Holiday Wishes, Community Events & More

Rep. Dan B. Frankel December 20, 2024

PA Representative Dan Frankel banner image

Friday, December 20, 2024

My office will be closing during the upcoming holidays. If you are in need of assistance at my office, please be aware of these closures:

Tuesday, December 24
Wednesday, December 25
Thursday, December 26
Tuesday, December 31 (closing at noon)
Wednesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day

Applications for 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebates are due by December 31, 2024. If you are in need of assistance with the application, please contact my office before December 31! Look in Community Events and Resources for more information on the program.

This will be our last newsletter of 2024. Please note that our next newsletter will be sent out on January 3, 2025.

Harrisburg Happenings

Holiday Wishes

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another meaningful tradition, I hope this season brings you joy, peace, and warmth. May you find time to create cherished memories with your loved ones and reflect on the blessings in your life.

As your State Representative, I am honored to be part of our community’s ongoing progress. I remain dedicated to working with all of you to build a stronger, more inclusive future for our neighborhoods and families. Happy holidays to you and yours!

The 2023-2024 Session Comes to an End

As 2024 comes to a close, I am proud to reflect on the progress we’ve made to improve lives in Pennsylvania during the last legislative session. With House Democrats leading the agenda for the first time in more than a decade, we’ve tackled critical issues, from public health to equality and community safety.

As majority chairman of the House Health Committee, I helped usher into law legislation to crack down on abusive noncompete agreements in healthcare, protect rural hospitals, require informed consent for pelvic or rectal exams, enable medical assistance coverage for doulas, regulate pharmacy benefit managers and more. Many additional bills that I sponsored or supported passed the House but stalled out awaiting action from the Republican Senate. Some of those bills would have combatted hate crimes, outlawed discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, permanently prohibited health insurance coverage caps and combatted gun violence. Looking ahead to the next legislative session, I will remain focused on cannabis legalization, the Fairness Act, strengthening hate crime protections, barring smoking in workplaces, and bringing common-sense solutions to the gun violence crisis. As always, I am inspired by my engaged constituents, whose ideas and advocacy fuel the work we do in Harrisburg. Together, we are building a stronger, fairer Pennsylvania.

I Joined Bluesky!

I've joined Bluesky to stay connected and continue the conversation about the issues that matter to you. Follow me at @repdanfrankel.com.bsky.social. My Facebook and X (formally known as Twitter) accounts will remain active.

Community Events and Resources

The 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline is December 31, 2024

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program supports homeowners and renters across Pennsylvania by providing rebates ranging from $380 to $1,000. Eligible Pennsylvanians are:

Widows and widowers 50 and older
People with disabilities 18 and older
??In addition to age requirements, to qualify for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate, your household income must be $45,000 or less ?annually.

Eligible Pennsylvanians can apply online or in my office.

Learn more about the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program here.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

If you need help with home heating costs, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is open for the season. The program provides eligible households with cash grants to help with heating bills and crisis grants to address emergencies like furnace breakdowns or unexpected fuel shortages. These grants are sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider and do not need to be repaid.

You can learn more and apply online here or contact my office. We can provide an application and help you apply.

Black Pittsburgh Satisfaction and Retention Survey

The University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems and the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable are researching the causes of Pittsburgh's declining Black population.

The survey will take 10-15 minutes and will be anonymously shared with the research team. Participants who complete the survey will receive a $10 gift card while supplies last.

Learn more and take the survey here.

Attack Theatre Presents: Dance WorkshopSaturday, December 21, 1-2 p.m. | Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh—Main (Oakland)

Attack Theatre will host a dance workshop for children in grades K-5. The workshop is free and open to all age-appropriate children.

Learn more here.

Hanukkah Party and Christmas PageantSunday, December 22, 11 a.m. | Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave., 15206

Join Tree of Life Congregation and Calvary Episcopal Church for a Hanukkah Party and Christmas Pageant, a joint celebration of the December holidays. The celebration begins with a live animal pageant and is then followed by a Hanukkah party. It will include singing, food, crafts, menorah lighting, latkes, and cookies. The event is free and open to all.Learn more here.

Christmas Day at PittWednesday, December 25, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | The Eatery at Towers, 3990 Fifth Avenue, 15213
The University of Pittsburgh hosts a Christmas Day meal for anyone in need. Guests will receive a holiday meal, gifts for children, and winter accessories for adults. 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. for sit-down meals, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. for to-go meals.

Learn more here.

Tree of Life Congregation Community Candle LightingWednesday, December 25, 5-6 p.m. | 5898 Wilkins Avenue, 15217
Join Tree of Life Congregation for their annual Hanukkah candle lighting at the intersection of Shady and Wilkins.

Learn more here.

Drinks & DreidelsWednesday, December 25, 6 p.m. | The Yards, 2645 Railroad Street, 15222Chabad Young Professionals Pittsburgh is hosting a Chanukah celebration for young Jews in the Pittsburgh area. The celebration includes craft cocktails, latkes, donuts, and a Chinese dinner buffet.Learn more and get tickets here.

City of Pittsburgh Menorah LightingThursday, December 26, 5:00 p.m. | City-County Building
City officials will be lighting the Menorah located in front of the City-County Building. The celebration includes live music and Chanukah refreshments of latkes and donuts.

Christmas Tree RecyclingDecember 26-January 26

The City of Pittsburgh offers 12 Christmas tree recycling drop-off sites throughout the city. All lights, decorations, tinsel, and stands must be removed from trees before drop off.

Call 311 to learn more.

Shabbat Chanukah Latke FestFriday, December 27, 5-7:30 p.m. | Rodef Shalom, 4905 5^th Ave., 15213Shabbat Chanukah Latke Fest is a Shabbat and Chanukah celebration featuring homemade latkes and other delicious goodies.

Learn more here.

Gut Yontif: A Patchwork Holiday ExperienceSaturday, December 28, 7-8 p.m. | Heinz History Center
The Heinz History Center’s Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives will celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hannukah with telling of the story of Hannukah through zines and painted silk panels. Learn more and get tickets here.

Chanukah Menorah Parade

Sunday, December 29, 4:30 p.m. | Route through Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and Oakland

The Chanukah menorah parade will make its way through District 23. Those who wish to be in the parade should meet in Rodef Shalom Parking Lot (4905 Fifth Ave.) before 4:15 p.m. The parade begins at 4:30 p.m.

Learn more here.

Greenfield Chanukah Festival

Sunday, December 29, 5 p.m. | Bnai Emunoh Chabad, 4315 Murray Ave.

Greenfield’s annual Chanukah festival includes doughnuts, a chocolate gelt toss with the Pirate Parrot, and a live children’s program hosted by Rabbi B — a Jewish children’s educator and musician. The festival is free and open to all.

Learn more here.

Donation Day at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Monday, December 30 | Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, in cooperation with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, is hosting its annual Donation Day. Visitors to the Zoo will enjoy free daytime admission with the donation of non-perishable items, such as canned goods and dry goods, to support neighbors across southwestern Pennsylvania facing food insecurity.

Donation items will be collected in the Zoo parking lot during the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items must be non-perishable, shelf stable, and not past their expiration dates. No glass items, please.

Learn more here.

First Night

Tuesday, December 31, starting at 6:00 p.m. | Cultural District

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is hosting a family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. The celebration’s activities include a children’s fireworks show at 6:00 p.m., an ice maze, a parade, and much more. Some activities require an RSVP and ticket purchases.