Reflecting on a younger self: The COVID-19 pandemic of the early ’20s

May 20, 2023

Oh...how I remember the days when layers of masks outweighed layers of clothing. The days I stayed home to protect others...rather, I should say the months I stayed home to protect others. I was in my teens when COVID-19 hit us. Looking back, I know that history is written by the victors. Even though I never got severely ill from it, the virus affected every aspect of our lives, from the way we work and socialize to the way we think about our own mortality. However, if the clock were to rewind and news had just broken, with headlines blaring “COVID-19! Why You Should Be Afraid!” my ...

Is it time to amend the Constitution of the United States?

May 18, 2023

On February 16, 2018, I wrote: “In the latest public school massacre at least 17 people were killed when a former student, armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire at a high school on St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018.” How many have died needlessly since then? Some say this is a time for grieving, not to talk about gun control. Perhaps we have grieved enough, due to the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. It is time to have a serious conversation about guns. District of Columbia v. Heller was a landmark United States Supreme Court decision decided in 2008. In a ...

Increasing voter turnout in local elections

May 13, 2023

The contentious 2020 Presidential election and 2022 mid-term elections were valuable opportunities to remember the importance and impact of their vote in local races and elections. While election turnout fluctuates based on competitiveness and voter interest, there is a persistent pattern of low participation in local elections. This low voter turnout has a profound effect on the daily life of communities, impacting everything from schools and housing to transportation, police and parks. This article identifies cities and towns that have been successful at activating voters in local ...

Decisions to be made

May 10, 2023

Now that we are on the down side of Old Lycoming Township election for two supervisors, I felt compelled to again write to you the voters. Remember 2022 when all of you where kept in the dark about the regionalization of your police department with Tiadaghton Regional Police Department. The chairperson of the Board of Supervisors told you they would be holding public meetings to keep you advised on the progress of regionalization between the two departments. In March of 2022 a number of residents went to the Old Lycoming Township supervisors’ meeting when they found out that they ...

Delivering a people-driven, future-focused platform for Pennsylvania

May 9, 2023

Dating back to our first state constitution in 1776, couched as the most democratic and radical of all state constitutions at the dawn of the United States, Pennsylvania has always been on the cutting edge of national transformation. As we once again face an era of divided government and fluctuating razor thin majorities in the state House, Pennsylvania will be in no less of a position to lead by example and forge a path ahead. But getting there takes vision and bold action. And right now, we recognize many feel like the Commonwealth is stuck and have an uneasy feeling about our ...

Bipartisan support for school reform

May 6, 2023

In Pennsylvania, divides over public education remain constant. The debates range from school funding disputes to curriculum fights, from arguments over critical race theory and gender identity policies to disagreements over teacher contracts and sports. Public education is commanding the attention of the state legislature, school boards, and courts. One thing, however, is clear: parents want educational options for their children. In a recent Common Ground poll commissioned by the Commonwealth Foundation, two-thirds of registered voters in Pennsylvania grade the quality of the ...