity proposal.
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House Fellowship Program Taking Applications
which proposes to amend the state Constitution to require presentation of an accepted form of identification by those who seek to vote.
If the bill is approved by the House and Senate this session, the measure could be placed on the ballot for consideration by voters this fall.
A new member sworn into office recently became the 101st member to sign the petition. However, with new partisan House operating rules requiring 25 members from each caucus sign the discharge petition, the proposal will remain bottled up in committee despite the bipartisan support of 101 members within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and 73% of Pennsylvanians.
I joined my colleagues in signing this petition and will continue to advocate for this vital election integrity proposal.
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College undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students or law school students. |
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Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution. |
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Students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. |
For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply is July 1.
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Attention Artists: PGC Seeks Paintings for Wildlife Design Contest
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is seeking paintings for its 2025 Working Together for Wildlife Design Contest.
The 2025 featured species is the black bear. One or more black bears can be featured in a horizontal painting measuring exactly 22.5x15 inches, or a vertical painting measuring exactly 15x22.5 inches. Each painting must have a 3-inch-wide white border or mat and be left unsigned and unframed.
Participants must be Pennsylvania residents. For each entry, there is a $30 non-refundable entrance fee payable to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Paintings must be delivered to PGC headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, by 4 p.m. on Monday, July 22. For official rules and prize information, click here.
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