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In this update:
Wishing You a Happy ThanksgivingPennsylvania has a rich history related to celebrating the day of thanks, as the first nationally recognized Thanksgiving was celebrated right here in York County in 1777. Americans had just soundly defeated the British in the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolution. To mark the victory, the Second Continental Congress proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving Day Parade was also held in Pennsylvania in 1920 – four years before the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I want to take a moment and thank you all for the ongoing conversations. Despite differences in opinions, at the end of the day, I am thankful that we can have open and honest conversations about issues that affect you, your family, and our community. I am grateful for every conversation that has helped me to better serve you as YOUR state senator. While we may never see eye-to-eye on every issue, I truly believe there is more that unites us than divides us as York Countians and as Pennsylvanians. I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving filled with warmth and gratitude. Shop Your Local Small Businesses this SaturdaySmall Business Saturday is this weekend, and it is the perfect time to shop small when thinking about gifts for the holiday season. Patronizing our small businesses, that are owned by people who not only live in our communities, but are also active in our communities supporting youth sports, fundraisers, and other initiatives is supporting our local communities thrive. Many of the goods and services offered by these businesses are also locally sourced or crafted, so the effect of buying locally is multiplied. Small businesses account for 99.6% of Pennsylvania businesses and half of our jobs. That’s why I’ve advocated for the continued phase-out of the state’s excessive Corporate Net Income Tax – which burdens many small business operators – and voted for a host of measures this year to cut government red tape that is hampering the work of these crucial job creators. You can find state resources on starting a small business here. Thank you to our small businesses! You are the backbone of our economy! Thank You for Participating in Christmastime in Loganville!Thank you to everyone who stopped by the district office this past weekend to celebrate Christmastime in Loganville. We had a great turnout kicking off the holiday season! Despite feeling under the weather, I heard there were great conversations about matters impacting our community and the train display was a hit, as usual! Healthy, Free Food Available to Low-Income SeniorsThe Senior Food Box Program supplements low-income seniors’ diets with nutritious food, including non-fat dry and shelf-stable fluid milk, juice, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, dry beans, peanut butter, canned meat, poultry, fish and canned fruits and vegetables. To participate, individuals must be at least 60 years old and meet income eligibility guidelines. A single senior’s annual income may not exceed $18,954, and the income for a couple is capped at $25,636. Seniors who would like to participate should call 800-468-2433 to be directed to the regional food bank distributing the Senior Food Box in their county of residence. Learn more here. Basic Education Funding Commission, What’s Next?Last week ended the Basic Education Funding Commission’s 11 meetings that took place all across the state during the past three months. The commission met to take testimony from dozens of key stakeholders representing a variety of interests within our public education system. Watch last week’s meeting here. As I said from the start of these meetings: we may like what we hear, we may not like what we hear, but at the end of the day – every single person involved in this process – whether a member of this commission or a testifier – wants to see our Commonwealth succeed in improving outcomes in our public education system. The commission unanimously voted that our report is due to the General Assembly on Jan. 11, 2024. All testimony, including all comments submitted through the website, is made publicly available and will be part of the commission’s report. You can submit a comment here and find the commission’s website here. Christopher Newberry Earns Eagle ScoutCongratulations to Christopher Newberry of Troop 90 in Shrewsbury for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout! Son of Jack and Cheryl Newberry, Christopher has also served his troop as bugler, guide, instructor, and senior patrol leader. For his Eagle Scout community service project, Christopher built a dog playground for Animal Rescue Inc. in New Freedom. It was an honor to present him with a congratulatory citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania. Great job, Christopher! Preparing Pennsylvanians of All Ages for Career SuccessPeople at any stage of their careers – and even before their careers have begun – may use SkillUp PA, Pennsylvania’s free online job training platform. The free training is designed to fill critical skill gaps that can be a barrier to employment, prepare people for credential or certification tests and sharpen soft job skills. Some of the courses include Being an Effective Team Member, Essential Skills for Professional Telephone Calls, Interpersonal Communication: Listening Essentials and Thinking Critically: Coming to Terms with Assumptions. Learn more about SkillUp and enroll here. Winter Life Jacket Requirement in EffectUntil April 30, all boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any kayak, canoe, or paddleboard on all Pennsylvania waters. A disproportionate number of boating fatalities occur from November to April in Pennsylvania, and cold water is one of the primary reasons. When water temperatures are less than 70 degrees, the cold-water shock can cause an involuntary gasp, hyperventilation, breathlessness and a reduced ability to control breathing and swim. A life jacket greatly increases your chance of survival in cold water. It also increases the amount of time for you to be rescued. Find more cold water survival safety tips here. Vote for York County Resident to Open Farm ShowIt is time for YOU to weigh in on which talented singers should open each day of the 2024 PA Farm Show with the National Anthem. The top 12 entrants, based on total reactions on the PA Farm Show’s original Facebook post, will open each day. As you may remember, I hosted Landon Mak in September during Senate session. Landon sang our Star-Spangled Banner at the Capitol to honor the heroes of Flight 93 and he is now in a competition to open the PA Farm Show with the National Anthem! Click here to find the Pennsylvania Farm Show’s post. Make sure to react (like, love, wow, etc.) the comment with Landon’s entry! If you are having trouble finding all the entrants, try filtering to “all comments” to see every entry. Landon is nine years old and resides with his parents in Hallam Borough. He has been singing the National Anthem since he was four! Good luck, Landon! Reminder: Upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday Office HoursAs a friendly reminder, please be advised of our office hours this week for the Thanksgiving holiday: Wednesday, Nov. 22: 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 23: Closed – Happy Thanksgiving! Friday, Nov. 24: Closed Saturday, Nov. 25: Shop Your Local Small Businesses! Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance ProjectsYou can view PennDOT’s list of scheduled maintenance projects for next week below. If you have trouble viewing the schedule, please click here.
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