Politics

With several seats up for election, four local residents announced their candidacy for the Ellwood City Borough Council; Rob Brough, John Cress, Brandon Fisher, and Lisa Guerrera stated that they are teaming up to bring positive reforms to Ellwood City Borough. The candidates promise to focus on the issues of Ellwood Electric reform, bringing fiscal responsibility, and creating local jobs that support families to stop the exodus of young residents from Ellwood City and fill the empty storefronts along Lawrence Avenue. “In the last several years, Ellwood City has seen a huge decline in population, significant tax increases, more empty…

ELLWOOD CITY – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) will host an open house at his district office, located at 438 Line Ave., in Ellwood City, from 3-6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 6. “Our office is designed to be a direct link between residents of the 10th District and their state government,” Bernstine said. “This event is an opportunity for residents to learn more about what me and my staff can do for them. Our main focus will be meeting with people to listen to their concerns and helping to develop and enact policies that will allow our region to be an…

With the ongoing concern of the hospital potentially closing, many Ellwood residents are thankful to hear that medical companies are still investing in the local community. Council awarded the sale of the old Ellwood City owned L&N building located in Ellport to Worksite Medical, proceeding their bid of $375,000 for the property. The building was named after its original occupant, a North-Wales based company, Leeds & Northup, which relocated in 1997, leaving the property to industrial authorities until 2010 when the Borough took ownership of the property. The Borough received another bid on the property in 2010 of $750,000 but refused…

ELLWOOD CITY — Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that three organizations in the 10th District dedicated to assisting local veterans received more than $15,000 in grant funding through the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF). The Beaver County Office of Veterans Affairs received $7,500, and the Lawrence County Office of Veterans Affairs received $3,000 to enhance outreach for veterans. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Veterans Assistance Fund of Beaver Falls in Beaver County received $5,000 for services related to assist with veteran homelessness, post-traumatic stress and chemical exposure. “More than 900,000 veterans call Pennsylvania home, and many of them live here in…

Applications are now available for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program and qualified individuals should file as soon as possible, according to Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. The maximum standard rebate is $650. The program is open to state residents age 65 or older; widows and widowers age 50 or older; and, 100 percent disabled people 18 or older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, with half of Social Security income excluded. The deadline for filing an application is July 1 and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis after that…

Yesterday held the first of two monthly reoccurring council meetings, next week the following items will be voted on by council:   Visitors Dave McQuaid took a brief moment to stand in front of council to express his thanks for their active work on the proposed bike trail.   Finance Exonerate tax collector for collection and deposit of 2016 tax duplicate   Public Works/Utilities Payment- Charter Machine Company $7839.10, belt replacement at WWTP; paid from the sewage fund   Parks/Recreation EC Community Enrichment- Earth Day Celebration, April 22 from 10-2p.m. EC Community Enrichment- Storytelling Festival, September 16 from 4-7:30p.m. EC…

HARRISBURG – Eighteen fire and ambulance organizations in the 10th Legislative District have been awarded more than $235,000 in funding through the 2016-17 Pennsylvania Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today. “Our local volunteers stretch every dollar to help meet their expenses for insurance, training, equipment and vehicles,” Bernstine said. “These grants will help ease the financial burden each of these companies has in helping to protect our communities.” The funding comes from an ongoing grant program created by the Legislature and administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the…

Freshman lawmaker offers thoughts on state budget process HARRISBURG – Following the governor’s budget address, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) outlined his priorities for the 2017-18 state budget in the statement below: “As I take part in the budget process for the first time as a state representative, I’m concerned with how any new proposals will affect the hard-working people of the 10th District. Too many men and women are still unemployed, and many working folks are still struggling to make ends meet. The voters sent me to Harrisburg to protect them from the dangers of excessive government spending, to help…

“It is encouraging to hear a budget address that does not include calls for massive increases in broad-based tax increases. Finally, it would seem the Governor understands that working Pennsylvanians pay enough taxes as it is.  I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in the General Assembly to deliver a balanced, responsible state budget. Over the past two years, I have heard from countless taxpaying constituents that we must find greater efficiencies in state government instead of taking money out of their pockets.  The Governor’s proposal relies heavily on savings generated through the consolidation of several state…