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Thank you for subscribing to my E-newsletter. I am honored to serve the 36th Senatorial District and look forward to working with you toward building a stronger Pennsylvania. This E-newsletter serves to keep you updated on what is happening throughout Lancaster County and what I am doing as your State Senator in Harrisburg – I hope that you find it helpful! Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please DO NOT reply to this email; instead, please feel free to contact me here.
In this Update:
Revamping PA’s Primary Election System
Pennsylvania’s current primary election system leaves us vulnerable to candidates winning with the support of just a fraction of voters. It can leave us with two choices that aren’t ideal in the eyes of many voters in general elections. Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) and I want to fix this problem by instituting a primary runoff election system, which requires candidates to win the support of a majority of their party’s voters. How do primary runoff elections work? A runoff election would be held if a majority of voters don’t agree on a candidate in the initial primary election. A candidate must earn at least 50% of the vote in the initial primary election to be declared the winner. If they don’t earn at least 50% of the vote, then a second or “runoff” election is held between the top two vote-getters. The candidate with the most votes in the runoff election wins and moves on to compete in the general election in November. Primary runoffs:
Primary runoff elections result in stronger candidates with mass appeal and majority support, which is better for Pennsylvania. Learn more here. Learning About Donegal High School’s Food Services
I visited Donegal High School to meet with Director of Food Services Kelly Price and her team to discuss school breakfast and lunch programs. Also during my time at Donegal, I talked with students, toured the kitchen, and helped with lunch service. Providing Critical Information in Emergencies
Pennsylvania offers two free voluntary programs to save the lives of residents in emergency situations: the Yellow Dot program and the Emergency Contact Information program. PennDOT’s Yellow Dot program allows participants to fill out the program form with emergency contact, medical contact and medical information, insert it in the program’s folder and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. A yellow dot sticker affixed to the rear window alerts emergency responders to the availability of information to help them provide better care to crash victims. The Emergency Contact Information program offers Pennsylvania driver’s license and PennDOT-issued ID holders the opportunity to log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. Participants can update their records as needed, but only law enforcement officials can view the information in the system. In an emergency, law enforcement can use a participant’s ID to find his or her emergency contact information. The Yellow Dot program is used only in vehicle crashes, but the Emergency Contact Information program can be used in other emergencies as well as crashes. Recognizing 100th Birthdays
Wishing the happiest of birthdays to local Columbia resident, Jean Crist, who celebrated the momentous occasion of turning 100 this past May! She was married to Ned Crist for 53 years before he passed and is the proud mother of three children. She has been blessed with six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
I enjoyed visiting with Alma West and her family to recognize the rich legacy of her late husband, Harry West. Mr. West passed away in March, one month shy of his 100th birthday. He worked as a farmhand in rural Vermont before serving our country with honor and distinction as a member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Following his military service, Mr. West attended the University of Vermont, graduated from Eastern Nazarene College, received dual master’s degrees from Boston University, and completed doctoral work at New York University. Mr. West developed and provided training and vocational services for incarcerated men and women. He also worked as a counselor and developer of rehabilitation training programs and facilities for people with physical, emotional, and intellectual disabilities for the New Jersey Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
The Wests on their wedding day. Congrats to High School Bowling Team on Championship Win
We recently honored the Manheim Township School District High School Bowling Team for their first-place win in the 2022-23 PA State High School Bowling Championship by defeating Butler High School. Congrats to the players and coaches on this incredible victory! Helping Communities Fight Illegal Dumps
To limit public health hazards that negatively impact property values, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have launched the Illegal Dump Free PA Program. It will help communities curb illegal dumping by exposing those who commit this crime. To avoid costly cleanups that average $3,000 per site, grant recipients will receive, as a temporary loan, three cameras to capture evidence of illegal dumping. Equipment includes wireless technology to capture photos of vehicle license plates and illegal dumpers, even at night. One camera uses wireless technology to email pictures when triggered, providing almost instant results. Municipalities, counties and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants here. If you know of an illegal dump or graffiti site, you can anonymously report it here. Grants Available for Emergency Service Training Centers
Because of legislation passed by the Senate last November, emergency services training centers, community colleges, county-owned facilities, municipal or fire department-owned facilities and nonprofit countywide associations can apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. Through the Emergency Service Training Center Capital Grant Program, funds can be used to establish or modernize facilities that house firefighting equipment, ambulances or rescue vehicles and to repair or purchase firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment. The application period runs from June 1-30. Learn more or apply for a grant here. DELAYED: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reports that, due to vendor issues, the mailing of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers will be delayed until the end of June. Vouchers are good until Nov. 30. Eligible participants will receive five $10 vouchers and a list of participating farmers and farmers’ markets where vouchers can be used to purchase Pennsylvania grown fruits and vegetables. Call your County Aging office to find out when and where it will distribute the vouchers. Learn more here. Download PA’s Happy Traveler Guide for Summer Fun
Pennsylvania has thousands of places for summer fun, and the state’s official travel guide, the Happy Traveler Guide, is available for downloading here. Categorized by region, the guide includes nearly 100 pages of attractions, lodging options, dining and many other recreational activities all across the state. Things to see and do are grouped by area, taking the work out of planning a vacation. Tourism is one of the state’s largest industries. In 2021, Pennsylvania welcomed 180 million travelers, which generated more than $66 billion and supported nearly half a million jobs. Celebrating the Health Benefits of Dairy
Every June, National Dairy Month highlights the importance of consuming nutrient-rich dairy foods and beverages. Dairy products, like milk, contain nine essential nutrients which may help to better manage weight and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers. Dairy plays no small part in the state’s top industry: agriculture. The Senate has a few legislative measures to help our hard-working farmers who provide for our dairy needs. Senate Bill 153 would ensure that milk haulers can travel on highways during a declaration of disaster emergency so the perishable product isn’t lost. Senate Bill 297 would allow whole milk in schools. Senate Resolution 48 urges the United States Department of Agriculture to allow 2% and whole milk in schools. Hempfield School District Elementary Schools Tour PA CapitolStudents from Landisville Intermediate Center, as well as Rohrerstown and Farmdale elementary schools in Hempfield School District, recently visited our beautiful state Capitol building for a tour of this historic landmark. Tours are free and very informative. If you’re interested in learning more about this national historic landmark, book your tour here. Landisville Intermediate Center
Rohrerstown Elementary
Farmdale Elementary
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