Dear Neighbor,

It's been a great month getting back out in the community and seeing everyone again after a long winter. From the start of Little League in Snow Shoe, to the Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) History Month celebrations in State College, to Earth Day stream cleanups and district events in between, hope is in the air. This weekend is also the return of Penn State football with the annual Blue-White Game and the debut of Head Coach Matt Campbell and his team.

But of course, all change inevitably comes with a few growing pains. Whether that is trying to time planting your garden to avoid the last frost or overdoing it a bit on a strenuous hike because the weather is just too darn nice — sometimes the setbacks teach us the most. It's tempting to want everything to change at once, but charting a path, taking one step at a time, and occasionally looking back to see just how far you’ve come is crucial to growth.

So, this Earth Month, instead of trying to do everything at once, let's all try to do one small thing at a time to celebrate our friends, our neighbors, and our planet. Maybe that means planting a native pollinator garden, taking a moment to recycle someone else’s plastic bottle, helping a neighbor find a source of fresh spring produce, or simply getting outside first thing in the morning for a little sunshine and fresh air. It all adds up—benefiting both ourselves and the world around us.

We don’t need to do everything all at once to make real progress. Instead, we can all do one thing at a time and celebrate the steps we’ve made together.

Last week I had the pleasure of welcoming Penn State student ambassadors and university leaders to the Capitol to share what Penn State means to them and our Commonwealth. These students advocated for state funding, which has remained stagnant for over 25 years! In fact, when accounting for inflation, state funding has actually decreased.

Consider this: every $1 invested in Penn State generates over $25 in economic activity, which adds up to billions every single year. That's an extraordinary return on investment, and it's far past time for the PA Legislature to step up and invest in full and fair funding for Penn State. Our students, our workforce, and our economy are counting on it.

As part of Earth Month, my team and I have been taking part in events around the district! Last week my team took part in the annual Snow Shoe Township roadside cleanup effort.

We "adopted” a road for the day to help clear trash from the roadside and nearby streams. One of my team members even found a new flowerpot and is now putting it to good use growing herbs – now that is reduce, reuse, recycle in full effect!

Then on Saturday, several of us pitched in on the Clearwater Conservancy’s 30th Annual Spring Creek Watershed Cleanup. We joined more than 800 of our neighbors, who also stepped up to volunteer and work together to pick up trash along our waterways and roadways, pull invasive vegetation, and more.

This annual outpouring of commitment and engagement is one of the things that make Centre County such a special place — and keeps our precious waterways and wetlands clean!

Mobile Shredding Event in Milesburg

With Tax Day just behind us, many folks have sensitive documents piling up at home. On Tuesday we partnered with the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority to offer a free mobile shredding event in Milesburg — giving community members a safe, easy way to dispose of these documents and protect their personal information. In total, we collected nearly 5,000 lbs. for shredding!

We also collected on-site donations for the YMCA’s Military Share Food Distribution, supporting veterans, their spouses, and active-duty soldiers. Thank you to everyone who came out to protect their identity and support our military families!

As an added bonus, while we were there, a PA Fish and Boat Commission truck arrived with a group of volunteers to stock trout where Bald Eagle Creek meets Spring Creek. I jumped in to lend a hand, helping release some beautiful Pennsylvania trout for my fellow anglers. Good luck and tight lines!

She Rules: A Professional Women’s Panel

And finally, a huge thank you to our panel of incredible women, our hosts at Schlow Library, and everyone who came out to participate in our “She Rules” community event! I’m so proud of my intern Miranda for putting on this fantastic event to showcase and hear directly from women who are leading in traditionally male-dominated fields.

I’m also delighted to report that the Jana Marie Foundation received a $300,000 grant award to provide free summer camps and after-school programs to Centre County youth. This grant will serve approximately 500 local students each year, supporting eight weeks of summer camp and a range of after-school clubs for upper-elementary through high school students. These programs are designed to help young people build emotional strength, connect with caring adults, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.

The funding comes from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s new Building Opportunities through Out of School Time program (BOOST) program, as part of a statewide effort to invest in the well-being of kids and after-school programming. Childcare and educational enrichment programs like this are incredibly important, particularly for working families.

They provide countless long-term benefits – from improving academic performance and mental health to providing positive social and behavioral opportunities for those who need it most. Investing in our future means investing in our kids and I am proud to champion innovative programs like this in Harrisburg and here locally.

Last week, I was honored to welcome physician advocates from the PA Medical Society to the Nittany Lion Inn as they met to discuss their legislative priorities for the year ahead. I shared an update on the political landscape in Harrisburg, the status of ongoing state budget negotiations, and the challenges posed by recent federal funding cuts —particularly the impacts on healthcare access and affordability in rural and underserved communities.

The PA Medical Society’s advocacy on behalf of patients and communities is invaluable. I’m proud to partner with them to make life better—and healthier—for all Pennsylvanians.

Future educators across Pennsylvania can now apply for the 2026-2027 PA Student Teacher Support Program, including a $10,000 stipend to help support their student teaching experience. Student teaching is a full-time commitment, and too often it comes without pay, creating a significant barrier for those completing their teaching certification.

This program helps ease that burden while strengthening our educator workforce and supporting those who are stepping up to teach the next generation of Pennsylvanians. Learn more about the program here. 

Stay in Touch! 

As always, thank you for your continued trust and support. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email us at RepTakac@pahouse.net or call our office at 814-308-0569.  

And please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky to find out more about what we’re up to and our upcoming events in the community! 

District Office

216 W. Hamilton Ave.
State College, PA 16801

(814) 308-0569

Pennsylvania State Capitol

103-B East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 772-0750