Bob Merski

A $162,422 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener Program will help launch a stewardship program in Erie to ensure conservation and care of our precious coast remains alive and well! https://pahouse.com/Merski/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=117813

Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine discuss COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Pennsylvania.

PA Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine provides update on COVID-19.

LAST CALL: The deadline to submit your property tax/rent rebate applications is December 31st. Stop on in the office with all proof of income, Social Security, paid stamped tax or rent receipts, and get your rebate!

To those that are celebrating, we hope you have a blessed Kwanzaa and new year. Have a happy holiday!

Happy Halloween! If your kids are trick-or-treating, here are some safety tips from the CDC and some ideas for family fun if you’re staying in: https://www.cdc.gov//daily-life-co/holidays/halloween.html Also, remember that Daylight Saving Time ends this year at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. It’s also a great time to consider another important step to keep your family safe: replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and test them! Here are some excellent tips from the Office of the State Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner: https://www.osfc.pa.gov/FireSafe/Pages/Be-Fire-Safe-PA.aspx

Check out my latest blast for news on why mail-in voters need to SKIP THE MAILBOX and VISIT THE DROP BOX; grants to help with home repairs; motorist deer warning; assistance applying for SNAP; and the latest on a scam involving benefits! Read more here: http://enews.pahouse.net/q/Ny1POimgh532jUpa6ITI_4hc1mtMTuHy

Low- to moderate-income Erie homeowners will get some assistance with needed housing repairs, thanks to a $75,000 grant to the City of Erie from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund. The application process is expected to begin sometime in the next month with additional details to come and will be available for households with incomes below 50% of the area median income. Individual projects cannot exceed $3,000.... https://www.pahouse.com/Merski/InTheNews/NewsRelease/

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 29, that there were 2,202 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 202,876. Daily increases are now comparable with what we saw in April 2020. The most accurate daily data is available on the website, with archived data also available. The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between October 22 and October 28 is 248,480 with 14,377 positive cases. There... were 34,402 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., October 28. There are 8,762 deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 44 new deaths reported. There are 2,282,828 individuals who have tested negative to date. Of those who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows: Approximately 1% are ages 0-4; Approximately 2% are ages 5-12; Approximately 5% are ages 13-18; Nearly 14% are ages 19-24; Nearly 36% are ages 25-49; Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and Nearly 21% are ages 65 or older. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

Please join us as we provide an update on the general election and preparation efforts.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 28, that there were 2,228 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 200,674. Daily increases are now comparable with what we saw in April 2020. The most accurate daily data is available on the website, with archived data also available. The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between October 21 and October 27 is 252,583 with 13,574 positive cases. Ther...e were 33,329 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., October 27. There are 8,718 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 22 new deaths reported. There are 2,269,246 individuals who have tested negative to date. Of those who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows: Approximately 1% are ages 0-4; Approximately 2% are ages 5-12; Approximately 5% are ages 13-18; Nearly 14% are ages 19-24; Nearly 36% are ages 25-49; Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and Nearly 21% are ages 65 or older. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

Election Day is less than a week away, and I am urging residents who still have mail-in ballots to drop off their completed ballots- signed and sealed in BOTH the security envelope and mailing envelope- at the county election office or dropbox. Here in Erie, there is a secure, 24/7 drop box located at the Erie County Courthouse, at 140 West 6th Sreet. You can also hand-deliver your ballot during business hours to the election office located in Room 112 of the courthouse.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 27, that there were 2,751 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 198,446. Daily increases are now comparable with what we saw in April 2020, and today’s increase is the largest daily increase to date. The number of tests administered within the last 7 days between October 20 and October 26 is 245,029 with 12,380 positive cases. There were 34,946 test results reporte...d to the department through 10 p.m., October 26. There are 8,696 total deaths attributed to COVID-19, an increase of 23 new deaths reported. There are 2,254,523 individuals who have tested negative to date. Of those who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows: Approximately 1% are ages 0-4; Approximately 2% are ages 5-12; Approximately 5% are ages 13-18; Nearly 14% are ages 19-24; Nearly 36% are ages 25-49; Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and Nearly 21% are ages 65 or older. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

Today is the second anniversary of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. As we remember the 11 innocent lives lost that day, let’s vow to stand strong and affirm that hate will NEVER find a place in our community.

I voted early- mail in ballot delivered to the courthouse dropbox. Did you vote early? If not, what is your plan to vote?I voted early- mail in ballot delivered to the courthouse dropbox. Did you vote early? If not, what is your plan to vote?

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., October 26, that there were 1,407 new cases, in addition to 1,666 new cases reported Sunday, October 25 for a two-day total of 3,073 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 195,695. Daily increases are now comparable with what we saw in April 2020. The most accurate daily data is available on the website, with archived data also available. The number of tests administered wi...thin the last 7 days between October 19 and October 25 is 241,113 with 10,410 positive cases. There were 34,763 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., October 24 and 26,683 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m., October 25. There were 12 new deaths reported Sunday, October 25, and 7 new deaths reported for Monday, October 26 for a total of 8,673 deaths attributed to COVID-19. There are 2,241,430 individuals who have tested negative to date. Of those who have tested positive to date the age breakdown is as follows: Approximately 1% are ages 0-4; Approximately 2% are ages 5-12; Approximately 5% are ages 13-18; Nearly 14% are ages 19-24; Nearly 36% are ages 25-49; Approximately 21% are ages 50-64; and Nearly 21% are ages 65 or older. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older.

PA Secretary of Heath, Dr. Rachel Levine provides and update on COVID-19.