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August 16, 2022

Bernstine Introduces Legislation to Enhance Classroom Safety

HARRISBURG – After the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, where children and educators were killed at an elementary school, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler, Lawrence) has introduced legislation to enhance the safety of children and staff while on school property. “Mass murderers are often attracted to “soft targets” where they know victims are not armed,” said Bernstine. “According to the Crime Prevention Resource Center, there has not been a single mass shooting in a school where staff were clearly allowed to carry a firearm.” House Bill 2771 would allow school employees who possess a valid Pennsylvania concealed carry permit to be…

July 29, 2022

Gov. Wolf Files Lawsuit to Protect Reproductive Rights

As part of Governor Tom Wolf’s ongoing commitment to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, today he filed a lawsuit against the Republican-led General Assembly for their unconstitutional attempt to ban abortion in Pennsylvania. “The Republican-led General Assembly continues to take extraordinary steps to dismantle access to abortion and implement a radical agenda. Frustrated that their legislation may face my veto pen again, they instead loaded multiple unrelated constitutional amendments into ​a joint resolution and rammed the bill through during the budget process,” Gov. Wolf said. “As long as I remain governor, I will take every step to ensure that abortion remains legal, safe and accessible in Pennsylvania.” In the court filing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Governor Wolf…

July 19, 2022

Borough to Seek Residents for Comprehensive Plan Committee

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to accept letters of interest from Borough residents willing to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee. The Comprehensive Plan Committee shall consist of three Council members, Borough Manager David Allen, and five Borough residents. Community planning, according to the American Planning Association, is “a process that seeks to engage all members of the community to create a more prosperous, convenient, equitable, healthy, and attractive place for present and future generations.” One of the fundamental responsibilities of local government is to plan for future growth and development of the community. The guidance document that results from…

July 8, 2022

Senate Passes 2022-23 State Budget that Cuts Taxes, Funds Essential Services

HARRISBURG – The Senate approved a $45.2 billion General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23 that meets the needs of Pennsylvanians today without creating multi-billion-dollar budget deficits in the future, according to Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47), who voted for the measure. Senate Bill 1100 now goes to the governor’s desk for enactment into law. The $45.2 billion budget, which also includes federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, represents a 2.9% increase over the previous year’s spending – and $500 million less than Gov. Tom Wolf’s original budget request. The budget agreement does not include any broad-based tax increases and…

June 21, 2022

Borough Council Approves Proposed Referendum for 1 Mill Tax Increase on November Ballot

Ellwood City Borough Council plans to request that the Lawrence County Election Board place a referendum on the November 2022 ballot asking the electors of Ellwood City to approve a one (1) mill tax for ambulance, rescue, and other emergency services to provide advanced life support. Council voted 6-1 in favor of the plan. Councilman James Barry voted no and Councilwoman Judith Dici was absent from the meeting. Barry said he doesn’t believe this is a good time to add financial burden of any kind to the residents of Ellwood City with the rise in gas prices and other goods….

May 19, 2022

Borough Of Ellwood City Announces Vacancy

The Borough of Ellwood City has announced a vacancy exists on the Ellwood City Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service Commission is one of the Borough’s authorities, boards and commissions composed of volunteer citizen appointees which perform vital functions within the Borough. Any Borough resident interested in serving on the Commission is asked to submit a letter of interest to the Borough Secretary at 525 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City. All letters must be due/postmarked on or before 4:00 p.m. on June 2, 2022.

May 17, 2022

EC Borough Hires Summer Employees

Ellwood City Borough Council hired a list of summer employees during the Monday Regular Meeting. Council approved: A motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held 4/18/22, as submitted. A motion to approve the Pre-Paid Voucher List dated 5/11/22, in the amount of $455,081 and the List of Vouchers to be Paid dated 5/11/22, in the amount of $209,623.29. A motion to approve the Departmental Reports, as submitted. A motion to adopt an ordinance, as submitted, regulating disorderly houses. A disorderly house is defined as any place within the borough where persons gather or abide, and where the…

May 16, 2022

General Primary Elections Are Tuesday

The General Primary Election is Tuesday May 17, 2022. Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Mail ballots must be received by your county board of elections by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Two locations to vote are available in Franklin Township: Franklin Township Building, 897 State Route 288, Fombell, PA 16123 Volunteer Fire Department, 808 Old Zelienople Road, Ellwood City, PA 16117 Seven locations to vote are available in the Borough of Ellwood City: FIRST WARD: 1st Dist Community Action; 926 Crescent Ave. SECOND WARD: 1st Dist First Methodist Church; 416 Crescent Ave. &…

April 23, 2022

Beaver, Lawrence County Projects Receive a Combined Total of $4.3 Million

HARRISBURG – A total of five Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants, with a combined total of $4.3 million, have been awarded to Beaver and Lawrence County projects, according to Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47). The majority of that grant funding total – $2.3 million – went to Shenango Area School District toward the cost of the already-constructed Shenango Recreation Complex in Shenango Township, Lawrence County. The indoor sports facility features an indoor walking track, three basketball and volleyball courts, three pickleball courts, a state-of-the-art weight room, pole vault and long jump pits and a batting cage area. “The recreation facility…

April 20, 2022

Bernstine Demands Answers Regarding ‘Gender Unicorn’ Taught to Young Students

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) recently wrote a letter to Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Secretary Noe Ortega about material that is targeted at young students. A slideshow was provided to Bernstine with the “Gender Unicorn” and “Genderbread Person,” which was presented during a seminar at a local university. The purpose of the seminar was to expose the way that future teachers are learning how they could have conversations with children in kindergarten, and first and second grades. “There is no reason to be having these conversations with such young children, and it is unacceptable,” said Bernstine. “The classroom…