Happy Thursday, 168th! 

We are definitely back in the swing of things! From events and site visits to community programs, the 168th has been hopping, and the next few weeks will be no different. If you are hanging at home and looking for something to do in the community you will not be disappointed!

Team 168 had a great time at the annual Edgmont Township Community Day; now we’re looking forward to the Radnor Fall Festival. The following weekend is the Circle at Sundown in Newtown, and from there, the month of October really ramps up, including our shred and e-recycling event on October 24th.

Be sure to scroll down, because all the details on everything coming up are right below this opening message!

This week we were thrilled to announce over $1.5 million in grants awarded to municipalities in the 168th to help them fund projects for the public good. I am thrilled to work with Senators Kearney and Kane as well as my colleague in Middletown, Rep. Leanne Krueger, to make sure that state gaming money funds make their way back home. These investments in our community help our local municipalities accomplish critical work without a significant budgetary impact. As a former commissioner, I know how important these “unsexy” projects are, and any investment in sewer enhancements are especially impactful now and in the future.

Details on the projects being funded are in a story below!

I really want to thank our townships, municipal authorities, and the Delco Economic Development Corporation for all their hard work, for bringing these projects forward and for completing the grant applications, which help make the case for funding. I so value our partnerships on these projects and am thrilled about our work together to secure these dollars.

Hope to see you out and about over the next few weeks. Have a great weekend! Go Phillies and Go Birds!

In service,

Upcoming Events

IMPORTANT: Please register for the above events by clicking on their images

or on these links: Senior Health Fair | Veterans Breakfast

IMPORTANT: Please register for the shred & e-recycle event by clicking here or on the image above

In this edition:

State grants awarded for local projects

As I mentioned in my opening message, this week the Commonwealth Financing Authority delivered grant funding to support projects in our community. The following is a brief overview of the projects and their goals, and you can get full details here on my website. 

• $367,567 for Newtown Township to complete an infrastructure project that will benefit the Newtown Edgmont Little League by ensuring safe, uninterrupted access to sanitary facilities for hundreds of children and families who gather at the NELL complex, a popular youth sports venue for the region. The project will connect the complex to the public sewer system via new sewer lines.

• $125,000 for the Newtown Township Delaware County Municipal Authority to improve sanitary sewer systems between Hickory Lane and West Chester Pike. This project includes the decommissioning of a 25-year-old pumping station.

• $650,000 for Middletown Township Sewer Authority to create a new pump station, force main, and sewer upgrades to fix a failing sewer/wastewater line, modernizing it to protect against leaks and contaminants.

• $323,797 to renovate the Edgmont Township Municipal Building, turning the previously unused basement of this important and historically significant township resource into a free community meeting space. It will also serve as a central planning and response center in the event of emergencies.

• $40,000 for Elwyn to design a memorial garden for its Media campus in Middletown Township, a planned public space that will give Elwyn’s residents and visitors a thoughtful place to remember loved ones.

Special Session at Congress Hall

It was an honor to join my colleagues for a historic special House Session at Congress Hall in Philadelphia. We stood where our founding fathers came together to devise American democracy and declare independence more than 250 years ago.

It was a wonderful event organized in partnership with America250PA that gave students and legislators alike an opportunity to appreciate the important role our city and state played in the founding of our nation!

Celebrating 250 years of American Democracy

I finally got chance to step inside the beautiful Mother Bethel AME Church in Old City for a special event hosted by Speaker Joanna McClinton in conjunction with fellow House Speakers Carl E. Heastie of New York, Emanual “Chris” Welch of Illinois, and Melissa Minor-Brown of Delaware. It was a lively panel discussion about the state of our democracy and how we all need to stay engaged to create and maintain strong communities.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for an insightful morning!

Talking biotech innovation in PA

I was honored to join Axios and Pharma for a sit-down conversation about how Pennsylvania is leading in the biotech and life sciences industries. From the Innovate 2.0 package that invests $125 million into start up projects to my legislation with Rep. Paul Friel to make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to bring new life-saving products to market by offering a temporary state license while they await FDA approval, Pennsylvania is doing everything to remain competitive in the industry.

Over the past five years, Pennsylvania researchers and companies have secured more than 10,700 new life sciences patents — the fourth-highest total in the country.   

As I told Axios reporter Issac Avilucea, Pennsylvania is home to incredible universities and research institutions innovating in new ways but without a well maintained, robust healthcare system our physicians and healthcare providers cannot deliver these new medicines and therapies to the patients most in need. We also shared a bit of a personal connection through Anna Payne, a Bucks County woman who ran for state representative in 2024 and sadly passed away from colon cancer at age 37.

Ride-along with PA Fish & Boat

This morning, Marie and I hit the Delaware River with the PA Fish and Boat Commission to learn more about what their patrol officers do to keep our waterways safe! We did a loop from Anchorage Marina down to Subaru Park then to the Navy Yard and back and chatted with Officers Rae, Blair, and Sunafrank about their work, the issues they see, and how my colleagues and I can make their jobs better from Harrisburg!

Thank you for the spin on the river!

Honoring Labor Day

I spent a beautiful Labor Day morning with our hard-working labor unions celebrating the workers that keep our country moving!

From Philly to Chester, my colleagues and I were proud to celebrate our friends in organized labor who build our communities, educate our future leaders, transport us, deliver our mail, care for patients at home, in hospitals and long-term care facilities, keep our service industries growing, and protect and serve as first responders!

Celebrating Rocky Run Y's 25th anniversary

I was thrilled to join the dedicated staff and enthusiastic members of Rocky Run YMCA last Thursday to celebrate 25 years of serving the communities of Delaware County. It was a beautiful night to celebrate in the pavilion. The last time I was here, it was filled with hundreds of kids of summer camp!

My office loves the Y, and we are so grateful for their partnership! From hosting monthly office hours to our senior fair, we are grateful to collaborate with the staff at the Y to bring services right to our neighbors in Middletown.

Congratulations to Executive Director Doug Nakashima, his outstanding staff, and their dedicated board of directors. I was thrilled to join state Sen. John Kane to present citations from both the PA House and Senate in honor of all they have accomplished.

Commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11

On Friday, I attended the 25th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to honor all those who lost their lives on that tragic day. It was an honor and privilege to join our First Responders, Veterans, and Active-Duty Military, Law Enforcement, and fellow elected officials in honoring and remembering the 2,977 Americans we lost on this day.

I wish to give thanks to the Marple Newtown School District, the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association, Broomall VFW Post 7390 and the Delaware County Council for hosting these beautiful ceremonies. We must never forget the tragedy that unfolded on September 11, 2001, and must strive to preserve the unity the country felt in the aftermath.

Edgmont Township Community Day

Despite early morning rain, the skies cleared and the sun shone on another successful Edgmont Township Community Day! I want to congratulate the township staff, the Board of Supervisors, and the team at Arasapha Farms who made this tremendous community gathering possible!

Team 168 had a great time talking with our neighbors and enjoying all vendors, first responders, and community groups who were there to contribute to the success of the event! It was also a wonderful tribute to the Patriarch of Arasapha, Randy Bates, who was the heart of Edgemont. A fun day for all!

ACHE of Greater Philadelphia Fall Symposium

Earlier this week I joined The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) of Greater Philadelphia for their Fall Symposium at the Smilow Center for Translational Research.

ACHE of Greater Philadelphia is a professional organization of more than 1,000 healthcare executives representing a variety of institutions and interests in the Philadelphia region.

I joined professionals from the field for the Navigating Key Legislative Issues Facing Healthcare Leaders panel, where we discussed legislative and policy changes that impact operations, workforce planning, access to care, and population health. We highlighted today’s most pressing healthcare policy issues and implications for healthcare organizations, and we discussed how these leaders can also be advocates.

Thanks go to Kristen Molloy from Penn Medicine for being an outstanding moderator, and to Kyle Benoit from Bayhealth and Michael Jacobs from PHCA for the lively discussion. It was great to be in a room with so many dedicated professionals and so nice to see friends from my “life before legislator.”

New HVAC at Radnor High

I was honored to join the administration and school board directors of RTSD and my friend Sen. Amanda Cappelletti for a tour of Radnor High’s newly upgraded boiler room and HVAC system. This project received more than $2.5 million in state funding from the Public Schools Facilities Improvement Grant program and has been long time in the making!

Ken Morris, Director of Facilities and Operations, showed off the state-of-the-art climate control system that uses glycol cooling towers and a series of mini boilers. The replaced outdated equipment that burned oil was not effectively maintaining energy.

It is always such a treat to see the impact of state dollars in our schools! Not only does this project keep students and staff comfortable for learning but also promotes sustainability and lowers energy costs. The installation was done by local businesses using local labor unions, including steamfitters, electrical workers, operating engineers, insulators, sheet metal workers, and machinery operators. 

Surrey Services opens in Middletown

Yesterday, I was thrilled to join state Rep. Leanne Krueger at the opening of the new Surrey Senior Services location in Middletown! This beautiful facility provides excellent services for our senior residents in the 168th District and beyond.

Surrey has long been a staple in the community  and their dedication to providing high-quality programming for our senior residents is unmatched. Our ScamJam earlier this summer was actually the first event held in the new location!

Congratulations to the team at Surrey Senior Services on the new space! We can’t wait for many more years of partnership!!

Cutting the ribbon on Boiron's new distribution center

Last night I joined Newtown Township officials and leadership from Boiron USA for the grand opening of their new distribution center on Alice Grim Boulevard!

Boiron USA is a homeopathic medicine company headquartered right here in Newtown Square, and now they have dedicated space to fulfill and ship their order.

It is wonderful to see our local businesses grow!

FYI

Update on flood insurance & related precautions from PEMA & PA Insurance Dept.

The PA Insurance Department and the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) are highlighting the importance of flood insurance and steps taken by the Shapiro Administration over the last three years to help Pennsylvanians better prepare for and recover from flooding.

The actions they’ve undertaken are derived from recommendations from the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force, which issued a report in 2024 at the legislature’s direction.

The report identified four key areas for action: affordability, risk mitigation, incentives, and education/outreach. It included recommendations to improve flood education, expand access to insurance, strengthen mitigation efforts, improve disclosures during the home-buying process, and increase flood insurance participation. Since 2024:

• PID established a Flood Insurance Ombudsman to serve as a primary point of contact for coordinating flood insurance education and outreach with FEMA, PEMA, and other stakeholders. The Ombudsman is also tasked with helping develop innovative solutions to increase access to flood insurance.

• Pennsylvania strengthened flood insurance training for insurance professionals under Act 142 of 2024. This law ensures insurance agents and brokers who sell property and casualty insurance concentrate at least two of their 24 required continuing education hours on flood insurance.

• PID expanded consumer education and outreach and made flood information easier to find. PID enhanced its outreach and education efforts during Flood Awareness Weeks and throughout the year to remind residents that flood damage is not covered by most homeowners or renters’ insurance, partnering with local governments and emergency management agencies to share resources, promote mitigation efforts, and highlight available insurance options. Resources are easily accessible on PID’s Flood Insurance web page.

• PID also kept Pennsylvanians informed about coverage options during the NFIP lapse. When the National Flood Insurance Program temporarily lapsed, PID reminded consumers that private flood insurance remained an option and provided information to help homeowners, buyers, and lenders understand their choices.

PA State Historic Preservation Office to host Archaeology Month programs in Oct.

The PA State Historic Preservation Office will celebrate Archaeology Month with series with five webinars throughout October. Speakers Kimberly Max Brown, PhD, Emily Briggs, Debbie Miller, Dr. Ben Ford, and Dr. Matthew A. Kalos will highlight projects that explore Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution, life in the newly established commonwealth, and how our communities are engaging with their local history.

For more information or to register, visit the 2026 Archaeology Month website.

PennDOT's ‘Innovations Challenge’ asks high school students to develop solution for bridge strikes

Applications are open for the tenth edition of PennDOT Innovations Challenge, in which high school students from around the state are invited to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges in a competition among their peers. The Innovations Challenge is open to all Pennsylvania students in grades 9-12. Details are at the link above. The submission deadline is January 29, 2027.

Community Events & Announcements

Pennsylvania State Capitol

28-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-2005

District Office

24 S. Newtown Street Rd., Suite 100
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(484) 427-2884

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