Enews Update - March 25, 2022

In this Update:

Regan Welcomes Elementary School Visitors from the 31^st District to the Capitol
Saturday is Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day – Regan Interview Highlights Trout Stocking in Local Waterways
Regan Helps Pump Up Students at St. Theresa School’s Pep Rally
Revenue Department Extends Call Center Hours for Tax Season
Winter Utility Disconnection Moratorium Ends March 31
Adult Education Grants Available
Saturday is Mentored Youth Trout Day
Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29

Regan Welcomes Elementary School Visitors from the 31st District to the Capitol

This week was a busy one for elementary schools from the 31^st Senatorial District taking field trips to visit our Pennsylvania Capitol. It was my pleasure to welcome several of the groups.

Saturday is Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day

Last month I sat down and interviewed Tim Shaffer, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to talk about trout stocking and the upcoming season, including Pennsylvania’s statewide Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day happening this Saturday, March 26. This is an opportunity for young anglers and their adult mentors to fish for trout prior to opening day, which is April 2^nd.

Youth anglers must obtain a Mentored Youth Permit or a Voluntary Youth Fishing License and be accompanied by a licensed adult angler to participate. Adult anglers (age 16 or older) must possess a valid Pennsylvania Fishing License and a current Trout/Salmon Permit.

Watch my interview with Tim Shaffer to learn about the hatchery in Carlisle where many of Pennsylvania’s trout come from and the unique trout that have been stocked in fishing locations around our area including Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs, the Yellow Breeches, and at Gifford Pinchot State Park.

Regan Helps Pump Up Students at St. Theresa School’s Pep Rally

Last week Saint Theresa School in New Cumberland held a pep rally to send their boys’ basketball team, the 2021-2022 Harrisburg CYO Diocese Basketball Champions, off to the State Championship where they took 4^th place! Congratulations to the team and the school on a very successful season, which the team finished with a 21-5 overall record!

Revenue Department Extends Call Center Hours for Tax Season

With the April 18 tax filing deadline approaching, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is extending its customer service hours for taxpayers to get help by phone.

Personal income tax assistance will be available between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling 717-787-8201.

Personal income tax assistance is also available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center. It contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email. Department of Revenue district offices are also open to provide customer service. Taxpayers are encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment.

Winter Utility Disconnection Moratorium Ends March 31

Reminder to residential electricity customers: the winter utility disconnection moratorium will end March 31, meaning on April 1 shut-offs for nonpayment of bills will resume.

Between Dec. 1 and March 31, Pennsylvania has special rules for winter utility terminations for income-qualified households served by utilities regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). During this seasonal termination moratorium, eligible households cannot have electric, natural gas or heat-related water service turned off for non-payment unless the utility receives permission from the PUC.

According to the PUC, the best action any at-risk consumer can take right now is to call their utility’s customer service hotline and ask for information about their customer assistance programs designed to make energy bills more affordable.

Adult Education Grants Available

State funding is now available to support lifelong learning through competitive Adult Basic Education Direct Service grants.

The grants are awarded to local adult education programs to provide free adult education and literacy activities to help adults improve their reading, writing, speaking, comprehension and mathematics skills, earn a high school equivalency credential, and develop the knowledge and skills for employment and economic self-sufficiency.

Applications must be submitted by April 7. For more information, you can view the Adult Basic Education Direct Service Grant Competition Information Webinar and access Frequently Asked Questions.

Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29

On March 29, 1973, U.S. combat and combat support units began to withdraw from South Vietnam.

It marked the beginning of the end of a conflict that cost the lives of more than 58,000 Americans. Returning veterans did not receive the welcome they deserved, and many dealt with the effects of war alone. National Vietnam War Veterans Day was established in 2017 for us to express our heartfelt admiration and to pay these veterans the respect they earned.