Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year! As we welcome 2026, I want to take a moment to thank my incredible team for everything we accomplished together in 2025. Their dedication and hard work in serving our community truly made a meaningful difference for constituents across the district.

Over the past year, we hosted numerous events to support and connect with our neighbors, including free shredding events, REAL ID and Medicare workshops, Property Tax/Rent Rebate and legal clinics, a Senior Expo, Pet Expo, Veterans Luncheon, Scam Jam, free license plate replacement events, multiple blood drives, and several donation drives. We’re already hard at work planning even more ways to serve you in 2026.

Like any year, 2025 brought both challenges and successes, but I’m looking ahead with optimism and excitement for all the opportunities this year will bring.

I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish together for the 161st and in Harrisburg. Here are some highlights from our year in review.

I look forward to the Pennsylvania Farm Show every January! I am excited to participate in the Celebrity Feed Scurry next week – this will be my third time joining this competition. Wendy from my District Office also loves the Farm Show and she will participate with me as my Mucker (the person who lifts bales of hay onto the sled). It is such a fun experience.  If you’ve never made the trip, put the Farm Show on your PA Bucket List! From delicious food to interesting exhibits, exciting competitions, fun activities and more, there's something there for everyone. The PA Farm Show will be held from January 10–17, 2026. See the daily schedule for more details.

The Shapiro Administration has introduced new tools and technologies to make state benefits—such as SNAP, LIHEAP, TANF, and Medicaid—more accessible.

Pennsylvanians can now track their COMPASS applications in real time and reset passwords independently, making the process more transparent and user-friendly.

Meanwhile, Department of Human Services caseworkers have upgraded tools to verify documents and income eligibility, helping applications move more efficiently and accurately.

You can track your COMPASS application HERE: https://trackmybenefits.pa.gov/. 

As always, if you need help applying for benefits, my office can assist.

Did you know that 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property, with the average claim totaling over $1,000? These funds often come from forgotten bank accounts, security deposits, or uncashed checks.

My office is happy to help you search for unclaimed property and assist with generating claims and submitting the necessary paperwork to the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury.

Thanks to the new PA Money Match program, certain unclaimed property valued up to $500 is now returned automatically—no searching, no forms, and no paperwork required. Eligible funds are simply sent back to their rightful owners.

Please be cautious if you receive a letter from a company offering to recover your unclaimed property. These companies often charge a finder’s fee and take a portion of your money. Our office provides this service for free, so if you’ve received one of these letters or have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us—we’re here to help.

If you want to check to see if you have any unclaimed property in Pennsylvania visit: https://www.patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/.

The PA Turnpike’s 2026 toll schedule went into effect on January 4, including a 4% increase, the lowest toll hike since 2014.

In 2026, the most common toll for a passenger vehicle will rise from $1.86 to $1.94 for E-ZPass users, and from $3.72 to $3.88 for Toll By Plate users.

For Class 5 tractor trailers, the most common toll will increase from $23.16 to $24.12 with E-ZPass, and from $46.32 to $48.24 with Toll By Plate.

For more information visit here.

Searching for Scholarships and Affording the Balance

Tuesday, January 13

Noon – 12:45 PM

Thursday, February 12

6:30 PM – 7:15 PM

Advanced Planning for Financing Higher Education

Thursday, January 22

6:30 PM – 7:15 PM

Thursday, February 17

NOON – 12:45 PM

January Mobile Office Hours

Woodlyn

Thursday, January 8

1 PM – 3 PM

DCHA Kinder Park – Building 4 Community Room

1857 Constitution Ave., Woodlyn

Chester Township

Tuesday, January 13

1 PM – 3 PM

DCHA Fairgrounds - Bridgeview Apartments

1301 Peterson St., Chester Township

Upland Borough

Tuesday, January 20

1 PM – 3 PM

MacQueen Hall – 224 Castle Ave., Upland

Dog Licensing Event

Thursday, January 22

3 PM – 6 PM

Brookhaven Municipal Center

2 Cambridge Rd., Brookhaven, PA 19015

Registration is required. Call 610-534-6880 to register.

Please note this event does have licensing fees. Payment is by cash or check only.

Annual Dog License

Regular License Fees - $10.80

Senior Citizen/Person with Disability Fee - $8.80

Lifetime Dog License

Fee - $52.80

Senior Citizen/Person with Disability Fee - $36.80

Applicants for a lifetime license must bring a completed Permanent ID Verification form and proof of microchipping signed by a veterinarian.

For more information on fees and required forms, please contact our office.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Event

Wednesday, February 11

11 AM – 3 PM

Ridley Township Public Library

100 MacDade Blvd., Folsom, PA 19033

To register for this event call 610-544-6120 or 610-534-6880.

Main Line Health Smokefree Program

Program 1

Tuesdays: January 6, 13,20, 27 Feb. 3, 10

Virtual: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Program 2

Thursday: January 15. 22.29. Feb. 5, 12, 19

Virtual: 4 PM – 5 PM

Program 3

Tuesday: February 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17

Virtual: 10 AM – 11 AM

Program 4

Wednesday: February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1

Virtual: 7 PM – 8 PM

Register by calling 484-227-3733

Ice on State

January 24-25

State St., Media, PA 19063

For more information visit:  https://visitmediapa.com/event/ice-on-state-presented-by-visit-delco/

DCHD Free Community BLS CPR Training

Tuesday, January 27

12 PM – 4 PM

Keystone First Wellness

1929 W. 9th St., Chester, PA 19013

Thursday, January 29

9 AM – 1 PM

Yeadon Wellness Center

125 Chester Ave., Yeadon, PA 19050

Pennsylvania State Capitol
512-E Main Capitol Building

 PO Box 202161
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2161
(717) 705-2567

District Office

115 E. Brookhaven Rd.
Brookhaven, PA 19015
(610) 534-6880

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