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April 17, 2019

Primary Election Voting Information

There are two locations available to be used for voting in the Primary Elections for Franklin Township. Voting will be on Tuesday, May 21 from 7:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M. The two locations that will be open is the Franklin Township Building at 897 State Route 288 and the Volunteer Fire Department located at 808 Old Zelienople Road The last day to register for voting is on Monday, April 22 with the last day to request an absentee ballot following on Tuesday, May 14. For additional information, such as candidates on the ballot, or how to become a poll worker,…

April 16, 2019

Bernstine Takes on Legislation to Increase Government Transparency

HARRISBURG – Continuing his mission to increase government transparency and accountability, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) has reintroduced legislation in the state House of Representatives to expand Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act requires state and local agencies to deliberate and take official action on agency business in an open and public meeting. While agencies are required to give notice when a meeting will be held, they are not required to include the purpose of a meeting. Bernstine’s proposal, House Bill 1069, would require all government bodies to post an agenda 24 hours before a voting meeting that includes a…

April 11, 2019

Ellwood City Mayor Named Vice President Of Statewide Association

Ellwood City’s mayor Anthony Court was recently named Vice President of the Association of Mayors of the Boroughs of Pennsylvania (AMBP). Court, 61, who has served as mayor for 13 years said he is proud to have been chosen for the role. He was raised in Ellwood City with his three sisters Luisa, Angela, and Margherita. He takes his job as Mayor personally and plans to continue that in his state-wide position. “I am honored,” Court said. “Especially since it is voted on by my peers from across the state.” He will serve two years in the vice president role…

April 8, 2019

Local Man Gains Support in Plan to Save Festival Fireworks

He’s a man on a mission to keep the traditional Festival Fireworks display shining bright. Eric Rayner, 25, Ellport, will have his chance to lead a community-wide effort to raise funds to keep the fireworks display. Humble about his plans, Rayner insists that he just stepped up because he saw a need. “This isn’t about me,” he said. “This isn’t a me thing. It’s a we (community) thing.” Rayner was just not ready to settle for a festival without its beloved fireworks. He found out during Monday night’s Ellwood City Area School District Committee Meeting that use of Helling Stadium…

April 3, 2019

Governor Wolf Appoints Council President to Advisory Committee

Ellwood City Council President Judith Dici was recently appointed to Governor Wolf’s Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) provides municipalities, legislators and the business community an opportunity to have an open dialogue to discuss the impact legislation is having on local governments as well as creates a forum to communicate and converse about the needs and challenges facing local governments throughout Pennsylvania. Dici will represent Ellwood City and 957 other boroughs until 2023. Out of a handful of borough officials, Dici was chosen by Wolf to serve on the committee. The Local Government Advisory Committee…

April 3, 2019

Bernstine Announces ‘Coffee with Aaron’ Spring Town Hall Series

ELLWOOD CITY – Continuing his efforts to stay in touch with the people who hired him to be their voice in Harrisburg, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today announced dates for two “Coffee with Aaron” town hall-style meetings, which will take place at his Ellwood City office this spring. The first meeting will take place on Friday, April 12, at 9 a.m. and the second meeting will take place on Friday, April 26, at 9 a.m. Both events will occur at Bernstine’s district office, located at 438 Line Ave., Ellwood City. Residents of the 10th District are invited to come…

April 2, 2019

Pension Forfeiture Measure Sent to Governor

Legislation ensuring that public employees who commit job-related felonies are stripped of their taxpayer-funded pensions received final legislative approval in the Senate on March 20 and was sent to the Governor’s desk for enactment into law, according to Senator Elder Vogel. Currently, the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act requires pension forfeiture only for certain specific crimes. This allows public employees charged with a forfeiture crime to plead guilty to a different non-forfeiture crime in order to avoid losing their pension. Senate Bill 113 requires pension forfeiture after a public employee or official is convicted of — or pleads guilty or no…

April 2, 2019

Bernstine, PA Lawmakers Request Federal Regulatory Relief for PA Faith-Based Adoption Agencies

HARRISBURG – In an effort to ensure more foster children can find forever families, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) sent a letter last week to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting relief from federal regulations he says are being unconstitutionally imposed on faith-based adoption and foster care agencies in Pennsylvania. The letter, which was sent to HHS Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families Lynn Johnson, was co-signed by more than 35 members of the Pennsylvania Legislature. In the letter, Bernstine notes that the Wolf administration is “forcing Catholic and other faith-based adoption and foster agencies…

March 28, 2019

Senator Vogel Introducing Farmer “Legacy” Tax Credit

With the “graying” of Pennsylvania’s farm families, Senator Elder Vogel (R-47) is introducing legislation that will encourage existing farmers and landowners to work with beginning farmers to help them get started. “My legislation (Senate Bill 478) provides a personal income tax credit for landowners who lease or sell their land, buildings and equipment to beginning farmers,” said Senator Vogel, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee and operates a family farm in Beaver County that was established in the late 1800s. “The number one concern faced by new farmers is finding affordable farmland. My bill…

March 27, 2019

Senators to Propose Initiative to Support New Farmers

Senator Elder Vogel, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, will hold a media availability on Wednesday (March 27) to announce his legislation that is intended to encourage existing farmers and landowners to work with beginning farmers to help them get started. Senator Vogel (R-47) will be joined by Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) and Senator Judy Ward (R-28) at the event set for 10 a.m. in the Capitol Media Center in the East Wing of the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. For every four farmers in Pennsylvania over the age of 65, there is only one…