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June 7, 2017

Youth Development Center in Shenango Sold to Islamic Consulting Firm

After laying abandoned for several years, the 145-acre state-owned property housing the former Youth Development Center in Shenango Township has been sold to a Newark, New Jersey based Islamic consulting firm called HIRA. Out of three total bids on the property, HIRA was the highest and now the public is curious to know what the potential business plans on doing with the space. HIRA’s official website – which contains many grammatical errors throughout – does not provide much information about the firm other than their main goal is to “offer services to the Islamic Schools who are not getting the…

June 6, 2017

Vogel Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Historic Pension Reform

Today (June 5) the Senate approved legislation reforming Pennsylvania’s two largest public pension systems, the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS)  and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS). Senator Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47) praised the bipartisan passage of this historic reform which both limits future taxpayer liabilities while also still providing a competitive retirement benefit for school and state employees. “For years, school boards and fiscal watchdogs throughout Pennsylvania have been sounding the alarm about the unchecked growth of the state pension systems. In fact, the exponential growth of pension obligations is the #1 reason cited by school boards for…

June 2, 2017

Mayor’s Advisory Meeting Recap

On Thursday, May 25, 2017 the Mayor’s Advisory Committee met in Mayor Courts Office. Discussion included the parking ticket issue on Wampum Avenue, complaints voiced concerning a large black dog around Crestview and Skyline Drive. Mayor Court is urging people to trim their hedges when they get too high so that they do not obstruct traffic. The fight against drugs continues with 393 arrests since Mayor Court took office. The Mayor’s Beautification Award program has begun with one Award being presented already. The Mayor wants everyone to know that they can nominate anyone if they wish to do so. On…

May 31, 2017

PHOTO: Mayor Presents Beautification Award

For the past six years, Mayor Court has presented to area residents a special “Beautification Award” sign along with a local restaurant gift certificate. This year the first Award went to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Loraine Buzzelli of Meadowridge Drive. The Buzzelli’s were nominated by an undisclosed resident who felt that the Buzzelli’s had spend considerable time and effort into making their home surroundings extra special. The second of six award winners will be presented soon and there are so many Ellwood City residents who are worthy to received this award and gift certificate.  If you feel that there…

May 24, 2017

Lawrence County Commissioners to Vote on Allocation Among 9 Local Municipalities

With nearly $600,000 in funding requests but with only slightly above $100,000 in available funds for 2017, the Lawrence County Commissioners will be voting on where $84,500 will be allocated among nine municipalities in Lawrence County. Due to the counties responsibility to maintain only 27 bridges and no roads, the county commonly has an excess of revenue funded by Pennsylvania’s gasoline tax. They often use the excess for distribution among the local municipalities for liquid fuel-eligible projects. Although commissioners agreed to give money to each community that made a request, none of the municipalities received the full amount requested. Ellwood…

May 17, 2017

Ellwood City Primary Election Results

The primary election results for Ellwood City and surrounding Lawrence County areas have been posted on Lawrence County’s official website. Republican incumbents, Connie MacDonald and David DeCaria lost to their challengers, running mates Rob Brough, John Cress, Brandon Fisher, and Lisa Guerrera, by over 100 votes. According to the site, Guerrera led the Republican party with 323 votes, Brough followed closely behind with 320, Cress with 305, and Fisher with 285. DeCaria finished with 173 votes – one more than MacDonald’s 172 votes. Democratic incumbent Michelle Lamenza lead the Democratic party with 335 votes – only five votes more than…

May 16, 2017

Bernstine, Court Agree to Send Information to District Attorney Office

ELLWOOD CITY – In response to parking tickets that were issued at a legislative press conference on Thursday, May 11, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-New Beaver) and Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court have jointly agreed to send documentation of the event to the Lawrence County District Attorney office, Bernstine announced today. Bernstine held a press conference in front of a private residence on Wampum Avenue to announce his legislation to better regulate municipal electric costs. Many attendees of the event, including Bernstine himself, received parking tickets from the Ellwood City Police Department. “Because I firmly believe that the tickets were…

May 15, 2017

School Board and Council: Primary Election Tuesday

Primary election for running candidates on both school board and council will be held tomorrow. There are four seats up for election on school board and council. Running for school board are incumbents Anthony Buzzelli, Kathy Pansera and Renee Pitrelli who will be running against newcomers Norm Boots, Kathy McCommons and Barbra Wilson. Running for council are Republican incumbents Council President Connie MacDonald and Council Vice President David DeCaria, Democratic incumbent Councilwoman Michele Lamenza running against Republican newcomers Rob Brough, John Cress, Brandon Fisher and Lisa Gurrera and Democratic newcomers James Barry, Caleb Cragle, John Pansera and Bryan Vincent. Both…

May 12, 2017

VIDEO: Bernstine Presents Proposed Bill At Electric Press Conference

Yesterday, Republican State Representative, Aaron Bernstine, joined forces with Democratic State Representative, Pam Snyder, to promote change in the unregulated electric utility usage – a practice that occurs not only in Ellwood City, but in over 30 municipalities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. “This is an example of Republicans and Democrats coming together to do the right thing,” Bernstine stated. At the press conference, held outside a residential property on Wampum Avenue in Ellwood City, Bernstine publicly released information regarding his proposed legislation to regulate municipal owned electric companies. The legislation will discontinue the use of electric departments profits to…

May 12, 2017

PHOTOS: Bernstine Among Over Half Dozen Ticketed At Press Conference

During State Representative Aaron Bernstine’s electric press conference yesterday, nearly a dozen attendees, including both he and another state representative were issued parking tickets for parking arguably legally. The conference took place at a residential home on Wampum Avenue – a street that has parking prohibited signs posted along the west side of the street but no signs and no yellow curb present on the opposite side. According to the officer, parking on the side of the road the cars were parked along was illegal due to obstructing a fire lane; however the only no parking sign along the road…