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Politics

February 6, 2024

New Advocacy Group Formed to Preserve Ewing Park, Oppose Planned Softball Field

A new advocacy group has been formed to preserve Ewing Park. The Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group was announced during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Committee Meeting Monday evening. Chairperson for the group, Karen Mancini, is a resident of Beatty Street, which faces the old Ewing Park School property where the district has proposed and plans to construct a girls softball field. She made a statement on behalf of the group during the meeting, “We are organized and represented by legal counsel and stand ready to oppose any attempt to convert the subject property to…

February 6, 2024

Bernstine to Host ‘Supporting Our Seniors’ February 10th

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) is inviting senior citizens, their families and caregivers to a “Supporting Our Seniors” event on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10-11:30 a.m., at the Unionville Volunteer Fire Company. The event is a one-stop shop to learn more about programs and help available for senior citizens in the 8th Legislative District. “Older adults are the fastest-growing market in the nation, and they deserve our total support,” said Bernstine. “Showing support for our senior citizens is essential. When these people feel valued, they benefit enormously. Their emotional well-being improves, and they can even have better health outcomes.”…

January 26, 2024

Bernstine Announces Campaign For Re-Election

[PRESS RELEASE] I am excited to announce that I am running for re-election to the State House of Representatives in the 8th District, which includes parts of Butler and Lawrence Counties. Unlike corrupt politicians in Harrisburg, I stand up for what I believe—not what special interests or the Harrisburg swamp tries to persuade me to believe. I got elected to serve my neighbors, and that has never changed. The liberals are fighting hard to destroy our way of life on the national level AND in Harrisburg, and I am committed to fighting back. We are in the heat of a…

January 16, 2024

Borough Manager Provides Update on Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project During Council Regular Meeting

During the regular meeting of Ellwood City Borough Coucil Tuesday night, Borough Manager Kevin Swogger said the Wampum Avenue Pump Station Project is about 40 percent completed. The Borough had announced the start of the project in October in an effort to improve the infrastructure in the area. The project is a sewer upgrade for multiple existing sewer transport lines in the wooded area East of Wampum Ave. A pump station will also be built to collect from these lines to be transported to the Ellwood City Borough Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. The tentative construction completion date of the…

January 11, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Nominate Candidate to the MIU IV Board; Ewing Park Residents Speak Against Field Usage

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors unanimously nominated new Director Kevin Boariu to the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV (MIU IV) Board. Director Jean Biehls made the motion to nominate Boariu. The MIU IV Board will now have to accept the ECASD Board’s nomination. According to the MIU IV’s website, “it is one of 29 IU’s serving schools in Pennsylvania. The intermediate unit serves the 27 school districts and three vo-techs in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties. In addition to providing programs and services requested by area school districts, MIU IV also implements programs mandated by the Pennsylvania…

January 11, 2024

Education and Access the Focus of Joint Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Hearing

HARRISBURG – The state Senate and House Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees gathered this week for a hearing at the PA Farm Show to discuss the five-year impact of the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Bill with the main theme of those conversations being agriculture education and access. The hearing was led by Senate committee leaders, Majority Chair Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Democratic Chair Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11), and House committee leaders, Majority Chair Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-121) and Republican Chair Rep. Dan Moul (R-91). “Today’s hearing was incredibly productive as we witnessed the immense impact of the PA…

January 11, 2024

Bernstine To Host “Protecting Our Second Amendment Rights” Seminar Jan. 16

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) is offering residents of the 8th Legislative District the opportunity to learn more about Pennsylvania’s current gun laws during a “Protecting Our Second Amendment Rights” seminar on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The seminar will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Scott Township Volunteer Fire Company, 3712 Harlansburg Road, New Castle. “This free event has been very popular in the past and I have no doubt it will be well attended this time around,” said Bernstine. “The feedback I receive from attendees, including longtime gunowners, is they learned something new through this seminar.” The event…

January 9, 2024

Congressman Mike Kelly Visits The Borough

Mayor Anthony Court welcomed Congressman Mike Kelly in the borough last Friday. Kelly was in the area and met with the mayor and Sgt. Michael McBride concerning grant funds for police funding. Court and McBride proposed several needs for the department and Congressman Kelly is trying to secure funds through grants. While in Lawrence County, the Congressman followed his visit to Ellwood City with a stop in Wampum to meet with Mayor Jesse Altman and local officials. Congressman Kelly is the U.S. Representative serving the 16th District of Pennsylvania. The counties in the 16th District include Butler County, Crawford County,…

January 5, 2024

Council Reorganizes, Reappoints Borough Manager

Ellwood City Borough Council held its reorganizational meeting on Tuesday January 3. In a unanimous vote, Brad Ovial was chosen as President and Michele Lamenza was chosen as Vice President. Borough Manager Kevin Swogger was reappointed in a 6-0 vote (Lamenza was absent from the meeting), for a two-year employment agreement for $80,000. General election incumbants George Celli and Caleb Cragle were sworn into office as well as new Councilman the Rev. James “Jimmy” Johnson. Jim Barry and Celli were reappointed as council representatives for Ellwood City Revitalization. Barry was also reappointed as the borough representative for the Lawrence County…

December 7, 2023

ECASD Board of Directors Reorganizes, Fills Vacant Seat

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors elected a president, vice president, and also appointed a new board member to a vacant seat. Jennifer Tomon was named president in a unanimous vote by the board. The board was split, however, on the vice president seat between Jean Biehls (supporters: Claire Fauzey, Erica Gray, and newly elected Kevin Boariu) and Kathy Galbreth (supporters: Norman Boots, Kathy Tillia, Jennifer Tomon). Following two roll call votes, the board would not sway on their choices. Finally the tie was broken once Robyn Nicklas was appointed to fill the vacant seat left after…