Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

HARRISBURG) – The Pennsylvania Department of Education has taken steps to establish Pennsylvania’s first Rural Regional Community College, announced Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) and Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-21). According to the legislators, the newly created community college is being established with the goal of offering two-year associate degrees, as well as training and certificate programs to underserved areas of the Commonwealth. Curriculum of the college will be determined by the Board of Trustees, based upon the future workforce needs of the designated region of Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango and Warren counties. “I am very excited that groundwork for launching the Rural Regional Community College is now in place,” Senator Scarnati stated. “This will be the first community college to offer greatly needed higher educational opportunities to northwestern Pennsylvania. Thanks to input by edu...

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has approved legislation introduced by Senator Scott Hutchinson that will protect and promote conventional oil production in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 1310, legislation to protect the conventional oil production industry from state regulations intended for companies extracting Marcellus Shale gas, now goes to the full Senate for consideration. “The conventional oil industry is an important part of the regional economy in northwestern Pennsylvania – an economy that is already struggling. It cannot afford to be stymied by excessive and unnecessary regulatory burdens,” said Senator Hutchinson. Senate Bill 1310, would establish the Penn Grade Crude Development Advisory Council, a panel empowered to study existing regulations and assist the Department of Environmental Protection in making changes that better address the differences between conventional and unconventional oil and gas production. “Technological advances that have all...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) wants to protect the Allegheny National Forest and ensure the National Forest Service adequately manages our cherished woodlands before continuing to acquire additional property. Sen. Toomey joined Sen. John Thune and a group of seven senators in appealing to the Chairman and top Republican on the committee that designates funding for the National Forest Service that “Congress should ensure that the Forest Service prioritize limited resources to adequately manage the lands for which it is currently responsible, rather continue to acquire additional property.” “Our Allegheny National Forest is the gem of northwest Pennsylvania and a treasure all Americans can enjoy,” said Sen. Toomey. “The ANF, like other national forests, must be cared for and proactively managed to improve forest health before the government seeks to acquire more land with taxpayer dollars.” Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, whose district includes most of the ...

HARRISBURG – The State Senate has unanimously approved legislation to offer more disabled Pennsylvania veterans reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses, according to Senators Joe Scarnati (R-25), Lisa Baker (R-20) and Scott Hutchinson (R-21). Senate Bill 1102, authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, would reduce the cost of fishing licenses for disabled veterans to $1 for an annual license. Senate Bill 1090, authored by Senate Labor & Industry Committee Chairwoman Lisa Baker and Senate Communications & Technology Committee Chairman Scott Hutchinson would reduce the cost of hunting licenses for disabled veterans to $1 for an annual license. “These bills are a small way to honor those who have helped to protect our freedoms and will ensure that more disabled veterans have access to enjoy our Commonwealth’s great outdoors,” Senator Scarnati said. “Pennsylvania’s disabled veterans have made a tremendous sacrifice for our country and face many challen...

WARREN — Resolutions sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Warren/Butler/Clarion/Erie/Venango) commemorating the life and achievements of Charles Warren Stone on the 170th anniversary of his birth unanimously passed both the state House and Senate on Monday. Born on June 29, 1843, Stone was elected to serve the people of Warren County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1869. “From his humble beginnings as a school principal and local attorney to proudly representing the citizens of Warren County at some of the highest levels of elected office, Charles Warren Stone personified what it means to be a lifetime public servant who was truly dedicated to bettering his community, his Commonwealth and his country,” said Rapp. “The purpose of my resolution is to make sure his tremendous legacy is never forgotten.” In 1876, Stone was elected to the Senate of this Commonwealth where he served as chair of the Judiciary General Com...

HARRISBURG – Senate Republicans today elected their leadership team for the 2013-2014 legislative session. Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) has been nominated once again to serve as President Pro Tempore. The full Senate will vote on Scarnati’s nomination when it reconvenes in January. As President Pro Tempore, he will be responsible for appointing the chairpersons and members of the standing committees of the Senate. He will also play a significant role in negotiations with the Administration and the House of Representatives. A native of Brockway in Jefferson County, Scarnati was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2000. A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University at DuBois, the Senator is a third-generation small business owner and served in local government. Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9) will serve his fourth term as Senate Majority Leader. His duties include overseeing the legislative agenda, developing policies an...

Some election results are inevitable because the candidates were running unopposed. In Pennsylvania, incumbent state representatives Marty Causer, Kathy Rapp and Matt Gabler did not have challengers, nor did incumbent State Senator Joe Scarnati. State Representative Scott Hutchinson can officially be called Senator-elect Hutchinson. He was running unopposed for the seat held by Mary Jo White, who is retiring. She was first elected in 1996. The 21st Senatorial District includes Forest, Clarion and Venango counties, and parts of Warren, Butler and Erie counties. In New York, incumbent State Senator Cathy Young ran unopposed. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Reps. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango/Butler) and Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/McKean/Forest) today applauded Gov. Tom Corbett, who signed into law a measure renaming a section of U.S. Route 62 that runs through Forest, Venango and Warren counties in honor of military veterans. “This stretch of road will serve as a constant reminder of the men and women in uniform who served to maintain our country’s freedom,” Hutchinson said. “Their sacrifices should never be forgotten.” The law renames the portion of U.S. Route 62 that runs through Venango County as the Venango County Veterans Highway. It similarly renames the road the Forest County Veterans Highway and Warren County Veterans Highway in those two counties. While Rapp and Hutchinson originally introduced stand-alone legislation (House Bill 2243) to rename the three stretches of highway, their proposal was eventually amended into another comprehensive measure, House Bill 2460, which renames roads across the Commonwealth ...

State Rep. Scott Hutchinson of Oil City has announced that he will run this year for the state Senate seat now held by Mary Jo White. White has announced that she would not seek re-election to another term. Her district includes Venango and Forest counties and part of Warren and Butler counties. Hutchinson said he is committed to conservative, pro-growth, smaller government principles that allow working families and the small businesses that create jobs to keep more of their income. The Pennsylvania primary is April 24 and the general election is Nov. 6. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947