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| Mehaffie Message |
Practice Safe Boating This Fall/Winter
With the fall season upon us, anglers and boaters are reminded to have fun and be safe on the water. While fishing for bass, walleye, catfish, and muskies can be great this time of year, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission will also stock thousands of trout into approximately 100 popular lakes and streams statewide this fall and winter. To view the stocking schedule and purchase a fishing license, visit www.Fishandboat.com.
Remember that boaters on most small boats, including all kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, are required to wear a life jacket from Nov. 1 through April 30.
Additionally, if you have not registered to receive my 2023 sportsmen’s newsletter, visit this page.
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Are You Registered to Vote?
The 2022 General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Voters will have the opportunity to elect the state’s next governor and lieutenant governor, members of the U.S. House and Senate, and state House and state Senate (in even-numbered senatorial districts).
If you are not registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Monday, Oct. 24. You may register in person at your county elections office, by mail (received by Oct. 24) or by visiting the state’s online voter registration website.
The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 1, by 5 p.m. Completed ballots must be returned on Tuesday, Nov. 8, by 8 p.m.
For more information about voting in the Commonwealth, including how to check your registration and voting location, visit www.vote.pa.gov.
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PennDOT ‘Innovations Challenge’ Contest Announced
Pennsylvania high school students are invited to participate in the sixth annual PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to solve real-world transportation challenges. The Innovations Challenge is open to all students in grades 9-12, with a $4,000 award for the winner.
For this year’s challenge, students are asked to develop ideas to help address the shortage of commercial truck parking along major interstate corridors in Pennsylvania. Trucks parking on highway shoulders and ramps is common during overnight hours but presents a significant safety issue.
The challenge asks students to select one of Pennsylvania’s interstate corridors where truck parking is a known issue and develop an innovative approach to increase commercial truck parking in that area and offset costs incurred for construction. The solution must consider local ordinances and zoning laws, commercial entity interaction in land development, community impact, restroom facilities, and space requirements for commercial trucks.
Regional Innovations Challenge winners will be selected and invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winner. For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation and click on Innovations Challenge. The submission deadline is Jan. 27, 2023.
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Information for “Seasonal” Workers Filing UC Claims
Many workers who are laid off during the winter months (or other times of the year) mark themselves as “seasonal workers” when they apply for unemployment compensation (UC); however, this is not the proper term most employees should be using, causing delays in processing claims.
The term “seasonal” worker only applies to those working in the agriculture sector. All other employees would be considered full or part time who are furloughed or laid off for a period of time.
In the case of workers who are laid off periodically and then called back for a few weeks of work here and there, they may need to reopen their UC claims. Unfortunately, some workers in this situation do not open their claim at the proper time after a subsequent layoff – and this can also cause delays. Any claimant who needs to reopen a claim can refer to the instructional page listed on the Department of Labor and Industry’s website for when to file a reopened claim. Here is the link.
As a reminder, there is a new system being used for unemployment compensation. For more information on how to use the system, click here.
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Drought Update
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced this week that drought watch has been lifted for 16 counties and remains for 20 counties. Residents in those counties are asked to continue their voluntary water conservation.
“While significant recent rainfall has helped, groundwater and public water supply levels remain lower than normal ranges in some counties,” said DEP Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. “We ask Pennsylvanians in these and adjacent counties to continue to use water wisely and follow simple water conservation tips to ease the demand for water.”
The following counties remain on drought watch: Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Dauphin, Juniata, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Union counties.
Drought watch has been lifted for Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lehigh, McKean, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
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Sara Nye (a constituent and friend) was in the Capitol Rotunda this week with UCP Central PA in her role as a digital media coordinator. She was joined by Amanda Neidig, family support specialist, and Marci Walborn, director of childhood and ancillary services.
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Congratulations to Hershey’s Leader Center for Active Life on an outstanding open house, where we celebrated the legacies of the Mohler and Leader families Wednesday.
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The Hummelstown Business and Professional Association held its 15th annual Taste of Hummelstown on Sunday. While there, I got to sample a number of delicious appetizers, side dishes and salads. The association is already gearing up for the holidays. My thanks for all they do!
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The East Hanover Township Parks & Recreation Department invited me to learn more about a meadow being planted in the township park behind the schoolhouse. The wildflower mix (chosen in partnership with the Penn State Extension) will attract butterflies, bees, birds and other pollinators.
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The Dauphin County Library System unveiled renovations to the McCormick Riverfront Library in Harrisburg on Thursday. I greatly enjoyed the tour and modernized offerings (including a coffee bar!) in the library, which plays such a vital role in the county.
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