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Play Ball! Wellsboro Little League Celebrates 75 Years
While Opening Day was postponed by rain several weeks earlier, beautiful weather greeted players, families and supporters on Saturday, May 30, as Wellsboro Little League celebrated its 75th anniversary.
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| Photo credit to Aaron Rush |
The milestone provided an opportunity to recognize the generations of volunteers, coaches, parents, sponsors and community members whose dedication has helped make the program a lasting success. For 75 years, Wellsboro Little League has given young athletes the chance to develop skills, build friendships, learn teamwork and create memories that last a lifetime.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support youth sports and help programs like Wellsboro Little League thrive in our community. We look forward to many more years of baseball, sportsmanship and community pride.
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| Photo credit to Tim McBride |
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Key Connection in Regional ATV Trail Now Open
ATV-riding season is underway, and there’s an important update to share about the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail (NRAT).
After identifying an issue with trail access to the borough of Galeton last month, I joined with local leaders and officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to identify an alternate route.
DCNR confirmed last week Route 144 from Button Hollow Road has been approved by authorities for inclusion in the NRAT, establishing a 2.75-mile connection to the town.
The NRAT offers nearly 1,000 miles of the best riding in the Commonwealth thanks to great partnerships between state agencies, local officials and private landowners, and this new Galeton connector is another example of what we can do when we work together!
For maps and additional information about the trail, click here.
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Repsol Marcellus Asset Tour
Recently, I had the opportunity to join fellow lawmakers for a tour of Repsol’s Marcellus assets. The visit provided valuable insight into the company’s operations and its ongoing work throughout our region.
During the tour, we learned more about Repsol’s approach to safety, environmental stewardship and responsible energy development. It was encouraging to see firsthand the emphasis placed on maintaining strong safety practices while working to minimize environmental impact and support the communities where they operate.
I appreciated the opportunity to connect with the Repsol team, ask questions and gain a better understanding of their day-to-day operations. Experiences like these are important as we continue conversations about energy production, economic growth and responsible development in Pennsylvania.
I am grateful for the invitation and look forward to continued dialogue with industry leaders, community stakeholders and residents as we work toward policies that support both our economy and our environment.
You can get an inside look of the tour in the video below.
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Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival
In 1933, the Mountain Laurel became Pennsylvania’s state flower after a debate with the wild honeysuckle. Unable to choose between the two, Gov. Gifford Pinchot asked his wife, Cornelia Pinchot, for her opinion, and she selected the Mountain Laurel.
Every year in mid-June, Wellsboro celebrates the blooming of Pennsylvania’s state flower. This Saturday marks the start of the 84th Annual Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival, featuring family-friendly events, a pageant, parades, and an arts and crafts fair. Click here for a schedule of events.
You can read more about the history of how the Mountain Laurel became the state flower in the Pennsylvania State House Archives below.
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Westfield Elementary Visits Harrisburg
Fourth grade students from Westfield Elementary squeezed in one more field trip before summer break. I am sorry that I missed the chance to meet with them, but I hope their tour was both educational and memorable. Experiences like these help bring civics to life in a meaningful way.
If you’re interested in visiting the Capitol, feel free to contact our office or check out the tour website here. We love when students visit.
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Veterans Service Officer Outreach in Troy
The Troy district office is hosting free veterans’ assistance hours on the second Thursday of each month to all veterans and their dependents. Call the Troy office at 570-297-3045 to schedule an appointment to speak with Bill McGovern, Veterans Service Officer from the American Legion. We are now scheduling appointments for June 11.
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Doing Business in Tioga County?
Develop Tioga is inviting business professionals from across Tioga County to participate in upcoming Business Roundtables. Business success thrives on collaboration, shared knowledge and strong community connections. These roundtables provide excellent opportunities to network with fellow business leaders and help shape solutions and strategies that support economic growth and business success throughout Tioga County.
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Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications
The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its fall 2026 semester.
The program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.
Qualified applicants must be undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and pursuing 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 for the fall term is July 1.
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New Law Supports Mothers, Babies
Working to ensure women and families have access to safe, high-quality care throughout pregnancy and postpartum recovery, I recently supported legislation that will modernize state laws governing midwives.
Act 14 of 2026 updates licensure requirements for certified midwives, improves collaboration with physicians and expands prescription authority in certain circumstances. The law also addresses healthcare shortages in rural and underserved communities by expanding the number of trained professionals available to provide maternal care services.
Licensed midwives are an integral part of our healthcare provider workforce, as they care for individuals during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and the first 28 days of a newborn’s life. They help identify high-risk pregnancies; monitor women and support them during labor and the birthing process; and teach new and expectant mothers how to care for their babies.
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Policy Committee Unveils 14-Bill Childcare Reform Package
The Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee convened its sixth hearing last week examining childcare affordability and accessibility challenges facing families, providers, employers, and communities across the Commonwealth, followed by the unveiling of a 14-bill package designed to improve affordability, expand access, and support childcare providers.
The hearings revealed childcare is not simply a family issue, but also an affordability, workforce, and quality-of-life issue affecting communities across the state. Lawmakers used testimony gathered throughout the hearing series to develop a legislative package focused on modernizing regulations, supporting providers, and expanding childcare opportunities while maintaining safety standards.
The 14-bill childcare reform package is aimed at modernizing staffing qualifications, streamlining regulations, expanding provider capacity, reducing administrative burdens, and improving access to affordable childcare for working families across Pennsylvania.
The Policy Committee indicated that stakeholder engagement on childcare issues will continue as legislation advances and additional reforms are considered.
To watch the press conference, click here.
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Penalties for Using Handheld Devices
A Pennsylvania law banning the use of handheld devices while driving has been in effect since last June, with violators being issued warnings. Starting June 5, violators will instead face fines.
Paul Miller’s Law limits the use of handheld cellphones or other communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. The law is named for a young man who was killed in a crash involving a distracted tractor-trailer driver in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 2010.
Under the law, driving while holding a mobile device is a primary violation, meaning police can pull over drivers solely for the violation. Effective June 5, violators will be issued a summary offense, which carries a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees. If a driver is convicted of homicide by vehicle and driving while distracted, they may be sentenced up to an additional five years in prison.
Drivers can still use their phones if using hands-free technology, such as a docking station, Bluetooth or speaker technology. You may also use your phone to contact emergency responders.
According to PennDOT, more than 11,000 crashes were the result of distracted driving, leading to 65 deaths and 6,700 injuries in 2023. Pennsylvania joins 28 other states with hands-free laws.
Read more here.
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