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In this Update:

• Senior Expo at Knoebels Amusement Resort – Sept. 9^th
• Thank You to our Summer Intern Alana Martz
• Visiting with the Luzerne County Farm Bureau
• Learning More About Camp Kresge
• Touring Glory Haven Foundation in Catawissa
• Congratulations to Eagle Scout Michael Farrell
• Snyder County Celebrates National Night Out
• August Event Reminders
• A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Dinosaur Reconstruction
• Pennie Open Enrollment Dates Announced
• Felony Murder Sentencing, PA Crime Highlighted at Senate, House Hearing
• Understanding Digital Threats to Children

Senior Expo at Knoebels Amusement Resort– Sept. 9th

Rep. Joanne Stehr and I will host our annual Senior Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pavilion J at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg.

The free event will bring together government agencies, senior organizations and other exhibitors offering information and resources for older residents and their families. Health screenings, door prizes and giveaways will also be available, and a complimentary lunch will be served throughout the event.

Advance registration for lunch is encouraged. You can register using my website or by calling 570-206-9207.

Thank You to our Summer Intern Alana Martz

Today was the final day for our Shamokin Dam office summer intern, Alana Martz. Alana is a senior at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg and has been a hardworking and valuable addition to our team this summer.

Outside of her internship, Alana also works caring for individuals with disabilities and on her family’s game farm. It was a joy having her with us this summer, and I wish her all the best as she begins her senior year.

Visiting with the Luzerne County Farm Bureau

Members of my staff recently joined members of the Luzerne County Farm Bureau for their annual picnic and had the opportunity to speak with attendees about issues affecting our agricultural community and the region.

About 40 to 50 people attended the picnic, which featured hamburgers, hot dogs, local corn on the cob and plenty of other picnic favorites.

Thank you to the Luzerne County Farm Bureau for the invitation and for providing an opportunity to connect with local farmers and families.

Learning More About Camp Kresge

I recently visited Camp Kresge in Luzerne County and met with Jeremy Popiel, CEO of the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA; Lucy Musto, chief development officer; and members of the Camp Kresge team.

During my visit, we toured the grounds, including updated cabins and the dining hall, and I learned more about the camp’s recreational and educational programs. Camp Kresge also helps address childhood hunger in Luzerne County by preparing meals in its kitchen that are distributed through area YMCAs to provide local children with hot meals.

Thank you to the Camp Kresge team for showing me around and sharing more about the work taking place there.

Touring Glory Haven Foundation in Catawissa

I recently visited Glory Haven Foundation in Catawissa and met with House Manager Christine Smith and Nurse Manager Amy Yemzow to learn more about the care they provide.

Established in 2022, Glory Haven is a nonprofit personal care home serving three individuals at a time in a residential setting. Residents receive private furnished rooms, assistance with daily activities, medication management, meals suited to their dietary needs and opportunities for recreation and companionship.

Glory Haven works to make each resident’s experience feel as much like home and family as possible. Thank you to Christine and Amy for the tour and for sharing more about their work with me.

Congratulations to Eagle Scout Michael Farrell

Congratulations to Michael Farrell of Berwick, who recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 44 of Lime Ridge.

For his Eagle Scout project, Michael led the construction of a Gaga Ball pit at Ebenezer Faith Bible Church for use by local youth. Congratulations to Michael and his parents, Todd and Rebecca Farrell, on this achievement.

Snyder County Celebrates National Night Out

I enjoyed joining residents, first responders and community organizations for Snyder County’s National Night Out. It was a beautiful night out and it was incredible to see a large crowd come out for an evening focused on community and public safety.

The event included the Snyder County Emergency Mobile Command Center and a drone overhead, a helicopter landing for children to explore, demonstrations from the Central PA Dog Training Club and a performance of “America the Beautiful” by the Selinsgrove Area High School Marching Band.

It was a great opportunity to visit with constituents, reconnect with familiar faces and spend time with the organizations that serve our communities throughout the year.

August Event Reminders

There are still several opportunities to connect with me and my staff during August.

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m., I will host a live Telephone Town Hall for residents of the 27th Senatorial District. We will discuss recent legislative and state budget developments, district services and other state-related matters, with time for residents to ask questions. Residents can register in advance through my website to ensure they are connected when the Telephone Town Hall begins, or use the same link to listen live online.

Then, on Thursday, Aug. 27, I will host a free Senior Technology Workshop. Attendees can receive hands-on help with smartphones and tablets, learn tips for avoiding online scams and get one-on-one assistance with technology questions. Registration is encouraged by calling the Bloomsburg Public Library at 570-784-0883.

I hope you can join us for one of these upcoming events.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Dinosaur Reconstruction

Members of my staff and I recently had a unique opportunity to visit the workshop of commercial paleontologist Barry James and see one of his current dinosaur reconstructions.

Barry is a self-taught paleontologist who reconstructs dinosaurs using bones sent to him from around the world, with completed skeletons going to museums and private collectors. He has built 159 dinosaurs over the course of his career. Barry and his late wife, April, worked together for many years and were considered leading experts in the preparation of dinosaur skeletons, combining his meticulous scientific approach with her artistic touch.

Thank you to Barry for inviting us into his workshop and sharing his knowledge with my staff and our families. It was an especially memorable experience for the children who joined us.

Pennie Open Enrollment Dates Announced

Pennie has announced that Open Enrollment for 2027 health coverage will run from Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 15, 2027.

Plans selected by Dec. 15 will begin Jan. 1, while plans selected from Dec. 16 through Jan. 15 will begin Feb. 1. The schedule returns Pennie to the enrollment dates used in previous years.

Felony Murder Sentencing, PA Crime Highlighted at Senate, House Hearing

Law enforcement officers and other public officials gathered in Hazleton, Luzerne County, to share the on-the-ground reality of their efforts to fight crime and how the General Assembly could support their mission during a joint public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and the House Republican Policy Committee.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday discussed sentencing for felony murder after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled mandatory life sentences for this crime are unconstitutional. He stated Senate Bill 1400, passed twice by the Senate, would provide an appropriate sentence for felony murder. But the House changed the bill, he said, “and in doing so provides a huge break to convicted murderers.” Sunday said, “Victims deserve better than legislative gamesmanship.”

The committees learned that violent crime is down across the commonwealth, but drug offenses are on the rise, with the Bureau of Narcotics removing 56.5 million doses of fentanyl off the streets of Pennsylvania last year. Read more about the hearing and access video and testimony here.

Understanding Digital Threats to Children

Aug. 17 – Aug. 23 is “Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind designation is designed to help parents, guardians and students better understand potential threats in the digital world, including cyberbullying, sextortion, AI-generated child sexual abuse material, grooming and other dangerous forms of abuse.

Find a Back-to-School Checklist and more tips on social media safety at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

My legislative colleagues and I have worked to keep kids safe from dangers online. This includes laws criminalizing deepfakes, giving law enforcement tools to combat online abuse, creating the Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age and more. The Senate has also passed legislation (pending in the House of Representatives) providing safeguards for AI chatbots, prohibiting “nudification” apps and protecting young people against AI-generated child abuse materials.