Our community has shown itself time and time again to be supportive, resilient, and action-ready during hours of distress and need. I witnessed these values at the Jenkintown and Glenside SPS meetings this past week: concerned citizens coming together to demand answers and an efficient response. 

But I think we can be even better at responding to future crises in our community. We hope to never experience another SPS-level disaster, but crises of all shapes and sizes affect members of this community all the time, from house fires to street flooding to power outages. Coordination between first responders, elected officials, community leaders, residential experts, and others is a prerequisite to an effective response that prioritizes addressing victims’ needs.  

I’m proposing a community planning session to address these concerns for Wednesday, April 2, and I want you to be involved. If you are one of those people mentioned above, please contact my office! More details to be announced. 

In other news, our Environmental Conference is next month! Put Friday, April 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Arcadia University on your calendars. Come to learn from experts, connect with local organizations and neighbors, and help us work toward building a more sustainable environment. 

Finally, I will be back up in Harrisburg legislating next week! Stay tuned for future updates on how I voted.  

Come by Beaver Hill in Jenkintown on Saturday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a free coffee and the opportunity to speak with Rep. Nelson about your state government concerns!

We will be in the Community Room at the North Building, located at 309 Florence Ave. in Jenkintown, PA 19046. Parking spaces will be available in the back of the building in the area of the Community Room entrance.  

PECO has issued an advisory notice relating to ongoing scams targeting customers. Scammers are threatening to shut off service to get customers to make payments and share their personal, financial, or account information. 

Anyone who receives a suspicious phone call, text message, or email or gets an unscheduled visit from someone claiming to be from PECO should not share their information and should contact PECO directly at 800-494-4000.  

PECO will never demand immediate payment to avoid service termination, nor will they ever require one specific form of payment, such as a prepaid card, bitcoin, or third-party digital money transfer services such as Zelle or Apple Pay. A real PECO representative will also have the needed account information when they call.  

Poll workers are the backbone of American elections. Each election season, 2,300 Montco residents are needed to staff our county's polling locations and canvass mail-in ballots.  

See above the requirements to be a poll worker in the county. The PA Election Code also permits high school students who are 17 years old to serve at the polls. 

Consider signing up to serve today! Learn more on the county website.  

With the support of HealthSpark Foundation, the Asian American Coalition for Health and Human Services has been conducting a regional strengths and needs assessment for two years and is ready to share findings! This town hall is your opportunity to learn about the challenges, priorities, and aspirations of AAPI communities in our region, with the chance to share feedback. Registration is required. 

This event will take place on Wednesday, March 19 from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom.  

Join the Montco Commerce Department for an insightful business seminar designed to empower veteran entrepreneurs and help to develop your business! This workshop is free, is open to veterans from any county, and refreshments will be provided. Registration is required.  

This event will take place on Monday, March 17 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Community Partners Center (2506 N. Broad St., Colmar, PA 18915).  

The PA Department of Aging and the PA Council on the Arts are now accepting works of art created by PA residents aged 60 or older for the first-ever Older Artists of PA Showcase. 

The deadline to submit artwork is Friday, April 4.  

“Aging Well with HIV” is a free, virtual, evidence-based workshop to learn ways to self-manage HIV that is being offered to PA residents statewide! The program consists of six two-and-a-half-hour classes beginning April 8, covering topics such as managing symptoms, focusing on physical activity, and action planning. 

Registration is required, and participants will be mailed program materials prior to the start date. Call (215) 765-9000 x 5123 or email Stephen.Merrill@pcacares.org to register.  

Now through March 31 is Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment time! If you missed reviewing your coverage in the fall, you can make a one-time switch that will start the first day of the next month. The costs and benefits of many Medicare Advantage plans have changed for 2025, but there is still time to make a change! 

Call the PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to connect with a local counselor.