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In this Update:

• Free Barbecue Picnic for Veterans and Service Members on July 7
• Happenings in the 46th District
• Providing Critical Information in Emergencies
• Helping Communities Fight Illegal Dumps
• Grants Available for Emergency Service Training Centers
• DELAYED: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers
• Download PA’s Happy Traveler Guide for Summer Fun
• Celebrating the Health Benefits of Dairy

Free Barbecue Picnic for Veterans and Service Members on July 7

I invite veterans and active duty service members of the 46th District and their families to attend a veterans appreciation barbecue picnic on Friday, July 7, from 5-8 p.m. at Mingo Creek Park, 3111 Route 136, Finleyville, pavilion 7.

This picnic is an opportunity to thank the men and women who have sacrificed their time and put their lives on hold to defend our great country. Of course, it is also about their families, who lived without their loved ones, often in fear for their safety when they were gone. I encourage all veterans and active duty members of the 46th District and their spouses to attend.

Space is limited for the picnic, so veterans and their families are asked to RSVP by Friday, June 30, online at [SenatorBartolotta.com/Veterans-BBQ]SenatorBartolotta.com/Veterans-BBQ or by calling Bartolotta’s district office at 724-225-4380.

Happenings in the 46th District

The PA Department of Environmental Protection has awarded a $30,000 Environmental Education Grant to California Area School District (CASD). CASD will be using the grant to create an outdoor science school curriculum for sixth grade. The curriculum will be taught entirely outdoors, providing students 100 percent hands-on experiences. Students will incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) environmentally sustainable practices into their local environmental civic action projects.

This week I met with DCED PA Broadband Development Authority Executive Director Brandon Carson, Executive Director of the Washington County Authority John Timney, the Washington County Board of Commissioners Larry Maggi, Nick Sherman, Diana Irey Vaughan, and representatives from Comcast to discuss further planning and funding the enormous undertaking of extending rural broadband across Washington County.

Thank you to the Washington County Conservation District (WCCD) for providing a legislative update this week. It’s amazing to see all the work the WCCD does with so little to help protect our resources and waterways.

Congratulations to Canon-McMillan School District student Brenton Rahman on your selection to the 2023 PMEA All-State Chorus Festival! I was thrilled to present Brenton with an official Senate Certificate of Congratulations in front of his parents, siblings, Choir Instructor Sarah Boice, and school staff. What a wonderful way to honor this achievement by Brenton. He performed with other selected chorus students from across the state in April.

I would also like to recognize Avery Molek from Chartiers-Houston, Margaret Stech from Peters Township, and Brett Phillips from Trinity who all were selected to the PMEA All-State Concert Band Festival in April.

Providing Critical Information in Emergencies

Pennsylvania offers two free voluntary programs to save the lives of residents in emergency situations: the Yellow Dot program and the Emergency Contact Information program.

PennDOT’s Yellow Dot program allows participants to fill out the program form with emergency contact, medical contact and medical information, insert it in the program’s folder and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. A yellow dot sticker affixed to the rear window alerts emergency responders to the availability of information to help them provide better care to crash victims.

The Emergency Contact Information program offers Pennsylvania driver’s license and PennDOT-issued ID holders the opportunity to log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. Participants can update their records as needed, but only law enforcement officials can view the information in the system. In an emergency, law enforcement can use a participant’s ID to find his or her emergency contact information.

The Yellow Dot program is used only in vehicle crashes, but the Emergency Contact Information program can be used in other emergencies as well as crashes.

Helping Communities Fight Illegal Dumps

To limit public health hazards that negatively impact property values, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have launched the Illegal Dump Free PA Program. It will help communities curb illegal dumping by exposing those who commit this crime.

To avoid costly cleanups that average $3,000 per site, grant recipients will receive, as a temporary loan, three cameras to capture evidence of illegal dumping. Equipment includes wireless technology to capture photos of vehicle license plates and illegal dumpers, even at night. One camera uses wireless technology to email pictures when triggered, providing almost instant results.

Municipalities, counties and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants here. If you know of an illegal dump or graffiti site, you can anonymously report it here.

Grants Available for Emergency Service Training Centers

Because of legislation passed by the Senate last November, emergency services training centers, community colleges, county-owned facilities, municipal or fire department-owned facilities and nonprofit countywide associations can apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

Through the Emergency Service Training Center Capital Grant Program, funds can be used to establish or modernize facilities that house firefighting equipment, ambulances or rescue vehicles and to repair or purchase firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment.

The application period runs from June 1-30. Learn more or apply for a grant here.

DELAYED: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Vouchers

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture reports that, due to vendor issues, the mailing of Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers will be delayed until the end of June. Vouchers are good until Nov. 30.

Eligible participants will receive five $10 vouchers and a list of participating farmers and farmers’ markets where vouchers can be used to purchase Pennsylvania grown fruits and vegetables. Call your County Aging office to find out when and where it will distribute the vouchers. Learn more here.

Download PA’s Happy Traveler Guide for Summer Fun

Pennsylvania has thousands of places for summer fun, and the state’s official travel guide, the Happy Traveler Guide, is available for downloading here.

Categorized by region, the guide includes nearly 100 pages of attractions, lodging options, dining and many other recreational activities all across the state. Things to see and do are grouped by area, taking the work out of planning a vacation.

Tourism is one of the state’s largest industries. In 2021, Pennsylvania welcomed 180 million travelers, which generated more than $66 billion and supported nearly half a million jobs.

Celebrating the Health Benefits of Dairy

Every June, National Dairy Month highlights the importance of consuming nutrient-rich dairy foods and beverages. Dairy products, like milk, contain nine essential nutrients which may help to better manage weight and reduce the risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers.

Dairy plays no small part in the state’s top industry: agriculture. The Senate has a few legislative measures to help our hard-working farmers who provide for our dairy needs.

Senate Bill 153 would ensure that milk haulers can travel on highways during a declaration of disaster emergency so the perishable product isn’t lost. Senate Bill 297 would allow whole milk in schools. Senate Resolution 48 urges the United States Department of Agriculture to allow 2% and whole milk in schools.

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