Politics

Borough Seeking Council Member

A vacancy now exists on the Ellwood City Borough Counil after the resignation of councilwoman Lisa Guerrera this week. According to information made available by the borough, any borough resident interested in serving on Council is now asked to submit a letter of interest to the Borough Secretary. Letters are to be mailed to the Borough Secretary, 525 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. Letters are asked to be received by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2021. If any interested applicant has questions, he or she may contact the borough at 724-758-7777 During Monday’s council meeting, Guerrera advised her resignation…


Gov. Wolf: 80% of Pennsylvania’s 18+ Population Have Received First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Governor Tom Wolf this week announced that 80 percent of Pennsylvania’s 18 and older population have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination. Pennsylvania ranks 9th for first doses administered and 5th for total doses administered among all 50 states. “Today’s vaccination milestone is a reminder that Pennsylvanians are committed to the health and safety of themselves and their neighbors. Thank you to every Pennsylvanian who helped make it happen. I couldn’t be prouder,” said Gov. Wolf. “The pandemic has been unpredictable and unsettling throughout the last 18 months, but Pennsylvania has remained steadfast in our vaccination efforts. As COVID-19…


Ellwood City Councilwoman Resigns Position

Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera has officially resigned her council seat. During Monday’s regular meeting, council members accepted her resignation—some reluctantly—just months shy of the end of her term. Guerrera said the move was prompted by the abrupt sale of her home. She will be moving out of the borough making her legally unable to serve on council. The borough will immediately advertise to fill her council seat. Guerrera began her council journey in 2017 when her run was announced as a team effort along with Rob Brough, John Cress, and Brandon Fisher. The foursome entered the election with a promise to…


Governor Wolf Signs Legislation Expanding Access to Medical Marijuana

On Wednesday, Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation that will provide important updates to Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act to ensure better access for patients. House Bill 1024 acts on recommendations made by the Department of Health to revise the Medical Marijuana Act, which was signed into law in 2016. Specifically, it protects patient safety standards and product quality of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program while empowering the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board to continue to consider new medical conditions for eligibility. It will also retain certain flexibilities enacted under the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration that patients and dispensaries found convenient. “It’s been five…


Bernstine Votes ‘No’ on State Budget That Increases Spending by 8.8%

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Beaver/Lawrence) today voted “no” on the state budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22. Bernstine issued the following statement citing excessive government spending led to his negative vote. “When it comes to spending taxpayers’ money, I don’t think we ought to look at a budget and say it’s not perfect, but it’s good enough. This budget is an 8.8% increase in government spending, and that will set the stage for excessive borrowing and tax hikes when President Biden’s bailout money disappears. This budget does nothing to help our struggling local businesses or help to rebuild our economy,…


Ellwood City Council Urges Residents to Obey Traffic Signs, Property Ordinances

The resounding message provided by Ellwood City Borough Council on Monday was urgency from officials to follow the rules and the laws and to take pride in their city. Mayor Anthony Court warned residents that speeding and stop sign violations will result in citations. “This is the warning,” he said. Councilman Rob Brough addressed blight and said that violations of ordinances regarding yard waste and lawn maintenance will be enforced. Specific requirements can be viewed by clicking here. Borough Manager David Allen said because of incidents of vandalism, cameras will be installed in Ewing Park for monitoring. He also provided…


New Brighton Historical Society Receives Grant Says Bernstine

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) awarded a $25,000 grant to the New Brighton Historical Society in Beaver County, announced Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence). “The society provides a valuable service to our residents and the state grant will go toward preserving the history and heritage of Beaver County, which dates back more than 50 years,” said Bernstine. “It is very satisfying to know that we are giving a significant piece of local history a new, fresh look. I was pleased to advocate for this important funding.” The New Brighton Historical Society has determined that the preparation and…


House Committee Passes Bernstine Constitutional Carry Legislation

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that his legislation which would no longer require law-abiding citizens to obtain a government-issued license to carry a concealed firearm in Pennsylvania passed the House Judiciary Committee. Bernstine called the current concealed carry process a duplicative abuse of the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners. “House Bill 659 defends the rights of the citizens in our Commonwealth,” said Bernstine. “Those Pennsylvanians who follow the law each day should not be punished or hindered if they choose to carry a firearm.” Constitutional carry, or permitless carry, would provide a new system for concealed…


Mayor Anthony Court Elected as President of the AMBP

Ellwood City Mayor, Anthony J. Court, has been elected as President for the AMBP (Association of Mayors of the Boroughs of PA). Mayor Court will officially take office on June 1, 2021, for a two-year term. In a quote from the mayor, he stated “As a “Mayor of the Year Award recipient in 2014″, I believe leadership is something a community looks for in a mayor. As a hard-working public servant, I believe in always putting the community first and making a positive difference statewide. I also feel our main goal as Association of Mayors of the Boroughs of Pennsylvania…


Bernstine Announces Local School District to Receive Ag and Youth Grant

HARRISBURG – Through the Pennsylvania Ag and Youth Grant Program, which Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) supported, a school district located in Lawrence County will receive a grant to help promote student development in agriculture, community leadership, vocational training and peer fellowship. The Perry Lower Intermediate School in Ellwood City was awarded a $7,482 grant to enhance and extend the Garden at Perry Project. The project started three years ago in the back portion of the school. The students have augmented this space by constructing a greenhouse and a glass building in which plants are grown that need protection from cold…