Senator Robinson E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Robinson Hosts Event with Auditor General DeFoor
  • Community Highlights
  • PennDOT Offers Winter Maintenance Jobs
  • Free Webinars Provide Helpful Financial Aid Info
  • How Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Can Benefit From PA ABLE
  • Keep Cool at the Pool or Lake

Robinson Hosts Event with Auditor General DeFoor

Thank you to my friend PA Auditor General Tim DeFoor for visting my district to speak with fire departments about state resources and volunteer firefighters’ relief association guidelines. The purpose of the event was to help relief associations effectively manage state aid used to purchase equipment, insurance, and other support to volunteer firefighters. Click here for more information.  

Community Highlights

I was glad to attend several events celebrating National Night Out. Every year, this event brings together our law enforcement with the communities they serve. Pleasant Hills hosted a successful parade with a great turnout!

Coraopolis hosted a great event last weekend with residents, officials, and first responders.

Thankfully the rain did not stop Franklin Park from having a successful celebration on Tuesday, thanks to the large garage that turned into a picnic pavilion. The Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company, McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority, and Franklin Park Police hosted a great interactive Touch-A-Truck experience.

Fun time at the Archangel Gabriel Parish Festival!

I was honored to present a gift of $2500 to Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department’s Education program thanks to Peoples Natural Gas Essential Foundation. The program was responsible for attracting their newest firefighter, Gavin, because his mother wanted the family to learn CPR! Thank you, Chief Costain and all for your service to our community.

I enjoyed a great tour of the construction site at the Pittsburgh International Airport’s Terminal Modernization Project. Construction is well under way and expected to be completed in 2025.

PennDOT Offers Winter Maintenance Jobs

Individuals seeking seasonal employment can apply for a variety of winter maintenance positions now open through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

The program runs September through April and includes positions for transportation equipment operators, diesel and construction equipment mechanics, radio dispatchers, auto mechanics, tradesman helpers, semi-skilled laborers and tunnel maintainers. Individuals in these positions supplement the permanent workforce and have the potential to lead to permanent full-time employment.

Additional details about the positions, along with the job application, are available here and then go to “PennDOT Winter Maintenance Program.”

Free Webinars Provide Helpful Financial Aid Info

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is holding free webinars to assist college-bound students and their families with navigating the financial aid process.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20 at noon, speakers will discuss web resources for effective research before, during and after your student makes postsecondary decisions. On Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m., speakers will focus on available loan programs, if there are costs not showing on the bill that must be paid and more.

Register to attend the one-hour webinars.

How Pennsylvanians with Disabilities Can Benefit From PA ABLE

PA ABLE gives individuals with disabilities a way to save money for the future without impacting important benefits like Medical Assistance (Medicaid) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Tax benefits for saving with PA ABLE include:

  • Contributions are deductible from PA state income taxes.
  • Earnings and contributions grow tax-free.
  • No taxes are owed for qualified withdrawals.
  • Accounts aren’t subject to the state inheritance tax.

PA ABLE accounts can be used to pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses including rent, groceries, health care, vehicle adaptations, assistive technology and more. Treasurer Stacy Garrity and PA ABLE professionals are hosting free webinars on how to start saving:

For more information, visit paable.gov or call 855-529-ABLE (2253).

Keep Cool at the Pool or Lake

The dog days of summer are upon us. If you’re looking for a fun way to stay cool on a hot day, visit a Pennsylvania state park to go swimming. Many have pools and lakes.

State park beaches are open and free to the public for swimming from before Memorial Day to after Labor Day, unless otherwise posted. The “open swim” policy allows people to swim at their own risk within the buoy line at designated beaches – 35 across the state – from 8 a.m. until sunset daily.

Fifteen state parks have swimming pools for the public to enjoy. Pools are usually open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Admission fees vary based on the type of operation. Lifeguards are on duty when state park pools are open. Find a park with a pool and learn more.

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