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January 22, 2016

Mayor’s Office: Be Alert for On-Going Phone Scam

Mayor Anthony Court wants to remind residents about an on-going scam that the US Department of Treasury has been warning taxpayers to be on high alert for. Some Ellwood City residents have called the Mayor’s office to let him know that they have received this type of phone call, telling them they need to pay their back taxes immediately or they will be arrested. These individuals are targeting our elderly, trying to frighten them into paying immediately. Please pay attention to the elderly in our area, so that they do not fall victim to this phone scam. Remind everyone, especially…

January 22, 2016

2016 Royal Rumble Party

The 2016 Royal Rumble Party will be held at It’s Time Fitness (formerly Walnut Ridge School) on Sunday, Jan. 24. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The WWE Royal Rumble will be shown on a giant ten foot screen for fans to enjoy. Special guest Shane “The Franchise” Douglas will be hanging out throughout the evening watching the Royal Rumble and mingling with fans for photos and autographs. There will be a Pick ‘Em contest for the Royal Rumble with the winner getting $500. Second and third place winners will receive $100 and $75. Winners will be announced…

January 22, 2016

Senators to Offer Supplemental Funding Measure for Agriculture Programs

HARRISBURG – Citing agriculture’s key role in Pennsylvania’s economy and the need to adequately prepare for a potential outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and other threats, Senator Elder Vogel (R-47) and his colleagues Ryan Aument (R-36), Gene Yaw (R-23) Dave Argall (R-29) and Lloyd Smucker (R-13) are preparing legislation to restore vital funding for agriculture-related items vetoed from the state budget by Governor Tom Wolf. Senator Vogel, a dairy farmer from Beaver County who also serves as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, said the supplemental appropriations measure they plan to introduce would provide approximately…

January 22, 2016

New Chamber Director Settles In, Set Goals

“First week on the job and we already lost Trader Horn,” Ray Santillo joked as he worked on arranging his new desk. Santillo is the new executive director the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce, a role he began on Monday, Jan. 11. Although there are many challenges ahead, he has a matching enthusiasm for the work and the Ellwood area. Santillo is a lifelong resident of Ellwood City, who raised four children here and says he is blessed that they all live nearby. He made his career with Riverside school district as a teacher, coach and ultimately principal of…

January 21, 2016

Council Appoints One Full-Time Patrol Officer Over Objections Raised by Two Members

In a 5-2 vote, Ellwood City borough council appointed a full-time patrol officer on Monday, Jan. 19. The officer is also the nephew of recently sworn-in council member George Celli. The new full-time officer, Jonathan Fauzey, has been working part-time since a previous council hired him in August 2013. Monday’s vote had similarities to the vote almost two and a half years ago to hire Fauzey as part-time. In both votes, council members Judi Dici and Marilyn Mancini voted against the motion but were defeated by a majority that included Celli. Dici and Celli have been off council since losing…

January 21, 2016

Committee Approves Vogel Bill Reducing General Assembly Size

The Senate State Government Committee today (Jan. 20) approved legislation introduced by Senator Elder Vogel that would reduce the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Senate Bill 488, which would decrease the Senate from 50 to 45 Senatorial Districts and the House of Representatives from 203 to 153 districts, now goes to the full Senate for consideration. “This is a bill that I have been working to get passed since I was elected to the Senate. When I first ran for office, one consistent message I heard from voters was that the size and scope of the Pennsylvania General Assembly…

January 20, 2016

Veterans’ Specialist to Visit Gibbons’ Office Next Week

To assist veterans and their families, state Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, today announced he will host state Department of Labor and Industry veterans’ specialist Ryan Paglia in his Ellwood City office from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. Gibbons said Paglia develops job and training opportunities for veterans, with special emphasis on veterans with service-connected disabilities. Paglia provides direct services to veterans, enabling them to be competitive in the labor market; he also promotes community and employer support for employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeship and on-the-job training. No appointment is necessary. Constituents with questions can contact Gibbons’…

January 20, 2016

Borough Council January Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Borough Council meeting held on Jan. 19: Visitors Ralph Chiappetta, a former council member, asked council if the police department had implemented a schedule change passed by council last year and intended to reduce overtime. Council members replied that as that is Mayor Anthony J. Court’s duty, they are not yet aware if the changes have been implemented. Chiappetta asked council to find out and to authorize Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie to obtain a writ of mandamus if the mayor doesn’t comply. Appointments/Resignations Ellwood City Library Board- Norma Zingaro and…

January 19, 2016

One of Perry School’s Boilers to Be Replaced

In a unanimous vote on Jan. 14, the Ellwood City School Board decided to replace a broken boiler at Perry Lower Intermediate at a cost of $90,000. Perry has two boilers but only one is needed to properly heat the building. Both are over 50 years old and are well past their expected years of service, according to Business Manager Richard Zarone. “It could last five years, it could last five minutes,” Zarone said regarding the functional old boiler. Zarone presented the board with an option to replace both boilers at a cost of $150,000. Replacing both this year would…

January 19, 2016

Three School Board Members Wish to Change Ellwood City Festival’s Relationship with District

Although they were shut down by a majority vote on Jan. 14, three Ellwood City school board members wanted to change the district’s relationship with the Ellwood City Festival Committee. Erica Gray, Jennifer Tomon and Danielle Woodhead, all new members as of December, voted no on a routine annual motion to approve the Festival Committee’s request to use district property. “It’s our property. We should negotiate directly with the organizations that will be using it,” Tomon had said at Monday’s agenda meeting. The property specified in the motion includes the old Ewing Park School ground and the parking lot on…