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March 20, 2020

Bernstine Temporarily Halts In-Person Visits to EC Office, Cancels March Event

ELLWOOD CITY – To protect the health and safety of the community and office staff, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced his Ellwood City office will be temporarily closed to walk-in visitors. In addition, his “Coffee with Aaron” event scheduled for Friday, March 27, has been canceled in observance of social distancing practices. “Since day one of taking office, my staff and I have made it a top priority to be extremely responsive and helpful to 10th District residents,” said Bernstine. “The health and safety of our community is just as important. We are absolutely committed to continuing high-quality and…

March 18, 2020

Borough Officials Address Coronavirus

With 96 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the state of Pennsylvania as of March17, 2020—one announced in Beaver County—Ellwood City residents were taking to Facebook to suggest use of the Ellwood City Medical Center (ECMC) as an option for treatment and testing. During Monday night’s Borough Council Meeting, Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court said he has received numerous calls this week asking if the ECMC will be a post for virus testing and treatment. Court said that scenario is not a possibility. “We don’t own the hospital,” he said. Court said that in order for that to happen, a trustee…

March 4, 2020

Bernstine, Longo and Toomey to Host Vietnam Veterans Event

HARRISBURG – Local veterans of the Vietnam War-era will be honored by the offices of state Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo during a recognition ceremony at Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Hall, located at 162 Elm St. on Thursday, March 26, at 10 a.m. “The bravery shown in Southeast Asia is unsurpassed in American history,” said Bernstine. “This ceremony provides me and the community the opportunity to thank them for their efforts and commitment in defending America.” The event will include a ceremonial pinning and citation presentation. Living United States veterans…

February 27, 2020

Bernstine Announces State Funding for School Safety Enhancements at Area School Districts

ELLWOOD CITY – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced the School Safety and Security Committee has awarded $53.7 million in School Safety and Security Grants to school districts, vocational schools, intermediate units and charter schools across the state. The 17-member committee within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency was created as part of Act 44 of 2018, a comprehensive school safety law passed in 2018. One of its duties is to help distribute both meritorious and competitive grants. “As parents and as a community, our first priority is the safety of our children,” said Bernstine. “I’m pleased we are…

February 20, 2020

Community Rallies Around Councilwoman After Travel Expense Denial

Seems that despite a denial for a borough funded travel request, Councilwoman Jude Dici will be taking the trip to the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey after all. Following a 4-3 vote at Monday’s meeting denying Dici’s travel request, the community has rallied to donate the funds in order to allow Dici to attend. According to Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera, she plans to pitch in $100 to send her fellow councilwoman to Hersey and another local resident and businessowner took to social media and pledged to raise money for Dici. Dici said she was aware of Guerrera’s…

February 18, 2020

Council Votes to Approve Travel Expenses for Mayor, Denies Councilwoman

Council voted unanimously to send Mayor Anthony Court to a four-day Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey but denied a request by councilwoman Judith Dici to attend that same conference. Council approved funds totaling $942.67 plus food and mileage for Court. In a 4-3 vote Dici was denied the request for funding with Council President George Celli, Vice President James Barry, Councilman Caleb Cragle, and Councilwoman Michelle Lamenza voting “No.” Cragle said he researched four years of council minutes, mileage, and cost of meals and estimated the cost of the mayor and Dici’s attendance at the twice-a-year…

February 5, 2020

Bernstine Reacts to Governor Wolf Budget Address

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today joined his colleagues in a joint session of the General Assembly as Governor Tom Wolf delivered his budget address. Bernstine released the following statement on the governor’s proposal. “The governor today failed to mention the billions of dollars he wants to borrow from the taxpayers’ credit card. He claims his budget does not include any new taxes, but we know that debt doesn’t magically disappear. He’s mortgaging the paychecks of our children and grandchildren with his excessive overspending and borrowing agenda. “Instead of discussions about all the different ways to spend the taxpayers’…

February 5, 2020

Senator Vogel Responds to Governor’s Budget Proposal

The Senate will carefully study the $36.1 billion state General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21 unveiled by Governor Tom Wolf on Tuesday (February 4) before a joint session of the General Assembly, according to Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). “Obviously, it’s more of the same old, same old,” said Senator Vogel. “We hear that he doesn’t want to raise taxes, yet there is over $1 billion in new spending in the budget and that money has to come from somewhere. We don’t know where that is coming from yet. He is taking a lot of money out of other programs….

January 29, 2020

Senate Approves Two Bills Supporting PA Fire & EMS Companies

Recognizing the major issues facing Pennsylvania’s firefighters, the Senate on Tuesday approved two bills based on recommendations made by a bi-partisan commission established to study emergency services across the Commonwealth, according to Senator Elder Vogel. “The Senate Resolution 6 Commission built upon the foundation set by the previous Senate Resolution 60 Commission to develop a new set of recommendations that provides the next steps toward providing needed assistance to Pennsylvania’s first responders,” said Senator Vogel. “Using that background information as a guide, these bills help address some of the issues facing Pennsylvania’s fire departments. Senate Bill 908 would create a…

January 22, 2020

Council Hires Law Firm for Representation in Medical Center Bankruptcy Filing

In a unanimous vote Monday night, council hired the law firm Hamm, Milby & Ridings, PLLC out of London, KY, as representation in the Ellwood City Medical Center bankruptcy filing. A retainer of $1,500 and an hourly rate of $175 were approved. Ellwood City is seeking $300,000 in unpaid electric and sewage charges as well as $100,000 in property taxes that the Medical Center racked up before closing its doors on December 10. The closure of the facility came after the state Department of Health shut down its emergency room and inpatient services on November 27 for serious violations. Since…