|
||
|
Dear Friends, While many families embark on distant travels in August, the diverse cultural offerings and rich history of Berks and Montgomery counties provide an equally rewarding experience closer to home. Discover a wealth of local attractions, from historic landmarks to refreshing outdoor escapes. Explore my curated list below and share your favorite local gems. Sincerely,
Tracy Pennycuick, MPA In this Update:
Women2Women Magazine
I am honored to be featured in the Summer 2024 Women2Women Magazine! Women2Women is a publication dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women, fostering connections, and inspiring personal and professional growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey with the Berks County community! View the magazine here. Library of Congress Veterans History Project
I had the honor of sharing my story with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. A special thanks to Morgan Log House Executive Director, Molly Jobson, for capturing the interview. PennDOT Green Light-Go Program Awards Millions to Local Municipalities
I’m thrilled to announce that Collegeville Borough, Lower Salford Township, and Towamencin Township are among the recipients of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)’s Green Light-Go program! This $30+ million investment will help enhance safety and traffic flow across Pennsylvania’s communities. Full release here. SUN Bucks
SUN Bucks is a new federal program that allows Pennsylvania to provide families with a one-time $120 grocery benefit for each eligible school-aged child to buy food for the summer months. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), announced that applications are currently open for 2024 SUN Bucks benefits. August 31, 2024, is the last day to accept paper applications for 2024 program year, and all benefits for this year are expected to be issued by October. Learn more here. Beat the Heat in the 24th District
Escape the summer heat and discover the 24th District! Explore our beautiful parks, fascinating historical sites, and vibrant cultural attractions. I’ve got some favorite cool spots to share – what are yours? Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles Colebrookdale Railroad Green Lane Park Historic Indenhofen Farm Historic Trappe Longswamp Historical Society Mennonite Heritage Center Morgan Log House National Centre for Padre Pio Old Spokes Car Museum Pine Forge Historic Site Pottstown Historical Society The Goschenhoppen Historians Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center Spring Valley Park Historic sites in Montgomery County Historic sites in Berks County Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday
Smokey Bear is turning 80! Join the fun at Berks County Heritage Center for his birthday bash! Enjoy stories, crafts, and food trucks while learning about forest conservation. Don’t miss out! More information here. PennDOT Offers Winter Maintenance Jobs
Individuals seeking seasonal employment can apply for a variety of winter maintenance positions now open through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The program runs September through April and includes positions for transportation equipment operators, diesel and construction equipment mechanics, radio dispatchers, auto mechanics, tradesman helpers, semi-skilled laborers and tunnel maintainers. Individuals in these positions supplement the permanent workforce and have the potential to lead to permanent full-time employment. Additional details about the positions, along with the job application, are available here and then go to “PennDOT Winter Maintenance Program.” Free Webinars Provide Helpful Financial Aid Info
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is holding free webinars to assist college-bound students and their families with navigating the financial aid process. On Tuesday, Aug. 20 at noon, speakers will discuss web resources for effective research before, during and after your student makes postsecondary decisions. On Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m., speakers will focus on available loan programs, if there are costs not showing on the bill that must be paid and more. Register to attend the one-hour webinars. How Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Can Benefit From PA ABLE
PA ABLE gives individuals with disabilities a way to save money for the future without impacting important benefits like Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Tax benefits for saving with PA ABLE include:
PA ABLE accounts can be used to pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses including rent, groceries, health care, vehicle adaptations, assistive technology and more. Treasurer Stacy Garrity and PA ABLE professionals are hosting free webinars on how to start saving:
For more information, visit paable.gov or call 855-529-ABLE (2253). Keep Cool at the Pool or Lake
The dog days of summer are upon us. If you’re looking for a fun way to stay cool on a hot day, visit a Pennsylvania state park to go swimming. Many have pools and lakes. State park beaches are open and free to the public for swimming from before Memorial Day to after Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. The “open swim” policy allows people to swim at their own risk within the buoy line at designated beaches – 35 across the state – from 8 a.m. until sunset daily. Fifteen state parks have swimming pools for the public to enjoy. Pools are usually open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission fees vary based on the type of operation. Lifeguards are on duty when state park pools are open. Find a park with a pool and learn more. Recognizing National Financial Awareness Day
Wednesday, Aug. 14, marks National Financial Awareness Day. With recent estimates showing families in the United States have nearly $1 trillion in credit card debt and more than $15 trillion in debt overall, the day is a useful reminder of the impacts financial decisions can have for many years to come. Senate Republicans recognized that young adults face financial decisions that can come with long-term consequences and passed legislation to arm high school students with money management skills. The new law requires completion of a half-credit personal finance course to graduate high school. The course will give high school students the understanding they need about topics like credit and credit scores; savings and investments; college, home and auto loans; and planning for postsecondary education and retirement.
If you are not already subscribed to this newsletter please sign up here. |
||
|
||
2024 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://senatorpennycuick.com | Privacy Policy |
