Editorials / Opinions

I thought, after Pennsylvania American Water (PAW) installed new pipes on “Jail Hill” between Lanesboro Borough and Susquehanna Deport Borough, that the problem of brown water coming into Lanesboro had been solved.

That was not the case.

Though we have not had brown water for 3 or 4 months, that I am aware of, on the evening of Saturday, April 4, 2026, the day before Easter, there was a large house fire in Lanesboro. In fact my neighbor’s home across the street from me burned down.

It was a bad fire. Fire companies from Susquehanna, Hallstead-Great Bend and Thompson responded.  Hoses sprayed the house from around 8pm to midnight or so.

As expected, the next morning, Easter Sunday our water for PA American Water was brown, very brown.

As usual there was no warning from PA American Water when hydrants are used and they send us brown water. But we expected it.

Pennsylvania American Water is under impression, the delusion really, that running the lowest cold water tap in house for “5 minutes or so” will clear the water. Maybe that is the case in a bigger towns or city but not in our borough. Around 8:00am I ran our outside hose, the lowest tap in the house, for 20 to 25 minutes. Our water was still brown

I ran the hose again for another 20 to 30 minutes around 10:00am hoping to clear it so we could shower for Easter. The water was still brown. The water was still brown after we took three showers. The water was still brown after we flushed the toilet a dozen times or more. In fact the water was brown all day. Only around 6:00 or 7:00pm did the water clear. So PA American Water still cannot give us clean water.

They still cannot properly advise us when the water will be brown. Ironically a week before (3/28/2026) PA American Water told us they had to fix a broken water main and our water might be brown for a few hours, or we would have no water. That day the water was not brown, nor we did we not have any water.

It would appear PA American Water really has no idea what will happen to our water.

I plan to flush my hot water tank in the next week or two. I expect the water in it to be black like coffee, as it was last time I did that about 3 years ago. If PADEP or PAW want to come to my home and witness this and take samples please let me know. PA American Water, do not just send anyone to my home as you have done in the past without scheduling the visit.

Pennsylvania American Water cannot be counted on to give Lanesboro Borough, PA clean water. I check the color of the incoming water every time I flush my toilet. That is the only way to monitor it. That has been the case for five or six years now. I continually report the problems. Nothing changes.

Fortunately, I have a filter on the water we drink and cook with, just like living in the Third World.

Sincerely,

Ed Arzouian, Lanesboro, PA

This tax season, small businesses across Pennsylvania are seeing the impact of Working Family Tax Cuts where they matter most – on their bottom line.

Last year, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the largest tax cut in US history, designed to empower the working- and middle-class Americans who keep our nation strong. Already, refunds for taxpayers are up 11% compared to last year, with the average refund reaching approximately $3,500.

But few groups benefit more than America’s 36 million small businesses, who create two out of every three new jobs and generate nearly half of US GDP.

So far this tax season, 12 million small businesses have saved an average of $7,000 thanks to Working Family Tax Cuts. Here in Pennsylvania, an estimated 1.2 million small businesses, or employing 42.5% of private sector employees, are eligible for provisions like the permanent 20% Small Business Tax Deduction. This year, job creators will be keeping more of what they earn – and reinvesting those savings back into their workforce, equipment, and future growth.

At the center of this relief is the permanent extension of the 199A Deduction. This provision alone has already delivered roughly $4,600 in average tax savings to 8 million entrepreneurs nationwide. Without it, many small businesses would have faced a significant tax increase of up to 50%. Instead, they now have the certainty to expand, hire, and invest.

Many manufacturers are also taking advantage of provisions that allow 100% expensing for new factories, equipment, and research and development. By allowing the full cost of these investments to be deducted in the year they occur, the law reduces tax burdens upfront and supports investment in expansion and modernization.

The law also delivers direct relief to Pennsylvanian workers. More than 4.6 million Americans across the country have already claimed ‘no tax on tips,’ and nearly 20 million have benefited from ‘no tax on overtime’ – with over 25 percent of returns reflecting that relief.

Working Family Tax Cuts also strengthen the financial security of families, retirees, and workers preparing for new careers. The law prevents the death tax from hitting family-owned farms and businesses by keeping higher estate tax exemptions in place. It reduces tax burdens for many seniors and increases the child tax credit to $2,200 per family. By expanding workforce Pell Grants for skills-based programs, it helps more workers earn credentials that lead directly to good-paying jobs. It also creates new Trump Accounts to encourage personal saving and investment, giving families a flexible, tax-advantaged way to build wealth over time.

When small businesses grow, Pennsylvania grows with them – through new jobs, higher wages, and stronger local economies and communities. That is the purpose of President Trump’s tax relief: to ensure that the people building businesses, creating jobs, and driving our economy forward have the resources and the support they need to succeed.

This is exactly what President Trump promised: putting American workers and small businesses first by putting more money in their pockets. This tax season, Working Family Tax Cuts are delivering for Main Street.

Sincerely,

Jim Spencer

SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator

NOTE: James “Jim” Spencer was appointed as the SBA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator on March 17, 2025. In his role, he is responsible for field staff of loan, business, and community outreach specialists overseeing the delivery and management of the federal agency’s small business programs, financial assistance, and business development initiatives. The Mid-Atlantic Region serves Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC, and West Virginia.