Harrisburg Happenings, Community Events & More

Rep. Dan B. Frankel March 28, 2025 | 1:40 PM

PA Representative Dan Frankel banner image

Friday, March 28, 2025

Harrisburg Happenings

Protecting Teen’s Mental Health Funding

On Monday, I joined the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and the Pennsylvania Youth Advocacy Network to highlight the urgent need for stronger support for teen mental health. Across the country, young people are struggling with loneliness, social media pressures, academic stress, and the lasting effects of the pandemic. They are asking for help, and we must respond.

Untreated mental health issues don’t just impact the teenage years—they affect physical health, relationships, school performance, and future employment. But with the right support, we can change that. Organizations like the Jewish Healthcare Foundation and the Pennsylvania Youth Advocacy Network are doing critical work by listening to teens, partnering with communities, and developing real solutions.

Investing in teen mental health is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Every dollar spent on prevention and early intervention strengthens our future workforce, leaders, and communities. I am committed to securing funding in our commonwealth’s 2025-2026 budget for community-based organizations that provide these essential services.

Our teens are telling us what they need. It’s time we show them we’re listening.

Protecting the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania

House Democrats took action this week to protect Pennsylvanians from the chaos in Washington, D.C., by passing a package of bills to safeguard key health care protections under the Affordable Care Act. In the face of federal threats to dismantle the ACA, we are working proactively to ensure essential health care remains accessible—no matter what happens at the national level.

I wrote about these bills a few weeks ago, and now they’ve passed the House with unanimous Democratic support. They would prevent insurance companies from imposing lifetime limits, ensure coverage for pre-existing conditions, protect preventive care, and keep young adults insured under their parents’ plans until age 26. These are basic protections that families rely on, and we are committed to keeping them in place.

This fight is far from over, but Pennsylvania Democrats will not stand by while Republicans in Washington attempt to roll back health care protections. We’re working to stop these attacks before they hurt our communities.

Now, the bills move to the Senate. We must keep up the momentum and ensure they become law.

Honoring the Wives and Families of Vietnam Veterans

Last week, the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee heard testimony from the wives and families of Vietnam veterans about their experiences and sacrifices during the conflict. I was proud to play a small part by bringing together committee Chairman Jared Solomon with local author, researcher, and Gold Star Family member Dr. Charlotte McDaniel. As we honor all the lives that were lost and forever changed during the Vietnam War this weekend, I’m glad we took the time to honor families who also sacrificed so much.

Community Events and Resources

Lessons from The Tree of Life: Lighting the Path Forward

Now-April 25 | University of Pittsburgh, The University Club Library

Lessons from The Tree of Life: Lighting the Path Forward is a traveling exhibition about what happened on October 27, 2018, our community’s response to the deadliest antisemitic attack in the United States, and the history of antisemitism in America.

Created in partnership with the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center, the exhibition features curated items gifted to the Pittsburgh Jewish community in the aftermath of the attack. It challenges visitors to reflect on the impact of antisemitism in America and seeks to inspire action to build a future rooted in resilience and understanding.

The exhibition is free and open to all.

Learn more here.

Walk Squirrel Hill Neighborhood Map

The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition created the Walk Squirrel Hill! Neighborhood Map that guides users on a stroll through Squirrel Hill to see the historical landmarks in the neighborhood.

Remarkable Trees of Pittsburgh Nominations

Tree Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh are building a catalog of noteworthy trees in our city. The tree must be located on public property to be nominated as a Remarkable Tree.

Learn more and nominate a tree here.

Community Happy Hour: Paw Paws and Zebratails
Today, March 28, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | 3Rivers Outdoor Co., 1130 S. Braddock Ave., 15218

Gabrielle Marsden, a local Pittsburgh Butterfly Ambassador, will lead a fireside chat on the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly and its connection to the paw paw tree. Once common in Pittsburgh, these butterflies have declined due to habitat loss and pollution. This discussion will explore how people can help restore their population by supporting the growth of paw paw trees.

Learn more here.

Homestead Cemetery: Stories Behind the Stones
Saturday, March 29, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | CLP – Main (Oakland)

Historians will share stories of labor leaders, battlefield patriots, civil rights activists, and pioneering sports heroes buried in Homestead Cemetery in Munhall. This program will take place in the South Wing Reading Room and is intended for adults.

Learn more here.

In Conversation: Dread Scott
Saturday, March 29, 6:30 p.m. | Carnegie Museum of Art, Art Theater

Dread Scott, the featured artist in the public art project The National Museum, will discuss his work and his version of the museum, The International Museum of People’s Uprisings.

Attendees will receive a free National Museum broadsheet featuring contributions from artist and poet Saul Williams.

This event is free, but registration is required.

Learn more here.

Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic: A Gala of Grand Opera
Wednesday, April 2, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | Carnegie Music Hall

The Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, under the direction of Daniel Nesta Curtis, presents an evening of opera overtures, arias, scenes, and choruses. The program will feature selections from Die Fledermaus, Gianni Schicchi, La Bohème, La Rondine, Nabucco, La Traviata, Lakmé, Carmen, and Candide.

There is an admission fee, however it is free for all students and CMU/Pitt faculty and staff with valid ID.

Learn more here.

Westinghouse Park Earth Month Celebration

Saturday, April 5, 2:00 p.m. - 5 p.m.| Westinghouse Park

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy invites the community to celebrate Earth Month with a day of family-friendly activities, games, music, and more. Naturalist educators and community partners, including the Pittsburgh Park Rangers, Tree Pittsburgh, and the Outdoor Inclusion Coalition, will offer interactive programs to inspire appreciation for the planet and local green spaces.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Learn more here.

Empty Bowls 2025

Sunday, April 6, 1 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Rodef Shalom

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest present Empty Bowls 2025, an annual event bringing the community together for a simple meal of chef-created soups, hearty bread, and other treats. Each ticket includes a meal and a handcrafted bowl, with new bowl selections replenished throughout the event.

Learn more and get tickets here.

Voting Resources

Tuesday, May 20, 2025, is Primary Election Day.

Check Your Voter Registration Online

The Pennsylvania Department of State has an online portal that provides voters’ Election Day polling places, the status of mail-in or absentee ballots, and resources to connect with the County Board of Elections if there are any issues.

Update Your Voter Registration or Register to Vote

The application must be turned in by May 5, to vote in the 2025 Primary Election.

Voting with a Criminal Conviction in Pennsylvania

Individuals with criminal convictions are eligible to vote in Pennsylvania. You are allowed to vote if you are in jail or prison with a misdemeanor conviction, under house arrest, on probation or parole, in a halfway house or community corrections center, or being held in jail while waiting for trial. Some of these voters will require an absentee ballot.

If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to do anything to regain your voting rights after you have served your sentence for a felony conviction.

Learn more about voting in Pennsylvania with a criminal conviction here.

Registering to Vote before an 18th Birthday

Pennsylvanians turning 18 by the next election (May 20) can register to vote before their 18th birthday and vote in the election.

Voting as a College Student

College students can vote in the community they are attending college or at their prior home address, provided a family member or guardian still resides there.

A student can register to vote at their home address and order a mail-in/absentee ballot to their school address. The voter’s mailing address does not have to be the same as the home address.

Mail-in or Absentee Ballots

Applications for mail-in or absentee ballots must be turned in by May 13.

Accessible Voting for Citizens with a Disability

Every polling place in Pennsylvania must have at least one accessible voting system. You can view and learn how to operate Allegheny County’s accessibility voting system on Pennsylvania Department of State’s website.

Not every polling place in Allegheny County is accessible for those with mobility issues. You can check if your polling place is accessible before election day.

If you have a permanent disability, you can apply to be added to the permanent absentee voter list by submitting an absentee ballot application. If your application is accepted, you will receive absentee ballots for the elections that take place during the rest of the year. You will also receive an annual absentee ballot application every year that you are on the list.