Our annual Senior Fair is next Thursday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Harborcreek Social Hall! This long-standing tradition brings valuable services straight to you.

At this free event, you can:

• Get one-on-one assistance with the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
• Apply for senior bus passes
• Enjoy complimentary health screenings—including flu shots (please remember to bring your insurance card)

Come ready with questions and leave with the resources you need. If you have any questions, call our office at 814-455-6319. We look forward to seeing you there!

Today marks the 24th anniversary of September 11th, a day that forever changed our nation. Even in the face of unimaginable tragedy, we witnessed profound courage—from the passengers on Flight 93 who fought back to save countless lives, to the first responders who raced into harm’s way without hesitation.

As we pause to remember those we lost, let us also honor the selflessness and unity that emerged from the ashes. Their bravery reminds us that, in our darkest hours, the strength of community and conviction shines brightest.

Please note that as of September 1, new federal rules under this summer’s federal budget bill passed by Congress now require certain SNAP recipients to report their work, education, training, or volunteer hours to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) in order to keep their benefits.

To guide you through these changes, the Shapiro Administration has created a one-stop resource at dhs.pa.gov/work. You’ll find who must comply, how to submit your hours, and information on possible exemptions.

These reporting requirements will expand further throughout fall 2025. If you’re affected, you should have received a letter from DHS like the example above. Even if you haven’t, please review the details on the DHS website.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office for assistance.

As winter approaches, we’re urging Congress to fully fund and protect the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Fiscal Year 2026. LIHEAP is a lifeline: nearly 27 percent of households have cut back on food or medicine to afford utility bills, and last winter it kept roughly 46,000 Pennsylvania homes heated and powered.

Beyond helping families in need, LIHEAP stabilizes our energy system by reducing unpaid balances and supporting weatherization projects that ease demand on the grid—benefiting every ratepayer.

PennDOT has launched three projects to improve safety and traffic flow along I-90 and I-79 in Erie County. These efforts build on more than 1,800 roadway miles and 225 bridge improvements already completed statewide this year.

Project Details

• Ramp gates at nine interchanges on I-90 and I-79 to manage closures during crashes or emergencies
• Demolition of the damaged Beckman Road Bridge in Girard Township, starting September 8, with most work overnight to minimize daytime traffic impacts
• Roadway repairs over a 17-mile stretch of I-90 and 13-mile stretch of I-79, beginning September 8 and wrapping up by November 2026

These improvements will enhance safety for drivers, first responders, and PennDOT crews while keeping traffic moving. We’ll continue working with PennDOT to monitor progress and ensure the projects stay on schedule.

We’re pleased to share that, following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s call to action, the Pennsylvania State Board of Pharmacy has restored COVID-19 vaccine access for those who need it most. Effective immediately, pharmacists across the Commonwealth can administer COVID-19 vaccines in line with the latest guidance from the FDA, ACOG, AAP, and AAFP—no prescription required.

You can now:

• Schedule your vaccine online through your local pharmacy’s website
• Walk into a participating pharmacy during business hours

Many pharmacies are already offering this service. Reach out to your local pharmacy for availability and hours.

To keep Pennsylvania’s forests thriving and deer herds in balance, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is offering hunters more than 28,000 Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits in 95 areas of Pennsylvania state parks and forests.

Tags are on sale today at any license-issuing agent or online at https://huntfish.pa.gov/ Secure yours and help us steward our woodlands!

Tuesday’s rededication ceremony at the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Cemetery was a deeply moving tribute to those who served our country.

Led by Mary Jane Koenig, volunteers cleaned decades of pollution from more than 1,300 graves, ensuring each headstone reflects the honor our veterans deserve. Thank you to Mary Jane, our volunteers, and all of you who help keep our veterans’ memories alive.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission hosted a ribbon-cutting last week in Fairview Township for its new Lake Erie Research Unit. As a member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, I’m proud to see our state investments—and revenues from Lake Erie fishing licenses—at work right here in our region.

This facility will give scientists the tools they need to study conservation strategies and monitor our world-class Lake Erie fishery for years to come. Thanks to everyone who fishes Lake Erie: your license fees directly support these critical research and preservation efforts.

Wesleyville Borough’s newly remodeled commercial kitchen recently hosted a spaghetti dinner—and it was a wonderful success. Thanks to a state grant we secured, the kitchen now meets commercial code and is available to the Borough, Volunteer Fire Department, and community groups for events just like this.

The dinner raised funds to install a numbered marker at the Wesleyville Community Garden, making it easier for visitors to navigate and enjoy our shared green space.

Bob Merski

Pennsylvania State Capitol

221 Irvis Office Building

P.O. Box 202002

Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 787-4358

District Office

3921 Buffalo Rd.

Erie, PA 16510

(814) 455-6319