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July 20, 2020

Riverside School District Announces Return To School Plan

In an open letter published Friday, July 17th on the Riverside Beaver County School District website, the district Administrative Team published the district’s return to school plan, including information on transportation, face coverings and the district’s cyber program.  The statement reads as follows: The 2020-2021 school year is rapidly approaching, and our Pandemic Response Team is actively developing plans to accommodate a high level of rigor and curriculum delivery while also ensuring that all staff and students are safe to return to the buildings. It is imperative to note that Riverside families and students have been, and will continue to…

July 20, 2020

Library Activities for the week of July 20

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities. Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. NOTE The Library will continue doing curbside pickup. Please call us with the book(s), authors, genre or recommended material you would like to check out and our staff will see that it is in alphabetical order in the lobby for you. Limitations for patrons are 10 books and three, either books on CD or DVD’s, per person. All patrons must wear a mask when entering the lobby and wait until there are less than three people in the lobby….

July 17, 2020

ECASD: Mancini Out, Shipley In As Interim Superintendent

In a special meeting Friday night, the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Superintendent Joseph Mancini (effective September 22, 2020), voted to put him on administrative leave with pay until that date, and replaced him with Interim Superintendent Dr. Wes Shipley. Board President Renee Pitrelli; Board Vice President Gary Rozanski; and Directors Barbara Wilson, Matt Morella, Jean Biehls, Norman Boots, and Kathleen McCommons supported the moves. Directors Jennifer Tomon and Erica Gray dissented. Tomon publicly questioned Pitrelli regarding the appointment of Wesley as interim superintendent. “When did the board direct you to do so?”…

July 17, 2020

Borough Now Offering Free 2 Hour Parking Until August

The Borough of Ellwood City has generously announced 2-hour free parking on downtown meters through end of August. This comes after some have voiced concern over the ticketing as an obstacle for those still looking to support small business and restaurants in downtown Ellwood City during the ongoing pandemic. The official press release from the borough reads as follow: Free parking is designated at all currently metered spaces located on Lawrence Avenue, Bell Avenue, Crescent Avenue, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, and the Beaver Avenue parking lot for a maximum of two (2) hours from now through August 31,…

July 17, 2020

Ellwood City Borough Council to Meet Monday

Ellwood City Borough Council will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of the building. The following is the meeting agenda: 4:30pm – EXECUTIVE SESSION (Police Contract Negotiations) 5:45pm – 2019 Audit presentation (Mark Turnley, CPA) AGENDA/MOTION SHEET I. OPENING EXERCISES: A) Call to Order B) Roll Call C) Invocation – Norina Owens, Women of Faith International D) Pledge of Allegiance E) Visitors F) Communications II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting 6/17/20 A motion would be in order to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 6/17/20, as submitted. III. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS:…

July 16, 2020

PHOTOS: Carpenters Project Rebuilding Post COVID

Starting in 2002, the Carpenters Project has helped many families with exterior house projects and even during the pandemic of a century they didn’t take a break this year. Planning for their work week in July began back in March. With the changing health situations, the plans and needs for this year kept switching. Ultimately, it was decided that this years focus would be on helping homeowners with safety concerns. “Some of the phone calls that we receive from homeowners are scary,” said Steven Miller, Carpenters Project Director. “People are relying on us to help them get in and out…

July 16, 2020

Hitched and Unhitched – A 2020 Like No Other

As Christmas joy faded from our homes and the calendar turned to the year 2020, the fear of an unknown coronavirus set in not soon after. Winter thawed bringing not only spring months and warmer weather, but the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures have continued to grow as springtime stretched into June. Despite these odd times, many couples found a way to seal the deal and say “I Do”. From “self-uniting” to drive-thru marriages or virtual weddings, couples did what they had to do. Outdoor venues, creative seating arrangements, thoughtful food presentation, and fewer guests are what weddings may…

July 15, 2020

Grant Announced To Turn Stonecrest Golf Course Into Business Park

State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced this week the Commonwealth Financing Authority awarded a $2 million Business in Our Sites grant and a $3 million Business in Our Sites loan for the development of what will become the former Stonecrest Golf Course into the Stonecrest Business Park located in New Beaver Borough. The Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC), in cooperation with Stonecrest Business Park (SBP), plans to develop the former golf course into the Stonecrest Business Park. The site consisting of 213 acres, 110 acres of which is developable, is accessible to Interstate 79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike and…

July 15, 2020

Applications Now Accepted for Beginning Farmer Tax Credits

Applications are now being accepted for a tax credit program intended to support Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry by helping new farmers get established, according to Senator Elder Vogel, who authored the legislation that created the initiative. The Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program created by Senator Vogel’s measure, Senate Bill 478 (Act 65 of 2019), provides an incentive to landowners who lease or sell their land, buildings and equipment to beginning farmers. Landowners will receive a one-time personal income tax credit for the sale or a multi-year lease of property. The legislation requires all leases be enforced through written agreements and that…

July 15, 2020

Senate Committee Approves Bernstine’s Legislation to Provide More Transparency to Pennsylvanians

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) commended Senate State Government Committee Chairman John DiSanto (R-Dauphin/Perry) and members of the committee for passing his legislation that would amend the Sunshine Act to require a public agency to post public meeting agendas no later than 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting. “This bill is a commonsense and critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to increasing transparency and ensuring government officials think twice about letting important business fly under the taxpayers’ radar,” said Bernstine. “In today’s fast-paced world, it is important that we give our constituents the tools…