November 2011 - In this month’s program, Piccola spends time at the Armstrong Valley Vineyard and Winery, owned and operated by Jake Gruver and Dean Miller who changed their careers to open the doors of this establishment in Upper Dauphin County earlier this year.  Wine connoisseurs and visitors to the vineyard located in Halifax will find a large selection of wines (red, white and fruit) available including sweet, dry, hybrids and vinifera.  The winery sits on approximately 100 acres of land once the home of a farm from the 1700s which developed to include a stone house, ice house, barn, granary and other buildings.  Piccola talks with the owners about the historic grounds and receives a tour of the winery which hosts a variety of events and is open regularly to the public.

October 2011 - In this month's program, Piccola visits the Strites’ Orchard Farm Market and Bakery, a 300-acre sustainably grown fruit and vegetable farm and fourth-generation family-owned and operated business located in Swatara Township. The Strites’ family has been farming in the Harrisburg area since 1843. Their market offers an abundance of produce, baked goods and jams and jellies, as well as fall activities outdoors for families of all ages, such as a corn maze and pumpkin patch. During the show, Piccola talks with family members regarding the market's history and tours the orchard to observe the produce being harvested in the fields, including the grading apple process.

August 2011 - The Ronald McDonald House in Hershey opened its doors in 1984 to provide accommodations for families who have children with a life-threatening illness. Twenty-seven years later, this home-away-from-home continues to serve families of pediatric patients who are being treated at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In this month’s program, Piccola revisits this special house to take a look at its latest renovations and expansion allowing the home to now serve several hundred additional families. Piccola’s show not only features the house's new amenities, but also includes interviews with volunteers and staff who provide assistance to visiting families and discussions with parents who have utilized the resources provided by the Ronald McDonald House.

July 2011 - This month, Piccola's cable television program features part-two of his series on ZooAmerica in Hershey. While the month of June included an overview of the zoo, its history and 100 years of operation, part-two highlights his tour of the various animal exhibits located within the five region’s of North America at the zoo with the director, Dale Snyder. He wraps-up his visit discussing the educational programs offered to visitors and participating in animal encounters, including feedings, with the general curator.

June 2011 - Founded in 1910 as Hershey Zoo by chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey, ZooAmerica has been celebrating the legacy and vision of its founder and 100 years of operation.  In his cable television programs which will include a two-part series and air in June and July, Piccola visits ZooAmerica and is provided an overview of the zoo’s history, mission and various animal exhibits by Troy Stump, director.  In addition, the shows highlight a number of animal encounters led by Elaine Gruin, educator curator, and Dale Snyder, general curator, as well as tours of the zoo’s five regions of North America. 

April/May 2011 - In this month's television program, Piccola tours and spends time at the Bethesda Mission which offers a number of ministries for those in need, including a men's shelter, women and children's shelter, youth center, and a medical clinic.  As Harrisburg's only shelter for men, the historic facility provides lodging, meals, hot showers, laundry facilities, and clothing, as needed.  In addition to assisting those with these basic needs, the mission provides comprehensive programming for those with substance abuse and mental health problems.  During the program, Piccola interviews the staff at the mission including a counselor and former client and talks with the director of the women's shelter. 

March 2011 - As Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Piccola recently visited two schools located in the heart of Central Pennsylvania to learn more about their success stories as it relates to education reform and offering choices to their students.  In this month's program, Piccola spent time at the Commonwealth Connections Academy, a local cyber charter school located in Harrisburg, and talked with administrators and teachers about their unique learning environment for students via a mobile classroom.  He also joined Senator Lloyd Smucker (R-13/Lancaster) to tour schools in the School District of Lancaster with Superintendent Pedro Rivera and observed their ongoing urban education reform efforts.  Piccola's visits and interviews highlight the educational climate of these institutions in which parents, school personnel, the community and other partners have joined forces to build an environment conducive to learning for all students. 

February 2011 - In this month's program, Piccola visits the 95th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show which took place in January and spends time examining the state's highest-quality animals, foods and products that this Commonwealth had to offer. He also spent time talking with long-time supporters and sponsors of the show and key leaders of the industry including Senator Elder Vogel Jr., Chairman of the Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee, former Secretaries of the state Department of Agriculture, industry representatives, and local residents from the area.

January 2011 - During this month's program, Piccola visits the Hershey Center for Applied Research (HCAR), the research park located adjacent to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center that provides life sciences and high technology companies and organizations with access to business and research resources. Piccola talks with Laura Butcher, HCAR Executive Director, board members and tenants occupying the facility about the significance of the center to the region and its future plans. He also spends time in the Apogee laboratory, HCAR's first private company tenant focused on various cancer treatments.

November 15, 2011 - Piccola rallies with school choice advocates for Senate Bill 1

September 28, 2011 - Piccola Joins Charter School Advocates to Call for the Passage of Major Education Reforms

September 1, 2011 - Piccola Comments on City Council’s Latest Vote & Future State of Harrisburg's Financial Affairs

August 17, 2011 - Senator Jeff Piccola discusses school choice, charter school reform, PSSA testing discrepancies and other issues.

May 24, 2011 - Senator Piccola Rallies With Charter & Cyber School Advocates for Greater Choice

May 3, 2011 - Piccola Participates in 10th Anniversary Celebration of State's Tax Credit Program, Calls for Expansion of School Choice in Pennsylvania

April 20, 2011 - Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15), chairman of the Senate Education Committee, discusses school choice, school mandate relief and charter school reform.

April 14, 2011 - Piccola Participates in Groundbreaking for HACC's New Law Enforcement Complex

April 12, 2011 - School Choice Rally, State Capitol

March 8, 2011 - Senator Piccola discusses Governor Tom Corbett's proposed 2011-12 state budget, which calls for reduced spending and no new taxes.

February 1, 2011 - WITF Smart Talk Radio Program: School Vouchers

January 31, 2011 - PCN Call-In Program: Education Issues & School Choice
- Part 1
- Part 2

January 25, 2011 - Senator Piccola and Senator Williams Discuss School Choice at a Legislative Briefing

January 25, 2011 - School Choice Rally: Piccola joined several hundred students and parents from around the state in partnership with Students First and several other key organizations for a rally in the Capitol Rotunda to support school choice and Senate Bill 1, legislation providing opportunity scholarships for students attending low performing schools.

January 23, 2011 - CBS/WHP Channel 21: Sen. Piccola Interview on Education & School Choice


January 21, 2011 - WITF's Smart Talk Program Featuring School Choice

 

January 4, 2011 - Senator Jeff Piccola (R-15), chairman of the Senate Education Committee discusses school choice, school accountability and mandate relief.