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Meadowlark Counseling Center Expands Service
Meadowlark Counseling Services is dedicated to providing quality outpatient counseling services to the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. And they have stepped up to open an additional location offering counseling services to those in need in the Knoxville area. Part of developing a thriving rural community is responding to the need for resources to be more accessible in multiple locations. This ultimately helps people in need of counseling services to spend less time travelling for appointments and stay closer to home and work. It is with great appreciation I’d like to share the grand opening of the newest addition to the Meadowlark Counseling Center out of Mansfield to the “Valley” area, 131 W. Main St., Knoxville, PA.
If you or someone you love is 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 in and through their recovery. A heart-filled thank you to the previous Tioga County commissioners and our current commissioners, to Cheryl Holcomb of Celebrate Recovery, the Laural Foundation, and doctors and staff at Meadowlark Counseling Center with the leadership of Josh and Kim Battin. As Josh has shared with so many, “A healthy community is not one without ailments; it is one that can address those ailments.” Meadowlark Counseling Center counselors are prepared and ready to work with those looking for help from both the Knoxville and Mansfield locations.
In the photo above, pictured left to right: Abby Medina, Counselor; Bella Gray, Counselor; Dr. Emily Wheeler, Program Director and Counselor; Dr. Josh Battin, President and Owner; Cheryl Edgcomb, Celebrate Recovery; Kim Battin, Marketing and Office Design; Dr. Becky Parks, Counselor and Business Director; and Shane Nickerson, Tioga County Commissioner.
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Another Senior Expo Gone By, But Not Without Some Recognitions
A huge thank you to Kim Johns from my Wellsboro office for leading us through another successful Senior Expo event where close to 600 of our seniors took part in gaining knowledge from many organizations, nonprofits, businesses and government officials. Many hands do make for light work, especially when you are talking about hosting close to 50 exhibitors and serving over 1,000 pieces of baked goods enjoyed by our seniors over a cup of coffee. It is wonderful to hear all the chatter, reconnections and new connections being made as people discover programs and services that can help them in and through the senior years, all while catching up with some old friends.
During the expo I had the pleasure of presenting Janie Hilfiger with a House citation recognizing her retirement from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after a career spanning 45 years of distinguished service! Janie began her career in 1979 as a staff nurse in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital. Throughout her years, she earned a master’s degree in health care management, ultimately serving as president of UPMC Wellsboro and Cole Hospitals, the position from which she is now retired. I would like to thank Janie for her sacrifices and service to improve the quality of life for patients and the community. Please join me in wishing Janie a wonderful retirement and thanking her for the many people she has positively impacted.
Lastly, Matt Baker and I had the great pleasure to present this year's recipient of the Matt Baker Community Service Award to Ron Butler. I, along with my district office staff, first introduced this award five years ago. The award recognizes a person who goes above and beyond in selflessly serving others in the community, always putting someone else first, and living daily with their servant’s heart in action. The bedrock of a community has many people who count others as more significant and desire to give of themselves to help others in need, often not measuring the cost to themselves. Ron Butler, even in retirement, selflessly gives of his time, talents, and wisdom helping people and serving on numerous organizations. Ron is active on multiple boards, always using his expertise in development and design to help solve concerns and needs in a strategic manner. However, this man will move tables, stack food at the pantry and celebrate those in the Special Olympics as well. It doesn’t matter the need; Ron is there to serve with humility and joy. Thank you, Ron, for being an exemplary citizen who represents the selfless servant, not only bringing solutions but implementing them as well. Our community is grateful for your service and always giving back. Please join me with heart-filled gratitude in thanking Ron for his selfless service to our communities as you see him out and about in our district.
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Update on Denton Hill State Park
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources last week announced the first phase of improvements to transform Denton Hill State Park into a four-season recreational destination in Potter County.
A first phase this summer will include the improvement of current hiking and biking trails; upgrading and opening traditional tent camping, recreational vehicle sites and modern cabins; and reopening the iconic lodge as a venue for large events, including weddings.
Work is being done in conjunction with Denton Go, LLC, which was formed in 2023 and is comprised of three members from the local area. The company brings a wealth of business and mountain recreation experience that includes ski and hospitality operations. It will operate the overnight and other facilities at the park under a temporary agreement as a 35-year agreement is being finalized.
Click here to read the full update from DCNR.
You can also follow Denton Go on Facebook for more regular updates.
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State-Owned Universities Freeze Tuition
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), which includes Commonwealth University-Mansfield, announced in July it would again freeze tuition rates for in-state undergraduate students for the 2024-25 academic year.
The decision came after the Legislature approved a $35.1 million, or 6%, increase in state funding for the universities as part of the 2024-25 state budget.
This is the seventh consecutive year the tuition rate will remain the same at all 10 universities. According to PASSHE, the repeated freezes save students nearly 25% in tuition costs compared to the price if tuition had risen at the inflation rate for the last six years.
More information about state system schools is available here.
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PHEAA Announces Financial Aid Seminars
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is hosting free webinars in August aimed at helping students and families understand financial aid and loan repayment.
The webinar titled “Deep Dive into Covering the Gap” will be offered at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22. This one-hour session aims to help students and their families understand their bill and financial aid package, and determine what, if any, borrowing is needed to cover the difference between aid and actual cost.
The webinar titled “Financial Aid Timeline – Know What to Do When” will be offered at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, and again at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 20. This one-hour presentation will provide the starting points and web resources for effective research before, during and after your student makes post-secondary education decisions.
For a full schedule, and to register your participation, visit www.pheaa.org/virtual.
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New Grant Program for Sportsmen’s Clubs Accepting Applications
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now accepting applications for its Pennsylvania Shooting Range Improvement Program.
Applicants may include existing shooting ranges, shooting clubs, recreational shooting organizations, archery clubs and education groups. Applicants must demonstrate public use of current facilities.
Eligible projects include development and renovation of facilities, construction of backstops and safety berms, addition of permanent target systems, creation of shooting stations and covers, lead remediation, and more.
Applications are due Sept. 1. For more information on the program, including the application, click here.
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