THEFTS OVERNIGHT
Two trucks owned by the Asplundh Tree Service were broken into while they were parked overnight at the Flying J Gas Station. The trucks, according to police, were there December 8 at 5:30 pm to December 9 at 7 am and multiple items were taken from the trucks included a Husk 572 chainsaw, 2 Stihl MS 201 Chainsaws, a Stihl MS 194 Chainsaw, and three sets of Buckingham Climbing Gear which included spikes and ropes. While video surveillance is being used, anyone with any information is asked to contact the State Police in Lamar.
MUSIC COLLECTIVE’S UPCOMING SEMESTER
Music continues at the Uptown Music Collective! The Collective’s winter enrollment week begins on December 13th and runs until December 17th, 2021. Enrollment is open for both in-person and virtual private lessons on Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, and Drums. The Winter Semester will begin on January 10th, 2022, and will run for 15 weeks. The Winter Semester will see the continuation of in-person classes and workshops, as well as the Adult Music Program known as “AMP”. In the last 21+ years, the Uptown Music Collective has grown from what many used to call “the best-kept secret in the Williamsport area,” to one of the area’s most highly respected, non-profit, educational organizations. There are currently openings for students of all levels who are looking for private instruction. The school also offers financial assistance upon request and scholarship opportunities every year. For more information call the Uptown Music Collective.
CANDY CANE LANE
It is time to see the lights in DuBoistown at Candy Cane Lane. The Street, also known as Summer Street, will have the lights on from 5 to 10 pm daily until New Years. According to SUN Gazette, Candy Cane Lane is celebrating it’s 64th year lighting the way into the Christmas season. Also, at the Duboistown Borough Hall, there will be live reindeer, Santa and Mrs. Claus, refreshments and activities for the kids, December 18th from 4 pm to 7pm. After the event, Santa boards a fire truck and rides up to on Candy Cane Lane.
HOUSE BILL 2071 BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) applauded the passage of legislation that will help break down the barriers to broadband deployment in underserved and unserved areas of Pennsylvania. The legislation, House Bill 2071 sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-McKean/Cameron/Potter), passed the House with a unanimous vote. House Bill 2071 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
CROSSCUTTERS GIVING TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE WORKERS
The Williamsport Crosscutters recently presented the American Rescue Workers with a check for $4,737.88, representing the proceeds from the team’s 50/50 raffles during from the 2021 season. The Crosscutters 50/50 raffle is presented by The Pitch In Charitable Foundation, a non-profit foundation of professional baseball teams. This represents the fifth straight season that the team has donated it’s 50/50 proceeds to the American Rescue Workers. Cutters Vice-President of Marketing Gabe Sinicropi stated, “The American Rescue Workers is a great organization, run by great people, doing great work. We know that the donated funds are put to good use, helping the most vulnerable in our population in their time of need.” In the past five seasons, the Williamsport Crosscutters have donated over $31,000 to ARW through the foundation’s 50/50 raffle.
ARPA SPENDING PLAN FOR HCBS
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) today highlighted Pennsylvania’s spending plan for approximately $1.2 billion in enhanced federal Medicaid funding made available to states through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This funding will support Medicaid’s home and community-based services (HCBS) system throughout the commonwealth, which helps seniors, people with disabilities, and children with complex medical needs safely live in their community among their family and peers. This funding will strengthen Pennsylvania’s home and community-based services system by allowing more Pennsylvanians access to critical services in their communities and supporting service providers that perform this work every day.
GOVERNOR WOLF AND THE PENNSYLVANIA BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Governor Tom Wolf issued a statement today following House passage of H.B. 2071, which would create the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. The Authority would serve as a single point of contact for parties interested in expanding high-speed internet access and is charged with identifying access to funding sources and coordinating efforts for broadband deployment. Expanding access to broadband is a priority for me and my administration is working closely with Democrats and Republicans in both chambers to craft an authority that will serve Pennsylvanians.
PENNSYLVANIA TASK FORCE 1 SENDING HELP TO KENTUCKY
Governor Tom Wolf today announced that two members of Pennsylvania Task Force 1 Urban Search & Rescue are deployed to Kentucky to assist in response and recovery efforts after devastating tornadoes crossed the state and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. The deployed members are part of the Incident Support Team that will coordinate the efforts of all US&R assets that are deployed to Kentucky. PA-TF 1 is one of 28 teams that are part of the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System and is a federal resource that can quickly be mobilized to deploy to incidents anywhere in the country. The team is sponsored by the Philadelphia Fire Department.
LEGISLATION APPROVED TO PREVENT SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM COVID-19 REQUIREMENT TO GO TO SCHOOL
The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate approved legislation Monday to prevent school children from being required to get a COVID-19 vaccination to attend school, although it likely faces a veto by Gov. Tom Wolf. The bill passed on party lines, 28-21, and goes to the House of Representatives. Neither the state nor any school district in Pennsylvania require the COVID-19 vaccination to attend school.Wolf, a Democrat, opposes the bill and has no plans to require the vaccine, his office said. “The administration has no plans to mandate vaccines for K-12 schools so this is nothing more than a waste of time and taxpayer money, and is a distraction from the real issues Pennsylvanians are facing that Republicans should be addressing,” Wolf’s office said in a statement. Rather, Wolf’s office said Republicans should urge their constituents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
LAWMAKERS ADVANCE PLAN TO BOOST BROADBAND INTERNET EXPANSION
The state House voted unanimously Wednesday to set up a governmental body to develop a statewide plan for broadband internet funding and expansion into unserved and underserved areas of Pennsylvania. The bill, which was sent to the Senate, would set up the independent Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. It would act as a central point to coordinate grant money in underserved areas. Pennsylvania is in line for at least $100 million in federal money to expand broadband in the state. The federal infrastructure bill also allocated about $37 billion nationally to be doled out based on financial need, including monthly subsidies for the cost of connectivity. The authority that would be set up under the House-passed bill would consist of an 11-member board and have a six-year lifespan, unless extended. Members would be chosen by the governor and legislative leaders. The bill sets minimum broadband speeds to match federal standards. The governor’s office says the authority will support what’s expected to be construction of new towers, lines and broadband equipment.
RESIGNATION FROM PENNSYLVANIA’S HEALTH SECRETARY
Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary will resign her post and depart the Wolf administration at the end of December, the governor’s office announced Monday. Alison Beam had served in an acting role since January, when Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf tapped her to replace Dr. Rachel Levine, who left for the Biden administration. Beam, who had previously served as Wolf’s deputy chief of staff, guided the state’s COVID-19 pandemic response over the past year. She oversaw vaccine distribution and imposed a mask mandate for schools that was struck down by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last week.
UPDATED COVID CASES LOCALLY
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported new COVID-19 cases. Clinton County reported 17 new cases. In Centre County 54 new cases were recorded. Lycoming County added 22 new cases. There new infections reported 18 in Union, 14 in Snyder and eight in Montour County. Tioga County had 11 new cases listed yesterday.
