2005 Photo Gallery

December 13, 2005 - As part of the Senate Guest Page Program, Senator Robbins welcomed -- standing left to right Bill Nelson and Casey Howsare -- both seniors at Reynolds High School in Mercer County.
 

December 7, 2005 - The Pennsylvania State Association of Elected County Officials (PSAECO) presented Senator Robbins with their inaugural "Virgil F. Puskarich Award," in recognition and appreciation of his dedication and knowledge of local government and his ability to find answers and solve problems which most reflect the attributes of the late Virgil Puskarich, the former Executive Director of the Local Government Commission. From left to right stands PSAECO President and Franklin County Sheriff Robert Wollyung, Butler County Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans' Court Judy Moser, Senator Robbins, and the Senator's wife, Cindy.
 

December 9, 2005 - HARRISBURG – Pictured with State Senator Bob Robbins in the Senate Chamber are from left to right Nicholas Cianci, Naomi Marshall, Jenna Green, and John Stumpff, all eighth grade students who currently attend St. Michael School in Greenville.  Nicholas, Naomi, Jenna, and John served as guest pages of Senator Robbins this past week at the State Capitol.  As part of their duties as guest pages, the students delivered correspondence between legislative offices, attended meetings and the session of the Senate.
 

November 25, 2005 - Senator Robbins joins Adjutant General Jessica Wright, Representative Jerry Stern (R-80), Rep. Paul Semmel (R-187), Rep. Elinor Taylor (R-156, Sen. Don White (R-41), and members of the PA National Guard in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Pennsylvania's first militia law as well as “National Guard Day” in Pennsylvania.
 

HARRISBURG – October 27, 2005 - Pictured with Senator Bob Robbins is Pastor Dennis See (center) and Ryan Fitzsimmons.  Pastor See, pastor at the Altar International House of Prayer in Meadville, participated in the opening of the Senate session as the Senate Guest Chaplain on Tuesday, October 24, 2005.   A Guest Chaplain opens each session of the Pennsylvania Senate with a word of prayer and Pastor See was able to participate at the invitation of Senator Robbins.

Mr. Fitzsimmons, also a resident of Meadville, accompanied Pastor See to Harrisburg.

Harrisburg – October 18, 2005 – Senator Bob Robbins, a combat veteran of the Vietnam War attended the events of Pennsylvania's National Guard "Capitol Day" that were held in Soldiers Grove at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.  Pictured from L-R are Senator Mary Jo White (R-21), Sgt. Paul Statzer, Sgt. Chad Barnhart, Senator Bob Robbins, and Adjutant General Jessica Wright.  Sergeants Statzer and Barnhart, residents of Ford City, PA are members with Company A, 1-112^th Infantry of the Pennsylvania National Guard and are both combat veterans of Iraqi Enduring Freedom.

HARRISBURG—Senator Bob Robbins (center) is pictured with John Choffel, Jr. (left) and Lee Livingston (right) who were honored by PENNDOT in Harrisburg on October 17, for their participation in the 29th annual Statewide School Bus Driver Safety Competition.  Mr. Choffel, of Cochranton, was the Third Place winner in the Transit Style Division and is employed by Girardat Transportation.  Mr. Livingston, of Conneaut Lake, was the Third Place winner in the Conventional Division and is employed by Warren Brothers, Inc. 

Competitors were required to complete a written examination, as well as 11 behind-the-wheel events.

Standing with Senator Robbins are Major Maureen H. Weigl, Plans/Action Manager for Military Personnel and Colonel Barry T. Lowen, PA National Guard Human Resources Officer.
 

August 28, 2005 - Joining Senator Bob Robbins at the Kerr Technology Center in Titusville, Crawford County are Jerry Knight, Executive Director of the Precision Manufacturing Institute, Ken Halsaver, Director of the Kerr Technology Center, (Senator Robbins), and Michael Allyn, a member of the PMI Board of Directors.  Senator Robbins was able to secure $44,000 to replace the roof on the Kerr Technology Center in the Titusville Industrial Park.  PMI and Kerr Technology provide new skills training to hundreds of unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers to gain successful employment. A new roof will protect the new training equipment – such as a Hydraulic Trainer and a Thermal Science Trainer for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) -- in which Kerr Technology has invested.

HARRISBURG –  July 1, 2005 - The Keystone Girls State, sponsored by the American Legion, is a leadership development week for incoming high school seniors from all regions of Pennsylvania.  Students selected to attend Boys State have the opportunity to gain leadership skills through a variety of activities and presentations during the weeklong program, which was held at Shippensburg University. The hallmark of Boys State is the hands-on-government-practical exercise which spans the city, county and state levels of involvement. The weeklong event also included a trip to the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg to meet legislators and see the Senate and House in session. Pictured with Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) (left) are Timothy Gruber (center) and Tucker Gregg (right) of Grove City. Timothy and Tucker participated in the 65th annual Keystone Boys State program. Timothy was elected to the Keystone Boys State Senate and served on the Education Committee, while Tucker was elected to the Keystone Boys State House of Representatives and served on the Recreation and Land Use Committee.  

June 28, 2005 - HARRISBURG – The Keystone Boys State, sponsored by the American Legion, is a leadership development week for incoming high school seniors from all regions of Pennsylvania.  Students selected to attend Boys State have the opportunity to gain leadership skills through a variety of activities and presentations during the weeklong program, which was held at Shippensburg University. The hallmark of Boys State is the hands-on-government-practical exercise which spans the city, county and state levels of involvement. The weeklong event also included a trip to the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg to meet legislators and see the Senate and House in session. Pictured with Senator Bob Robbins (left) are Timothy Gruber (center) and Tucker Gregg (right) of Grove City. Timothy and Tucker participated in the 65th annual Keystone Boys State program. Timothy was elected to the Keystone Boys State Senate and served on the Education Committee, while Tucker was elected to the Keystone Boys State House of Representatives and served on the Recreation and Land Use Committee.  

June 14, 2005 - At a recent ceremony at Soldiers Grove, located behind the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, Senator Bob Robbins and other legislators, joined officials from the Pennsylvania Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Pennsylvania Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, along with other Pennsylvania veterans to present 10 vans for the DAV Transportation Network. Last year over 270 volunteer drivers accumulated more than 100,000 volunteer hours and drove over 1.5 million miles to transport over 50,000 Pennsylvania veterans to receive medical treatment at VA facilities. These 10 vans will be used to continue this excellent service to Pennsylvania veterans. The vans were purchased through a $250,000 line item appropriation in the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs budget that was passed by the General Assembly for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. Pictured with one of the veterans vans are from left to right Representative Scott Hutchinson (R-64), Ben and Marie Grant members of American Legion Post 111 of Meadville, and Senator Bob Robbins.

HARRISBURG – Pictured with Senator Bob Robbins on the Senate floor is Pastor Dennis See.  Pastor See, pastor at the Alter International House of Prayer in Meadville, participated in the opening of the Senate session as the Senate Guest Chaplain on Wednesday, June 14, 2005. 

A Guest Chaplain opens each session of the Pennsylvania Senate with a word of prayer and Pastor See was able to participate at the invitation of Senator Robbins.

June 14, 2005 - Pictured left to right – Cadet holding the colors of the new Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol Legislative Squadron, Senator Bob Robbins, Representative Dick Stevenson (R-8), Cadet Captain Meredith Simon, Representative Rod Wilt (R-17), and Second Lieutenant Gary Fleming.2nd Row L-R- Brad Nolan, Cadet Lt. Joel Hocker, Cadet Second Lieutenant Joshua Fleming and Cadet Sgt. Nichole McCandless.

June 11, 2005 - Pictured with Senator Bob Robbins on the Senate floor is Kristen McDonald, the daughter of Keith and Mary McDonald of Transfer, Pennsylvania.  Kristen, a 7th grade student at Reynolds Junior High School, was a contestant at the 13th Annual Pennsylvania State Championship 24 Challenge Math Tournament held in Harrisburg the first week of June.  Kristen was accompanied to Harrisburg by her parents and her brother, Wesley McDonald.

Senator Bob Robbins (center) receives a certificate of appreciation from Dr. Stephanie Corrette-Bennett and Bernard Durkin of Westminster College recognizing the Senator's valuable contributions to Westminster College's Science in Motion Program.   Sen. Robbins is the prime sponsor of legislation which would codify into the law the national award winning program. Science in Motion provides grants to colleges to purchase high tech science equipment.  This equipment is then transported to and shared with area school districts so that students have access to the latest equipment.  Westminster College currently serves the Farrell, Grove City, Hermitage, Highlands, Jamestown, Lakeview, Laurel, Mercer, Mohawk, Neshannock, New Castle, Penn Crest, Seneca Valley, Sharon, Sharpsville, Slippery Rock, and Wilmington school districts.

Senator Robbins speaks in support of the Science in Motion Program at a Capitol press conference.  Senator Robbins was joined by several legislators, including Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R-30) (background, left), Representative Larry Sather (R-81), and Dr. Lorraine Mulfinger of the Science in Motion Program.  At the press conference, but not pictured, were Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2), Rep. Fred McIlhattan (R-63), and Rep. James Roebuck, Jr. (D-188).  Sen. Robbins is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 414 which would codify into law the national award winning Science in Motion program.

May 11, 2005 - HARRISBURG – Recently the East Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building was the center of activity during the Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) 11^th annual client exposition titled Helping Businesses Start, Grow & Prosper.  The expo provides an opportunity for the SBDC's to showcase new businesses in Pennsylvania.  Joining Senator Bob Robbins - left, were Debra Steiner, Director of the Small Business Development Center at Gannon University, Christopher and Darla Motta, owners of Legacy Banquet & Conference Center a full service banquet and conference center near Grove City, PA, Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker-Knoll and Mark Hanaway, Director of Marketing of Tech Tool & Mold, Inc. and Tech Molded Plastics of Meadville, PA.  Tech Tool & Mold, Inc. supplies full-service product engineering, design/development, precision tooling and custom molded plastics.

May 11, 2005 - HARRISBURG – Joining Senator Bob Robbins at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg were Jennifer Entwistle and her son, Sean, along with Jackie Stewart and her children,  J.T., Ben and Sarah, from Centerville, PA.   The Entwistle and Stewart children were visiting the State Capitol Building as part of their home schooling program.  During their visit they had the opportunity to see the magnificent artwork of the capitol building as well as to learn first hand the workings of the legislative process and seeing their government at work.   Also pictured with the students is a representative from the Erie Zoo (far right), who had a display in the state capitol building promoting the zoo and its many fine programs.

April 21, 2005 - HARRISBURG – Pictured with Senator Robbins in the Senate Chamber are Bill Nelson (left) and Casey Howsare (right) juniors at Reynolds High School.   Bill and Casey recently served as guest pages of Senator Bob Robbins.  As part of their duties as guest pages, Bill and Casey delivered correspondence between legislative offices, attended committee meetings and the session the Senate. "The guest page program is an excellent opportunity for young people to get a close up view of their government in action," stated Senator Robbins.

 Bill is the son of Barry and Christine Nelson of Transfer and Casey is the son of Larry Howsare and M. J. Yusko-Howsare also of Transfer.

May 11, 1005 - HARRISBURG – Pictured with Senator Bob Robbins and Representative Rod Wilt in the Senate Chamber are from left to right Angela Valesky, Elizabeth Zoccole, Catalina Estrada, and Kathleen Shaughnessy, all eighth grade students who currently attend St. Michael School in Greenville.  Angela, Elizabeth, Catalina and Kathleen recently served as guest pages of Senator Robbins.  As part of their duties as guest pages, the students delivered correspondence between legislative offices, attended meetings and the session the Senate. "The guest page program is an excellent opportunity for young people to get a close up view of their government in action," stated Senator Robbins.

April 12, 2005 – Pictured with Senator Robbins in his Harrisburg office are farmers from Butler, Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer County who were visiting the state capital for the annual Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Legislative Day.  Senator Robbins and area farmers discussed legislative issues that are priorities to the farming community.

HARRISBURG –   Pictured with Senator Robbins on the floor of the Senate of Pennsylvania is Suzanne Ulasz, a Ninth Grade student at Hickory High School.  The daughter of Walter and Leisa Ulasz, Suzanne shadowed Senator Robbins recently during a session day in conjunction with the Girl Scout Capital Days program.  "The Girl Scout Capital Days program is an excellent opportunity for young women to get a close up view of their government in action," stated Senator Robbins.

April 6,2005 - The state Senate approved a resolution sponsored by Senator Bob Robbins congratulating the Pennsylvania State Police on its 100th anniversary.  The Pennsylvania State Police became the nation’s first police organization of its kind with the enactment of legislation on May 2, 1905.  Pictured in the Senate Chamber are from left to right, Lt. Colonel Ralph Periandi – Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Senator Bob Robbins (R-50), Colonel Jeffrey B. Miller – Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, and Captain William McHale, Director of State Police Legislative Affairs.

HARRISBURG –   At a news conference on March 22, 2005 in the Governor's reception room in the state capitol building commemorating the first anniversary of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania's innovative Job Bank program, LORD Corp. was awarded a $2.5 million Citizens Bank loan which will be used to help create 100 new jobs in Erie and Crawford Counties within a three year period. 

The company will use the funds to upgrade its Cambridge Springs and Saegertown facilities in Crawford County, as well as its Erie plant.  New equipment will be purchased and extensive training will be provided at each of these manufacturing sites.  Lord Corporation designs, manufactures and markets its adhesives, motor mounts and various vibration control devices to numerous industries worldwide.

Pictured in the Governor's reception room in the state capitol building is from L-R, Stephen D. Steinour, Chairman and CEO of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, Governor Edward Rendell, Dennis Howard and Mark Rose representing Lord Corporation, Representative Florindo Fabrizio (D-2), Senator Bob Robbins and Secretary of Community & Economic Development Dennis Yablonsky. 

February 15, 2005 – On February 15th and 16th students from the Mercer County Career Center represented Mercer County and the Career Center at the Career and Technical Education Week Celebration at the state capitol building.  Pictured from L-R are instructor Paul Ryan, student Aaron Buchanan, Senator Bob Robbins, Principal Larry Klemens, student Corry Keck and instructor Brenda Hittle.  Senator Robbins is holding a special telephone, a gift made by the students in the Electronics and Manufacturing Related Technology Program.

February 15, 2005 – On February 15^th and 16th students from Crawford County Vo-Tech represented Crawford County and the Vo-Tech school at the Career and Technical Education Week Celebration at the state capitol building.  Pictured from L-R are students Melissa Schwartzbauer, Lynnette Bonanno, Lindsey Leonard, Senator Bob Robbins, instructor Shari Wilkinson, student Ashley White and instructor Bonnie Stein.

February 8, 2005 - Senator Robbins, as well as Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-8), recently met with legendary musical performers Jon "Bowzer" Bauman (formerly of "Sha Na Na"), Frank Maffei ("Danny and the Juniors"), and Joe Terry ("Danny and the Juniors") to discuss Sen. Robbins' "Truth in Music" legislation, which would restrict "knock-off" musical groups from capitalizing off the names of famous groups.  From left to right:  Maffei, Stevenson, Bauman, Terry, and Robbins.

February 15, 2005 – Alycia McCullough, the current Miss Crawford County, visited local legislators at the state capitol to promote her platform "G.E.T. Active" by providing opportunities for people to gain information, exercise regularly, and take an active role in fighting cardiovascular disease.  Pictured on the Senate floor with Miss Crawford County is the Crawford County legislative delegation: L-R  Representative Rod Wilt, Senator Bob Robbins, Alycia McCullough – Miss Crawford County, Representative Teresa Forcier and Representative John Evans.

Senator Bob Robbins hosted his annual Student Government Seminar on October 22, 2004 at Thiel College, Greenville. Close to 100 students representing seventeen school districts participated as "Senators for a Day" in this event. The students attended committee meetings in the morning and participated in a mock session of the full Senate in the afternoon.

Mark Richards (left), Assistant State Director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Pennsylvania’s small business advocacy group, presented Senator Robbins with the Guardian of Small Business award. Pennsylvania small businesses account for 52 percent of jobs in the Commonwealth.
 

Senator Bob Robbins joined local officials and Home Depot representatives for the grand opening of the new Home Depot store on August 18, 2004, in Meadville, Crawford County, PA.