Continuing work on local economic development…

DCNR Awards Trail Grant to Millersburg Borough

Millersburg, PA – December 18, 2012 – Millersburg Borough has received a pair of grants to construct the next segment of the Lykens Valley Rail Trail.

The borough was awarded $107,800 from the Community Conservation Partnership Program, administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

The borough also received a Dauphin County Local Share Municipal Grant in the amount of $100,000. Also known as a Gaming Grant, these funds are generated by revenue from the state-licensed casinos. These grants are available to municipalities and nonprofit organizations in Dauphin County due the presence of Hollywood Casino in East Hanover Township.

“We are excited to continue to develop the Lykens Valley Rail Trail in the Millersburg area,” stated Chris Dietz, President of Millersburg Borough Council. “As more segments come online, the trail will draw more and more visitors to the Lykens Valley.”

These funds will be used to improve the hiking and biking trail along the old rail bed in Upper Paxton Township adjacent to Berry’s Mountain. Plans call for upgrades to drainage infrastructure and the rail surface between Goodling Road and Woodside Station Road. The borough will work closely with the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art as this trail is a pivotal part of the Center’s extensive trail network.

Additionally, plans are being developed to connect the new trail segment to the path in Riverfront Park, which was built as a “gateway” to the greater Lykens Valley Rail Trail (LVRT). This effort will effectively extend the western end of the LVRT from the Susquehanna River to Woodside Station Road, bringing trail users through the center of the Millersburg Business District.

Currently, in addition to the portion in Millersburg’s Riverfront Park, there are three completed miles on the eastern end of the LVRT extending from Wiconisco through Lykens. Once fully constructed, the Lykens Valley Rail Trail will extend twenty miles from Millersburg to Williamstown.

“Other similar length rail trails in Pennsylvania add millions of dollars annually to their local economies due to the money spent by trail users. This is our goal for the Lykens Valley,” said Dietz.

Thank You for being on my team!

Thank you just doesn’t seem like it’s enough…

Although the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for I am extremely thankful for your heartfelt dedication and support over the last year. Your support throughout this race has been a very encouraging and humbling experience. The campaign made over 25 thousand attempts to contact voters. All of that could not have been accomplished without your help!

It was my honor to champion jobs, government reform, quality education, equality, and conservation! Together we have moved the bar forward. I am proud of the network that we have assembled in the 104 th district and I know that we will continue to work together to build a better and brighter future for not only Central PA but for the Commonwealth as well.

I would like to specifically thank Mike Moser for being the best campaign manager and for keeping everything on track, including me the candidate. He has done a great job here and I look forward to watching him succeed in the future.

I would also like to thank my immediate family for having my back and believing in me throughout the campaign: Alex Reber – Duane and Linda Dietz – Megan and Kevin, Ephraim, Joel, and Caleb Langdon – Holly Reber-Billings and Dan Billings – Chief (my cat).

My Campaign Chairwoman, Diane Bowman and Campaign Treasurer, Harriet Boyer, and Field Director, Shamaine Daniels have been there every step of the way. Thanks for your dedication.

Our team from all of the people and groups that endorsed me, to our volunteers, to those that contributed financially have been so generous. This campaign has been one of the best experiences of my life.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

 

 

 

P.S.-If you see a yard sign along side of the road that hasn’t been picked up please collect it for us so that we don’t litter the roadside. Please contact me by cell 717.319.1749 or Chris@VoteDietz.com so that I can pick them up! Also, below are photos taken throughout the duration of the campaign. Thanks again!

Paxtand ParadePillow Parade Group
GOTV Canvass Team
evill halloween parade
miller fundraiser
primaryPrimary Canvass

GOTV Through Election Day

We are two days away from Election Day and had a great GOTV weekend! Thank You to everyone that joined in our efforts.

We can use your help on Election Day. Please call Mike at 610-781-9110 for more information.

Join us at the Midtown Scholar Book Store at 1302 North Third Street in Harrisburg to watch the election results. We will be there beginning at 8pm.

The Patriot News and the Paxton Herald Endorse my Campaign

I am thrilled to announce my campaign’s endorsement by The Patriot News and The Paxton Herald!

The Paxton Herald highlights my service on Millersburg Borough Council and my willingness to do the necessary research when developing new house bills.Ph Endorse

 The Patriot News states, “Dietz jumped into local government because he says he saw a need. In his words: “I thought, how can I make Millersburg a better place?”

And goes on to say, “In an age when it can be difficult to find people willing to give their time to their community, Dietz didn’t hesitate. He created the borough’s website, was lead organizer of a bike race, the Tour de Millersburg, is working on a regional marketing plan and was elected to Borough Council, later to become president. As a testament to his ability to work with others, he was elected council president by his Republican peers.”

 

Rep. Helm admits cutting education funding – I plan to work to restore those cuts.

Special thanks to The Rick Smith Show-Where Working People Come to Talk for the audio of my interview last night.

Rick Smith show discussing cuts to education

Rep. Helm makes comments about cutting funding for our schools. This is what she is talking about:
School District          Total Cuts in 2011-12                                                                    Central Dauphin        $2,813,066                                                                                     Halifax Area               $506,526                                                                                  Millersburg Area        $412,384                                                                                     Susquehanna Twp.   $582,752                                                                                         Upper Dauphin Area  $720,570                                                                        Susquenita                 $1,092,131                                                                                Williams Valley           $812,980                                                                                           Total cuts in the 104th House District: $6,940,409

She says that the funding was restored and not really cut, but according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, “the funding cuts were not restored in the 2012-13 budget.”
“[School officials] believe the funding problems are affecting student achievement, including the lower results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests given in the spring.
“We’re concerned that the continued financial decline and the resulting program and personnel reductions has that impact on student achievement and PSSAs in particular,” Mr. Himes said.”http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pennsylvania-survey-shows-huge-education-cuts-655780/

Chris Dietz Earns Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Endorsement

October 22, 2012
Contact: Josh McNeil, 215.564.3350, joshua.mcneil@conservationpa.org

Chris Dietz Earns Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Endorsement

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA), which works to turn environmental values into Pennsylvania priorities, announced its endorsement of Chris Dietz for State Representative in District 104.

“Chris Dietz will stand up for our families and fight for clean air and safe drinking water,” said CVPA Executive Director Josh McNeil.  “He will be a powerful and thoughtful voice for a healthy environment.”

“I would like to thank Conservation Voters of PA for their endorsement of my campaign for State Representative,” Dietz said.  “As a central PA native, I have spent a good portion of my life in our great outdoors.  Our forests, mountains, and rivers are a blessing to our families. I have spent my time as President of Millersburg Borough Council supporting initiatives promoting restoration of our polluted waterways, creating outdoor recreation opportunities, and preserving our farmland.  I look forward to working with CVPA to preserve our clean air and water for our future generations.”

Dietz has challenged incumbent Representative Sue Helm, who failed to serve the interests of her constituents on the crucial issue of Marcellus Shale drilling.  Helm earned a 23% score on CVPA’s 2012 Marcellus Shale Scorecard, voting three times to lower gas company taxes and in favor of state budget cuts to education, health and environmental protection.  In voting for Act 13, Helm took away the right of local communities to decide if pipelines and other potentially dangerous gas facilities can be built near schools, hospitals and homes.

“Representative Helm put the interests of Governor Corbett and gas industry lobbyists above the interests of her constituents,” McNeil continued.  “If Helm had supported a real tax on gas drillers, she could have saved the jobs of thousands of teachers, lowered property taxes, and preserved farm land and open space.  She made the wrong choice and she is the wrong choice for District 104.”

“As State Representative, I will strive to fund DEP at levels that will allow them to have enough time to properly review fracking applications,” Dietz pledged. “I will work to make sure science is used to guide our environmental policy here in Pennsylvania in order to protect our natural lands and resources.”


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Candidate Discussion on WGAL Channel 8

 

WGAL Candidate Discussion Video

This candidate discussion aired on WGAL during the Friday News at Noon on October 19th.

Pay close attention to Rep. Helm as she talks about cutting funding for our schools.  She states that there really were no cuts to public education, because they restored the cuts.

The truth is that we have millions of dollars missing from K thru 12 classrooms across the 104th district. The nearly $1 billion cut from public education has increased our property taxes and cut education opportunities for our children in both K thru 12 and in our system of State Colleges and Universities.

 

Retirees in the 104th

Here are two voter guides that were compiled on behalf of Pennsylvania’s Seniors:

Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans – see page 3 (Rep. Helm voted against the Alliance for 6 out of 7 bills)

AARP in the 104th (Rep. Helm failed to take the time to respond)

“I will support our seniors by organizing Fairs that bring together many agencies related to retirees, including medical, housing, transportation, legal, and veterans’.  I will work with our faith based community to network available services and grow into areas that are currently under served,” stated Chris Dietz, Candidate for State Representative in the 104th District.