News
Carney’s new M.C. office opens
MOUNT CARMEL — Roie Spieller sat behind her desk in the former Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Co. building Wednesday morning, waiting patiently to help someone.
BY DOMENICK MOORE
STAFF WRITER
domenick_m@newsitem.com
MOUNT CARMEL — Roie Spieller sat behind her desk in the former Guarantee Trust and Safe Deposit Co. building Wednesday morning, waiting patiently to help someone.
A constituent caseworker for U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10, Spieller had sat there for an hour without a visitor. She was alone in the freshly-painted, spacious first floor of the building at Third and Oak streets, with nothing but the desk, two filing cabinets and a collection of fans for company. Yet she remained positive.
“I have an appointment,” Spieller said with a smile. “He just didn’t give a time.”
The new office hours in Mount Carmel, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every fourth Wednesday of the month, are the latest addition to the congressman’s efforts to remain accessible to every constituent in every county he represents, she said.
“With the price of gas and everything, we try to have office hours in every county the congressman represents,” Spieller added.
That includes an office on North Franklin Street in Shamokin, as well as hours in Danville, Sunbury, a permanent office in Williamsport and locations in Union and Snyder counties.
During those office hours, constituents can get help with any issue involving the federal government. Some of the more common issues that arise are Veterans Affairs administrative problems and issues with Social Security. The hot topic these days, though, is Uncle Sam’s stimulus checks.
Spieller can help expedite the process for residents who have yet to receive checks, she said. So far, she’s handled around 25 such cases, and met with success in 20 of those.
A warm and gracious woman, Spieller has been with the congressman’s office since April 2007 after 33 years with PennDOT. When most retirees would be looking forward to a slower pace, Spieller said she wanted to “do something more and help directly. This was a great opportunity.”
Despite the slow start in Mount Carmel, business has been booming in Shamokin, especially now that the weather has been warmer. Spieller fields around 20 calls a day, with at least one or two people stopping in at the office.
Those calls and visits are what makes the work gratifying for Spieller.
“The people are very grateful. They say, ‘Oh, my goodness, you called me back,’” she said, chuckling a bit. “It’s a good feeling when they’re appreciative. They’re good, down-to-earth people looking for some help.”
The idea for the expansion into Mount Carmel came from Meg Bartos, president of Mount Carmel Downtown Inc., a revitalization committee that will share space with Spieller in the Guarantee Trust building. That group will open its doors on Friday.
“Meg Bartos was working with the regional director in Williamsport,” Spieller said, “and she felt a need for office hours.” There’s a high percentage of senior citizens in the borough who can benefit from Spieller’s presence, Bartos said.
“And we agreed to do that,” Spieller noted. In fact, if demand gets high enough, the hours in the borough will be increased.
Any Mount Carmel residents who have questions or want to schedule an appointment with Spieller may call the Shamokin office at 644-1682.
A constituent caseworker for U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10, Spieller had sat there for an hour without a visitor. She was alone in the freshly-painted, spacious first floor of the building at Third and Oak streets, with nothing but the desk, two filing cabinets and a collection of fans for company. Yet she remained positive.
“I have an appointment,” Spieller said with a smile. “He just didn’t give a time.”
The new office hours in Mount Carmel, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every fourth Wednesday of the month, are the latest addition to the congressman’s efforts to remain accessible to every constituent in every county he represents, she said.
“With the price of gas and everything, we try to have office hours in every county the congressman represents,” Spieller added.
That includes an office on North Franklin Street in Shamokin, as well as hours in Danville, Sunbury, a permanent office in Williamsport and locations in Union and Snyder counties.
During those office hours, constituents can get help with any issue involving the federal government. Some of the more common issues that arise are Veterans Affairs administrative problems and issues with Social Security. The hot topic these days, though, is Uncle Sam’s stimulus checks.
Spieller can help expedite the process for residents who have yet to receive checks, she said. So far, she’s handled around 25 such cases, and met with success in 20 of those.
A warm and gracious woman, Spieller has been with the congressman’s office since April 2007 after 33 years with PennDOT. When most retirees would be looking forward to a slower pace, Spieller said she wanted to “do something more and help directly. This was a great opportunity.”
Despite the slow start in Mount Carmel, business has been booming in Shamokin, especially now that the weather has been warmer. Spieller fields around 20 calls a day, with at least one or two people stopping in at the office.
Those calls and visits are what makes the work gratifying for Spieller.
“The people are very grateful. They say, ‘Oh, my goodness, you called me back,’” she said, chuckling a bit. “It’s a good feeling when they’re appreciative. They’re good, down-to-earth people looking for some help.”
The idea for the expansion into Mount Carmel came from Meg Bartos, president of Mount Carmel Downtown Inc., a revitalization committee that will share space with Spieller in the Guarantee Trust building. That group will open its doors on Friday.
“Meg Bartos was working with the regional director in Williamsport,” Spieller said, “and she felt a need for office hours.” There’s a high percentage of senior citizens in the borough who can benefit from Spieller’s presence, Bartos said.
“And we agreed to do that,” Spieller noted. In fact, if demand gets high enough, the hours in the borough will be increased.
Any Mount Carmel residents who have questions or want to schedule an appointment with Spieller may call the Shamokin office at 644-1682.
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