Tuesday is Election Day. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters must be in line by 8 p.m. to cast their ballot.

Election Day is your opportunity to weigh in on the people and issues that matter to you. Every community has its own priorities, and voting is one way to make sure your perspective is represented.

Mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

To find your polling location, update your voter information or access other voter services, visit vote.pa.gov. For local election information, visit the Monroe County Election & Registration Office or the Pike County Elections Office.

It was great having Governor Josh Shapiro stop my hometown of East Stroudsburg Borough twice in the last two weeks. I was so happy to welcome him to both the historic Danbury Depot Train Station and East Stroudsburg University!

I’m grateful to have a partner in the Governor who is committed to working with us to make Monroe and Pike counties better places to live, work and raise a family. From tackling the affordability crisis and helping families keep up with the rising cost of living to supporting economic development and creating new opportunities in our region, there is important work to do together.

We also know that growth must go hand in hand with protecting what makes the Poconos special. That means supporting our local economy while preserving our clean air, water and natural resources for future generations. It also means protecting access to quality, affordable health care and defending women’s reproductive rights, including the right to make personal health care decisions.

I appreciate the Governor’s partnership and look forward to continuing to work together on the issues that matter most to the people of Monroe and Pike counties. By working together, we can build stronger communities and a more affordable, healthy and prosperous future for our region.

As PennDOT advances plans to reconstruct and widen approximately five miles of Interstate 80 through Monroe County, I remain committed to advocating for a scaled-back project. While maintaining safe and reliable roads is important, we must ensure these improvements are appropriate, necessary and responsible. I will continue pressing PennDOT to reconsider the scope of this proposal and pursue solutions that address legitimate safety and traffic concerns while minimizing impacts on our communities.

Public input is essential to this process, and I encourage residents to review PennDOT’s plans and submit comments before the public comment period closes on Nov. 13. Project details and the online comment form are available here. Every comment helps ensure our community’s concerns are heard as PennDOT considers the project’s future.

I also encourage residents who have not yet signed my petition opposing the current scope of the project to add their names. Our community deserves a meaningful voice in decisions that will affect our region for years to come, and demonstrating strong public opposition is an important part of urging PennDOT to reconsider its plans. If you have not signed the petition already, you can do so here. I will continue advocating for our residents and pushing for a scaled-back approach that meets genuine transportation needs while respecting our communities.

As we prepare for winter, it is very important that you are able to stay warm in your home.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides grants to help eligible Pennsylvania households pay their heating bills, and applications for the 2026–27 LIHEAP season are scheduled to open on November 2.

Both homeowners and renters may qualify. Eligibility is based on household size and total household income, as shown in the graph above.

For more information and to apply, contact my office at (570) 420-2850 or visit here.

The Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner is highlighting the importance of fresh batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors as Pennsylvanians' attention turns toward fall and this weekend's "fall back" time change.
 

According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, from the moment an alarm sounds, occupants may have as little as two minutes to safely exit the building.

Dead or missing batteries are the most common cause of smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector malfunctions. When functioning, smoke alarms can decrease the risk of dying in a home fire by as much as half.

These safety tips can help you equip your home properly with smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors:

• Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room and outside each separate sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home including the basement.
• Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
• It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
• Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
• A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.
• People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.

Newer models of smoke alarms marketed as having long-lasting batteries may not need to have their batteries replaced; however, these models should still be tested. Many homeowners still use older models that use standard batteries that must be replaced regularly.

The American Red Cross’ Sound the Alarm Program operates nationwide and hooks people up with a local chapter that will visit their home and provide fire safety education and install free smoke alarms.  For more information, click here.

???? Congratulations to our local winners in Pennsylvania’s 2026 School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
 

?? Jada Bernard, East Stroudsburg Elementary School — Second Place, Kindergarten–Grade 2.

?? Maria Montero, J.M. Hill Elementary School — First Place, Grades 3–5, and first place in her division at the national competition.

?? Jeilyn Gutierrez-Torres, J.M. Hill Elementary School — Third Place, Grades 3–5.

We’re proud of these talented students for using their creativity to promote school bus safety and represent our community.

?? Read the full announcement from PennDOT here.

The Monroe County Recorder of Deeds offers a free Record Alert program to help property owners stay informed about documents recorded in their name. The service sends notifications when a document is recorded under the name or names you register, helping you identify potentially fraudulent activity and confirm that legitimate documents, such as those related to a home purchase or mortgage payoff, have been filed.

While alerts don’t prevent fraud or verify a document’s legitimacy, they provide an added layer of awareness so you can follow up if something looks unfamiliar. Take a proactive step to help protect your property! Learn more about the program here or scan the QR code on the accompanying graphic.

Fighting for Ramsey Elementary to stay open in 2014-2015 is what fueled me into public service. We didn’t win that battle, but we won the war! Thank you Pocono Services for Families and Children and Stroudsburg Area School District for re-opening this building for HEAD START! I was back at this beautiful school last week reading to the little ones, and LOVED every second of it! They were so good and so smart! What a great staff in this building! Loved it!

Thank you to The Pocono Chamber of Commerce and Middle Smithfield Township for hosting the ribbon-cutting for The Poconos Club! The remodel is beautiful and now people can play golf all year round on their 4 golf simulators! They have a beautiful restaurant open to the public as well! Well done! Best wishes and hoping for a successful outcome in golf, hospitality, and community gatherings!

District Office

18 South 9th Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 420-2850

Pennsylvania State Capitol

5-A East Wing  Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-1421