100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage
 This year marks 100 years since Congress ratified the 19th amendment allowing American women to vote. I’m working with the Berks Women’s History Alliance and the Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial on events throughout the coming year to create awareness about this momentous event in our nation’s history. The capstone event will be a county wide celebration dinner on August 26 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading.
In addition to the celebratory dinner, my office has created an educational booklet featuring prominent suffragists from Pennsylvania. Though the booklet is meant for younger readers, anyone could learn a thing or two from it. We have biographies on women like Lucretia Mott, who helped organize the first women’s rights convention in U.S. history, and Alice Paul, one of the most active leaders of the women’s suffrage movement. Also featured is a timeline of the entire suffrage movement – from the New Jersey constitution allowing anyone to vote in 1776 to the 19th amendment being signed into law in 1920.
We formally launched the booklet yesterday with an assembly to Robeson Elementary Center’s third and fourth graders. For a snippet of the presentation, check out this video. It was great fun and I was so impressed by how attentive and informed the students were about the suffrage movement.
For more information on the celebration dinner and other women’s history events (including the Berks Suffrage Centennial’s Kickoff Event at the Berks History Center this Saturday, March 14), visit www.berkssuffrage2020centennial.org/calendar. If you would like to order a copy of the suffrage booklet for your group or class, contact my office at 610-929-2151 or download the book here.
Coronavirus COVID-19
 My office is monitoring the Coronavirus situation carefully and you should know that our state Department of Health is working diligently to keep information current and easily accessible. One of the best resources for what is happening in Pennsylvania regarding COVID-19 is this website.
As of 3 p.m. today there are 13 presumptive positive cases and two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. More cases are to be expected, so here are a few reminders.
Remember that human coronaviruses spread just like the flu or a cold:
- Through the air by coughing or sneezing;
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it;
- Occasionally, fecal contamination.
But there are ways you can protect yourself:
- Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands!
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Clean surfaces frequently, including countertops, light switches, cell phones, remotes, and other frequently touched items.
- Contain: if you are sick, stay home until you are feeling better.
If you would like more information about anything to do with COVID-19, I encourage you to explore health.pa.gov.
Being Social
It’s a privilege to be your state senator, so it is important to me to be in touch with you.
I really like face-to-face meetings but understand that in this busy world, sometimes that isn’t possible. Feel free to call my office to ask questions or make suggestions. Also, you may connect with me through my pages on Facebook and Twitter. Please follow me for regular updates and comments about what’s happening in the district and in Harrisburg. |
