Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContactCapitol Update Friday, September 29, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link. Key Dates for Upcoming Election  The 2023 Municipal Election is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Voters will have the opportunity to elect a new state Supreme Court justice, judges to serve on the Superior and Commonwealth courts, and an array of county, municipal and school district officials. If you are not already registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Monday, Oct. 23. You may register in person at your county elections office, by mail or by visiting the state’s online voter registration website. The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 31, by 5 p.m. Completed ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7. For more information about voting in the Commonwealth, including how to check your registration and voting location, visit www.vote.pa.gov. Veteran Rural Outreach in Cameron County Next Week Area veterans in need of assistance have another opportunity next week when Veteran Community Initiatives comes to Emporium. The Veteran Rural Outreach event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cameron County Vets Club, 427 E. Third St., Emporium. My office is among those participating, so I encourage you to stop by! Check out the flyer for details.  Scam Alert!  The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is warning Pennsylvanians of a potential scam in which individuals receive a phone call from the “Department of Public Welfare” – the former name of DHS – asking for information about individuals’ utility assistance. The scammer then states that the individual overpaid for utilities and asks for bank card information to provide a refund. DHS will never ask for information about any public assistance programs or personal financial information via unsolicited or random phone calls or texts. Please report any texts or calls about DHS benefits that seem suspicious by calling the DHS fraud tip line at 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477). DHS does send informational text messages and phone calls to people who receive SNAP, Medicaid, and other benefits from the number 1-833-648-1964. However, DHS’ text messages will not include: details about a person’s benefits, such as the amount of SNAP they are authorized to receive; a request for specific personal information; and/or links to unofficial websites. Most DHS texts will direct people to dhs.pa.gov, COMPASS, or a site that ends in .gov or .org. For more information, click here. You’re Invited to the Potter County Senior Citizens Expo  Please join us on Friday, Oct. 13, for the Potter County Senior Citizens Expo! Open to senior citizens and their family members and caregivers, the event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Roulette Fire Hall, 12 River St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. State, county and local exhibitors will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions about a variety of issues. Health screenings will also be offered, and door prize drawings will be held at 12:30 p.m. This is the final expo of the year so you don’t want to miss it! PLEASE NOTE: Due to the expo, my offices in Bradford and Coudersport will be closed all day on Friday, Oct. 13. The office in Kane will remain open and may be reached by calling 814-837-0880. Is Your License Plate Unreadable? We’ll Help You Replace It!  If you are dealing with an unreadable license plate on your vehicle, please join us on Thursday, Oct. 26, for an event to help you get that plate replaced at NO CHARGE. The event will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Lewis Run Volunteer Fire Department, 46 Main St., Lewis Run. State law requires PennDOT to replace license plates that are deemed illegible at no cost to the vehicle owner. A plate is considered illegible when one or more numbers or letters cannot be recognized from 50 feet away, typically due to blistering, peeling, discoloration, loss of reflectivity or other damage. The McKean County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to view driver’s plates, and if the plates are deemed illegible, paperwork to start the replacement process will be completed. Those who plan to attend should bring their vehicle with the affected plate attached, along with their unexpired PA driver’s license and current vehicle registration card. Registration is requested and may be completed online at www.RepCauser.com/Events or by calling the Bradford office at 814-362-4400. Ag Grant Programs Accepting Applications  The Center for Dairy Excellence is reminding dairy producers of five key grant programs now accepting applications for funding.• Dairy Excellence Grants: Support projects to improve dairy farm efficiency, cow comfort, milking facilities, housing facilities or feeding systems. • Marketing, Branding and Labeling Consultant Grants: Help value-added dairy businesses looking to build their brand, develop an effective label, create a marketing plan, and identify appropriate strategies to increase product sales and consumer access. • Climate-Smart (CARAT) Grants: Support a move to climate-smart agriculture that is profitable, regenerative, actionable and trustworthy. • Dairy Decisions Consultants Grants: Provide dairy farm families with one-on-one professional consulting resources to help make decisions that will shape the future of their farm. • Team Program Grants: Help individual farms to establish either a Dairy Profit, Transition or Transformation Team. Fall Driving Tips  Now that fall has arrived, PennDOT is reminding motorists that wet leaves, fog, sun glare and frost are a few driving hazards they will encounter this season. Weather conditions can be unpredictable in the fall and an increase in deer activity adds yet another danger of which to be aware. There are steps drivers can take to help make their commutes safer. PennDOT offers the following fall driving tips: 1. Increase your following distance in severe weather, at dusk and dawn, and when in an area with wet leaves. If you are being tailgated, let the other driver pass. 2. Check your vehicle’s headlights, taillights and turn signals to ensure they are working properly since darkness will be a part of many drivers’ morning and/or evening commutes. Make sure you turn on your headlights as the sunlight fades. 3. Have your vehicle’s heating and wiper systems checked to ensure they are working properly. 4. Be sure you have tires with sufficient tread depth in case of an early season snow. 5. Watch for deer. Autumn brings an increase in deer activity, and drivers are reminded to watch carefully for deer darting across and along roadways. For more traffic safety information, please visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety. Boating Facility Grant Program  The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is seeking applications for the next round of Boating Facility Grants to help communities capitalize on the surge in new boating activity. The Boating Facility Grant Program provides grants for planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located on the waters of the Commonwealth. Funding requests require a 50% match. The PFBC encourages townships, boroughs, and municipal and county governments to apply. Nonprofit groups, including land trusts, conservancies and watershed associations, are also eligible to apply. Private businesses and service clubs are not eligible for direct funding but are encouraged to partner with their local county or municipality. The deadline to apply is Saturday, Dec. 30. More information is available here. |