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Schwank: 168 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County

READING, Dec. 13, 2012 — An additional 168 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $420,000 that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen....

Schwank: Property Tax and Rent Rebate Deadline is Dec. 31

READING, Dec. 11, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank reminds everyone that the filing deadline for senior citizens and other individuals eligible for the 2011 Property Tax and Rent Rebate is Dec. 31. “This program has provided beneficial property tax relief to many...

Schwank, Caltagirone: Reading Crime Summit Planned for January

READING, Dec. 10, 2012 - State Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Thomas Caltagirone announced today that the governor will join state and local officials to hold a crime summit in January in Reading. Schwank and Caltagirone made the comments after a meeting with city and...

Schwank to Seniors: Beware of Property Tax/Rent Rebate Scams

READING, Nov. 9, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank is cautioning all seniors to be vigilant of organizations requesting payment for completing the state Property Tax and Rent Rebate application. “Many seniors have alerted us to potential scams and moneymaking schemes...

Hurricane Sandy Afternoon Update

Harrisburg – October 30, 2012 – (4:30 p.m.) In an afternoon conference call briefing, Robert Powelson, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Glenn M. Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, outlined new developments...

Hurricane Sandy Update

Absentee ballot deadline extended in Pennsylvania as state recovers from this massive storm. Harrisburg, October 30, 2012 – (9:20 a.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett provided additional details on how Pennsylvania is dealing with Hurricane Sandy earlier today at a briefing held at...

Hurricane Sandy Impact, Important Contact Numbers, Information

October 29, 2012 -- (6 p.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett held briefing to update the status of Hurricane Sandy and its impact on Pennsylvania.  The governor said that the storm had 90 mile per hour winds and was making landfall in New Jersey and expected to move west.  The storm...

Schwank: 93 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County

HARRISBURG, Oct. 11, 2012 — An additional 92.9 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $232,250 that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen....

Schwank: Senate Passes Bill that Criminalizes Gang Activity

READING, Oct. 4, 2012 — As concerns of gang violence and gang recruitment grow in Reading, state Sen. Judy Schwank said that this week’s Senate passage of anti-gang legislation offers a step toward deterring this disturbing activity that plagues neighborhoods and...

Schwank: Voter ID Ruling Resolves Confusion over the Law for Now

HARRISBURG, Oct. 2, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank said today’s Commonwealth Court ruling on the state’s voter ID law will give voters more time to prepare for future elections while ensuring their right to vote this November. “There have been many questions from...

Policy Committee Roundtable Discussion Focuses on Farm Profitability

READING, Sept. 20, 2012 — Agriculture is not only the No. 1 industry in Berks County, but also in Pennsylvania. The future of local farming and food prices will have a direct impact on the industry, consumers, businesses and the economy. As farming experts continue to...

Schwank and Caltagirone: Local Arts Programs Awarded State Grants

READING, Sept. 10, 2012 — Nearly two dozen Berks County arts programs have received state funding, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank and state Rep. Tom Caltagirone. “The arts are an important part of any community. They provide entertainment, creative expression,...

Schwank: 243 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County

HARRISBURG, Aug. 23, 2012 — An additional 243 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $607,000 dollars that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to...

Schwank Comments on PUC Report on Storm Response

READING, Aug. 9, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank called the recent release of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's (PUC) evaluation of the response of electric utilities to outages caused by multiple severe storms last year a “step in the right direction,” but...

Sen. Schwank Comments on State Budget Legislation

HARRISBURG, June 30, 2012 — State Senator Judy Schwank said today that while the new state budget achieves an appropriate funding level, she voted against it because it fails to properly fund important programs and services. “This is a pass-the-buck budget” said...

Schwank Reminds Dog Owners to Get Their Pet Licensed

HARRISBURG, June 19, 2012 – State Sen. Judy Schwank today reminded dog owners that Pennsylvania law requires that they purchase an annual dog license. “Obtaining a state license is not only the law, but it’s also one more way you can show your love for your...

Schwank: 34 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County

HARRISBURG, June 14, 2012 — An additional 34 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $85,250 dollars that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state...

Schwank: Recycling Grants Awarded in Berks County

READING, May 18, 2012 — Two local municipalities have been awarded significant state grants for their recycling efforts, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank. Exeter Township received an $83,897 Recycling Performance Grant based on the 8,808 tons recycled for 2010 and...

Schwank: 57 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County

HARRISBURG, April 19, 2012 — An additional 57 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $143,000 dollars that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to...

Schwank, Spring Clean Berks to Host May 5 Spring Clean Up

READING, April 16, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank is partnering with Spring Clean Berks, in conjunction with The Great American Clean Up, to hold an upcoming cleanup initiative in the 11th Senatorial District. Individuals of all ages are welcome to volunteer at the...

Schwank Urges Residents to Take Precautions to Prevent Wildfires

READING, April 11, 2012 — As firefighters continue to manage a wildfire in southeastern Berks County, state Sen. Judy Schwank reminds residents to be extra cautious about preventing a wildfire. “A warm winter and dry, windy spring have become favorable conditions for...

Schwank: Financial Aid Application Deadline Approaching

READING, April 9, 2012 – State Sen. Judy Schwank reminds families that the deadline for most college-bound students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming school year is May 1. All first-time applicants for state scholarship...

Schwank Applauds Passage of Farm Equipment Bill

HARRISBURG, March 28, 2012 — The Senate passed legislation today that would lift restrictions on small community farm equipment dealers that want to carry and sell competitive products, while providing more options for sellers and consumers of farm products, according...