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Honoring Our Heroes
I was blessed by the opportunity to honor our region’s veterans for Veterans Day. Thank you all for your service!
On Monday, I joined everyone at Broad Acres and Country Terrace for lunch and presented certificates to each of the veterans there. It was an honor to spend time with these true American heroes.
Last week, I joined Commonwealth University Mansfield for its annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon. It was a great program to honor veterans on campus and in the community. Tioga County Commissioner Sam VanLoon shared his journey of 23 years with the Army National Guard.
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Celebrating Innes Hose Company
Lauren and I were so happy to join Innes Hose Company for its annual Firemen’s Appreciation Banquet over the weekend. Our volunteer first responders are top notch! It was a special honor to present citations from the House of Representatives to two members reaching milestones with the company.
Wendy Mosher was honored for 35 years of service, while Brian Belawske was honored for 15 years of service. Wendy, Brian and their fellow firefighters make themselves available at all hours of the day and night to protect the lives and property of our friends and neighbors, often at great personal risk to themselves. We are so grateful for their selfless service to our communities.
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Thank You for Exercising Your Right to Vote!
Our Commonwealth and our region saw a great turnout of voters for last Tuesday’s election! I want to thank you, both for making it a priority to cast your ballot and for sending me back to Harrisburg as your state representative. It truly is my honor to represent the people of Tioga and Bradford counties in the state House.
I also want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the hard-working men and women in The Tioga County and Bradford County elections offices, as well as all of the volunteers at the polls, all of whom helped make the election run as smoothly as possible.
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Veteran Saves Week Nov. 12-15
In honor of Veterans Day this week, the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is encouraging veterans across the Commonwealth to learn more about the great savings programs it offers during the first-ever Veteran Saves Week, Nov. 12-15. The week is dedicated to helping increase financial wellness and confidence for veterans, their families, caregivers and the military community at large.
Treasury has two powerful savings programs that can help veterans, the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program and the PA ABLE Savings Program for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. Both programs provide great tax incentives and benefits, and PA ABLE provides a way to save without losing access to important disability-related benefits.
Starting in January 2026, the federal ABLE Age Adjustment Act will expand ABLE account eligibility to millions more Americans, including 1 million veterans, by increasing the age of disability onset from 26 to 46.
Learn more about Treasury’s programs at patreasury.gov/consumer.
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America250PA Launches First Round of Semiquincentennial Grants
America250PA is now accepting applications for the first round of semiquincentennial grants to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America.
The grants are available to any Pennsylvania municipal entity, county or registered nonprofit organization to be used toward programming, projects or events that focus on education, preservation, innovation and celebration of the semiquincentennial. The grants require an equal match from the recipient.
The deadline to apply for the first round of grants is Sunday, Dec. 15. A second round will be held in the spring.
For additional information about how to apply, including a schedule of virtual office hours to answer questions about the program, click here.
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Funding to Boost Housing Initiatives
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is seeking applications from organizations for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing across the Commonwealth. Funding is being provided through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund.
PHARE receives its funding from the impact fee levied on natural gas drilling companies and a portion of the Realty Transfer Tax. Funding is available for housing initiatives in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. PHFA is charged with administering the allocation of PHARE dollars.
PHARE applications are completed and submitted entirely online, eliminating the need for paper submissions and simplifying the process for applicants. The request for proposal is located on PHFA’s website here. The online application is accessible on the PHARE website here. The deadline to apply is 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
For additional details, click here.
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