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January 3, 2022

Ellwood City Borough Council Reorganizes, Sets 2022 Meeting Dates

Ellwood City Borough Council held its reorganizational meeting Monday night. Newly elected Mayor Anthony Court was administered his oath of office by Jerry Cartwright, magisterial district judge. Court then administered the oath of office to the newly elected council members: Jim Barry, Michele Lamenza, Brad Ovial, and Jan Williams. Ovial joined council after Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera resigned in August. Her term was set to expire on December 31, 2021. Guerrera had moved out of the borough, leaving her legally unable to fulfill the rest of her term. Ovial and Williams both submitted letters of interest in filling the vacant seat…

December 22, 2021

Oral Argument at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

For the past 10 years, I have taken my United States Advanced Placement Government & Politics class to Philadelphia to hear oral argument at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. I have solicited all the funds for the trips from community business owners, my former steel mill buddies, and from my good friends and family. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention them in this article: Tommy Pietrcollo, Judge Dom Motto, Robin Fazioli, Carol Fazioli Cutajar and her husband Paul, Michael Perry, Sandy Carna, Michael Neupauer, Joann & Michael Smith, Jeff Foley, Gregory Manzo, Dan Miller, Springfield Group, Johnny Martini, Catalyst,…

December 22, 2021

Ellwood City Police Department to Get K9

Ellwood City Borough Council voted Monday night to purchase a police K9. Officials moved to approve a quote from Shallow Creek Kennels for $15,000. In addition to the dog, the price includes a six-week handler course, manuals, and handouts. The new K9 will be paid from the K9 fund. This is a victory for the police department and Mayor Anthony Court, who have been pushing council for the move. The decision to implement the K9 was unanimous. Court has said in past meetings that the K9 is a vital tool in fighting area crime, especially drug related. In other council…

December 20, 2021

Sheetz Gets Ellwood City Council Approval for Development Plans

As far as the Ellwood City Borough Council is concerned, Sheetz is welcome to bring a business to Ellwood City. Council passed three motions Monday evening to help pave the way for development: A motion to approve the request by Sheetz, Inc. to have a Sheetz convenience story with self-serve sale of motor fuels at 5th Street/Glen Avenue which is a Conditional Use in a c-3; GN Zoning District. A motion to approve the request by Sheetz, Inc. to build a 6,070 square foot Sheetz Convenient Story with five multi-pump dispensers with a canopy on Fifth Street between Fountain Ave…

December 17, 2021

Council to Consider Sheetz Store, Liquor License for El Canelo

Ellwood City Borough Council will consider approving a request by Sheetz, Inc. to have a Sheetz convenience store with self-serve sale of motor fuels at 5th Street/Glen Avenue during its regular meeting on Monday, December 20, at 6 p.m. Ellwood City Borough Council voted to approve the vacation of Locust Way from Fountain Avenue to Glen Avenue and Fountain Avenue from 5th Street to Locust Way on November 15. The only “No” vote at that time came from Councilman Jim Barry. Councilwoman Judith Dici was absent from the November meeting. During a public hearing of the Ellwood City Borough Council…

November 19, 2021

$2.5 Million In Grant Funding Distributed to Area Projects

HARRISBURG – The Commonwealth Financing Authority has awarded $2.5 million in grants to four projects located in Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, according to Sen. Elder Vogel (R-47). Three of the grants were awarded through the Multimodal Transportation Fund Program: A $1 million grant for the City of New Castle, Lawrence County, to make roadway, sidewalk and trail improvements within the Enterprise Park section of New Castle, with all the planned work focused on making Enterprise Park safer and more accessible. Betters Real Estate Holdings L.P. has received a $1 million grant for the installation of rail lines at a…

November 18, 2021

Bernstine: House Sends Constitutional Carry Legislation to Governor’s Desk

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), a leading voice in protecting Pennsylvanians’ Second Amendment rights, voted with a majority of his House colleagues to send to the governor’s desk legislation that would no longer require law-abiding citizens to obtain government permission to carry a concealed firearm in Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvanians’ Second Amendment rights is crystal clear that our right to keep and bear arms shall not be questioned,” said Bernstine. “Our current concealed carry permitting is an artificial government barrier to residents’ ability to protect themselves, their families and their property, and I am proud of my Republican colleagues today who…

November 17, 2021

Borough Of Ellwood City Advertising Board Vacancies

According to information made available by the borough, the Ellwood City Borough Council is advertising the vacancies on the following Boards and Commissions of Ellwood City Borough: Zoning Hearing Board, Zoning Hearing Board Alternate, Planning Commission, Economic Development Authority, Civil Service Commission, Civil Service Commission Alternate, EC Library Board, and Recreation Board. Any Borough resident interested in serving on any of the above positions is asked to submit a letter of interest to the Borough Secretary, 525 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. All letters must be due/postmarked on or before 4:00 p.m. on December 9, 2021. For questions, please…

November 16, 2021

Bernstine Stops Anti-Gun Amendments

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine’s (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) motion to table all amendments associated with Senate Bill 565 passed the House of Representatives today. The legislation proposes to preserve the constitutional right of legal gun owners by eliminating the requirement of a License to Carry a Firearm (LTCF) should an individual wish to possess or “carry” a firearm on their person in a concealed fashion. If passed, Pennsylvania would be the 22nd constitutional carry state in the United States. Bernstine issued the following statement: “These amendments seek to dilute and distract from our constitutional rights and therefore violate Article 1 Section 21…

November 8, 2021

Gov. Wolf: State Anticipates Returning K-12 School Mask Requirement to Local Leaders January 2022

Governor Tom Wolf today announced the intention to return the commonwealth’s K-12 school mask requirement to local leaders on January 17, 2022. Upon the expiration of the statewide mandate, local school officials will again be able to implement mitigation efforts at the local level. At that time, schools may continue requiring mask-wearing based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. “The school mask order has been critical in ensuring Pennsylvania’s children could safely learn and grow in an in-person classroom setting at the beginning of the school year,” said Gov. Wolf. “During the announcement, my administration made clear that we would continue to reevaluate the status of the school…