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In this Update:
Returning Whole Milk to Schools
Last June, I co-sponsored and joined my Pennsylvania Senate colleagues in voting to approve a resolution urging Congress to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Whole milk provides 13 essential vitamins to help build strong bones and maintain a healthy immune system. The evidence is overwhelming that both 2% and whole milk should be offered to our students in schools. We applaud the recent enactment of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act at the federal level, which allows U.S. schools to now offer whole and 2% milk as options for students, in addition to the current reduced-fat, low-fat and fat-free milk. The bill was in response to enactment of federal legislation in 2010 that permitted only low-fat and fat-free milk options in public schools. Within the first two years of the law taking effect, 1.2 million fewer students drank milk with their lunches. Pennsylvania ranks second in the number of dairy farms and eighth in total milk production, making this change a great positive for children while also supporting our dairy farmers! More Than $7.9 Million Awarded for Transportation and Water Infrastructure Projects Across the 27th District
I’m pleased to share that $7,910,469 in state grant funding has been awarded to support transportation and water and sewer infrastructure projects across the 27th Senatorial District, benefiting communities in Columbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, and Snyder counties. This funding was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) through the Multimodal Transportation Fund and the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program and is administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). These investments help advance practical projects that improve infrastructure and connectivity, strengthen reliability, and support the services residents depend on every day. I also appreciate the collaboration with our local House members as we work together to help communities complete needed improvements. For a full list of the projects receiving funding, please visit the news release on my website. America250 Kickoff Rallies Launch a Once-in-a-Generation Celebration
This week, I joined community leaders and residents for four America250PA Kickoff Rally events across the 27th Senatorial District, in Northumberland, Columbia, Snyder, and Montour counties. These gatherings helped launch Pennsylvania’s statewide celebration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, a milestone that offers a special opportunity to reflect on our history and bring communities together. America250PA was created to coordinate this commemoration in a way that includes all 67 counties. What I appreciate about these kickoff rallies is the emphasis on local pride. Each county has its own history and heritage, and the semiquincentennial is a chance to highlight those stories, encourage civic engagement, and help the next generation understand the role our communities have played in Pennsylvania and America. Throughout the coming months, America250PA and local partners will be sharing events and initiatives that invite Pennsylvanians to learn, serve, reflect, and celebrate together. I encourage residents, schools, civic organizations, and community groups across our district to follow along and participate in this historic year. New Resource: Meet Tilva, Penn State Extension’s AI Assistant
I was recently introduced to Tilva, an AI-powered assistant from Penn State Extension, and I wanted to share it with residents across the 27th District as a new tool for accessing trusted information. Tilva is designed to help Pennsylvanians get research-based, Pennsylvania-specific guidance quickly, without having to sort through unreliable or outdated sources. It is free to use and available 24/7, which can be especially helpful when questions come up outside of regular business hours. Users can ask questions directly, and Tilva also allows you to upload photos for support identifying things like pests, diseases, and plants. It can even help interpret certain information such as soil test results from Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory. Answers are available in English and Spanish, and the tool can recommend relevant Penn State Extension workshops and educational programs based on your interests. Importantly, Tilva includes safeguards for high-risk topics, such as pesticide use and food preservation, and directs users to Extension educators and other professionals when needed. Share Your Input on Upcoming 2026–27 Hunting Season Discussions
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Saturday, January 24, 2026, to consider preliminary hunting seasons and bag limits for the 2026–27 license year, as well as additional wildlife management topics. The meeting will take place at the Pennsylvania Game Commission headquarters in Harrisburg and begins at 8:30 a.m. Public comment will be accepted Saturday morning and is limited to five minutes per speaker. Those who wish to speak must register in person, with registration beginning at 7:45 a.m. on a first-to-register, first-to-speak basis. For residents who cannot attend in person, you can email comments related to the meeting to the Game Commission at pgcboard@pa.gov and via their online comments form. The meeting can be watched live on the Game Commission’s YouTube channel. PA Department of Revenue Job Openings
Are you good with numbers? The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue lists openings for full-time, part-time, temporary and student positions. The department receives and collects all of the commonwealth’s General Fund tax revenue. In addition, it annually processes more than 10 million business and individual tax reports and payments. Positions include accountants, tax examiners, research analysts, clerical assistants and others, some of them seasonal. You can review what’s currently available and subscribe for job alerts to receive automatic email notifications when new vacancies are posted in your field of interest. Mount Carmel Veterans Continue Monthly “Changing of the Colors” Ceremony
I recently joined local veterans in Mount Carmel, along with Representative Joanne Stehr, for a “Changing of the Colors” flag ceremony, held at the flagpole at Second and Oak Streets. This ceremony is conducted on the second Sunday of every month at 1:00 p.m., and it is a meaningful reminder of the respect our community holds for those who have served. I am grateful to the veterans who organize and carry out this tradition month after month. Their dedication helps keep patriotism and appreciation for service at the center of our community, and it offers a simple but powerful opportunity for residents to pause, reflect, and show support for our nation’s heroes. The veterans who lead this ceremony also want to ensure more local service members are recognized. If you know of a veteran in the area who should be honored at an upcoming ceremony, please contact Dave Berezovske at 570-205-4818. Touring SEKISUI KYDEX in Bloomsburg
This week, I visited SEKISUI KYDEX in Bloomsburg for a full tour and a conversation with their leadership team about innovation, workforce needs, and the skilled jobs being supported right here in our region. During my visit, I toured the North Campus manufacturing facility and learned more about the company’s strong emphasis on workplace safety and training. I also appreciated seeing firsthand that SEKISUI KYDEX is not just manufacturing. Their operation includes highly skilled roles in areas like color science, technical services, and research and development, which create valuable career opportunities for our communities. SEKISUI KYDEX also recently received a $1 million state rail freight grant to remove an existing siding and construct a new extended siding at its Bloomsburg South Campus Facility, helping increase rail capacity and support continued growth. Thank you to Sean Stabler, Kayla Gasker, and the entire SEKISUI KYDEX team for hosting us and for the important work you do in our region. Mental Health and the Outdoors: Small Steps That Make a Big Difference
Winter can be a challenging time for many people. Shorter days, colder weather, and busy schedules can take a toll on mood and motivation. One simple, practical tool that can help is spending time outdoors, even in small doses. A recent survey released by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources found that 82% of Pennsylvanians agree outdoor recreation supports mental health, and 74% support its use in mental health care. Time outside can help with exposure to natural light, reduce stress, and create opportunities for healthy activity and social connection. The good news is you do not have to take on a big goal to see benefits. Start with something manageable that fits your routine, like a short walk after dinner, a weekend hike on a local trail, or time outside with family or friends. Pennsylvania also offers programs that connect outdoor activity with wellness, including the Recovery in Nature initiative supported by DCNR and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, for free and confidential support 24/7. Take Part in the Wild Turkey Sighting Survey
Pennsylvanians are asked to report wild turkey flocks they encounter to help the state Game Commission with winter research, population monitoring and leg-banding efforts to track survival and harvest rates. If you’d like to take part, please report the location of any turkey flocks you see through March 15 on this webpage. Game Commission crews will assess sites for the potential to trap turkeys. Turkeys will not be moved; they’ll simply be leg-banded and released on site. Trapping turkeys during winter is part of the Game Commission’s ongoing population monitoring. National Blood Donor Month
The American Red Cross reports a blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply, drawing down the blood supply by about 35% over the past month. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and type O, A negative and B negative blood. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving act relies on friends and neighbors making donations.
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