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Ready to Serve You in the 2025-26 Legislative Session
By the time you are reading this edition of Community Connection, I will have been officially sworn in to my fourth full term as your state representative in the 68th Legislative District.
I am committed to ensuring the voice of rural Pennsylvania, and particularly the Northern Tier, is heard loud and clear in Harrisburg. Among other things, I will continue advocating for policies to ensure proper maintenance of our creeks and streams to prevent catastrophic flooding like we saw last year; support the health, welfare and education of our children; advance our energy industry; and more.
I am also taking on a new challenge this session, serving as House Republican Caucus Secretary. In addition to my duties relating to the recording all official legislative activities that take place in the House, I am especially enjoying the opportunity to help mentor our newly elected legislators and support them as they navigate their new role. We have 10 brand new members in our caucus, plus one who is returning to service after a hiatus last session. They are a great group, and I am confident they will serve our Commonwealth and their communities well!
Here at home, we have a great team in both our Wellsboro and Troy offices ready to assist you with any state-related concerns, such as PennDOT work, birth and death certificates, state benefit programs, and more. Contact information for both offices is available at the bottom of this email, or by clicking here.
As always, you can keep up to date with all the latest news from the Capitol and here at home by following me on Facebook or Instagram and reading the weekly Community Connection emails. Tell your friends they can sign up here!
I remain humbled by the opportunity to serve and be your voice at the state Capitol.
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Happy 100th Birthday, Mary Stepney!
On Saturday, Dec. 28, my office had the honor of celebrating the 100th birthday of Mary Stepney. Mary was born in Portslade, England, on Dec. 23, 1924, and has lived a life that truly deserves to be recognized.
Along with a citation issued through the House of Representative honoring Ms. Stepney’s wisdom and years of experience, she also received recognition from County Commissioner Sam VanLoon and Mansfield Mayor Kathy Barrett, who officially named Dec. 28 as “Mary Stepney Day.” Being born in England, Ms. Stepney also received a Centennial Birthday greeting from King Charles III and the Queen Consort of the United Kingdom.
Mary Stepney’s life has been one of significant travel and enriching experiences, including time spent in England, Africa, Europe and America. Further demonstrating her dedication, she served in the Women’s Land Army in the United Kingdom during World War II. In 1973, she acquired her first farm on Rutland Hill near Roseville, where she raised sheep. She became a naturalized American citizen in the 1990s.
Family and friends gathered to celebrate Ms’ Stepney’s remarkable life and her positive impact on the lives of others. We extend our best wishes for her continued health and happiness!
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Great News for Area Dialysis Patients
Nearly a year after U.S. Renal Care in Wellsboro closed its doors, forcing area dialysis patients to travel up to an hour or more multiple times a week for treatment, Independent Dialysis Group is now up and running at 70 Plaza Lane.
Dialysis is incredibly hard on patients, and I’m grateful to see this treatment available once again here at home in Wellsboro, thanks to the folks at Independent Dialysis Group. Ensuring access to care in rural communities like ours is so important to ensuring health, safety and quality of life. Read more about the new center here.
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PA Farm Show in Full Swing!
The Pennsylvania Farm Show – the country’s largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof – is in full swing in Harrisburg! I had the opportunity to spend time there yesterday, talking with some of our outstanding FFA students. I’ll be back on Wednesday to sit down with PA Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and to participate in the annual feed scurry event. Be sure to stay tuned to next week’s Community Connection for all of our Farm Show coverage…and wish me luck for the feed scurry!
This year’s Farm Show theme is “Powering Pennsylvania,” which aims to highlight the vital role agriculture plays in the Commonwealth’s economy. Fittingly, the annual butter sculpture conveys the importance of the dairy sector of our agriculture industry.
As always, the show will feature hundreds of competitions and exhibits, as well as animals and products related to the state’s robust agriculture industry. The annual showcase is a family-friendly event with lots to see and do; and don’t forget to stop by the famous food court for a taste of some Pennsylvania cuisine.
Admission to the show is free, but parking is $15 per vehicle. Shuttle service is provided.
For all the latest news about the Farm Show, follow it on Facebook or click here. The show runs through Saturday, Jan. 11, so there’s still plenty of time to check it out!
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Have You Heard of Hospice Fraud?
The Federal Trade Commission is warning of another scam targeting older adults – hospice fraud.
Scammers are contacting these citizens – with calls, texts, emails, fake ads and even door-to-door visits – claiming they’ll set you up with services like free cooking, cleaning and home health care. What they likely won’t tell you is how. They want to commit fraud by signing you up for Medicare hospice care. Then, they can bill Medicare for all kinds of services in your name.
To protect yourself from hospice scams:
• Never give your Medicare number to someone offering “free” services like housekeeping or cooking. Medicare doesn’t offer free services like that.
• Never agree to sign up for hospice care in exchange for perks or gifts like money, gift cards or groceries.
• Know that Medicare will never come to your home to sign you up for services. If someone comes to your door, says they’re from Medicare, and tries to get you to sign up for services, they’re lying. Don’t give them any information.
Click here to learn more.
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Vehicle Fees Eliminated for Some Veterans
A new state law, which I supported, eliminates vehicle registration and title fees for certain veterans in the Commonwealth.
Under Act 60 of 2024, fees are eliminated for a passenger vehicle or truck weighing 9,000 pounds or less owned by military veterans who meet one of the following requirements (license plate fees still apply):
• Vehicles registered to a veteran who lost a limb or eye or who became partially paralyzed while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.
• Vehicles registered to a veteran who, as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, was captured by the enemy in any armed conflict for which the Department of Defense authorizes a campaign medal.
• Vehicles registered to a veteran who has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
• Vehicles registered to a veteran who has been awarded the Purple Heart.
Eligible veterans should use the MV-145V or MV-150P forms to apply for the benefit at this time. Updated forms are pending.
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