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May 18, 2016

Ellwood City Borough Council May Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the borough council meeting held on May 16: Awards/Recognition Nikol Damato, junior council member, was recognized for her year of service on council. Jozek, Ellwood’s K-9 who is retiring this month after nine years of service, was recognized by council, the Lawrence County Commissioners, State Police and Jarret Gibbon’s office. The K-9 officer, Sgt. Michael McBride, will now work with Jozek’s son, Ranger, who is already certified. Jozek will retire on the McBride Family Farms, after McBride purchased him from the borough for $1. Council President Connie MacDonald presented McBride with 10 dimes…

May 18, 2016

Gibbons Introduces Budget Continuation Bill to Keep Funding Schools and Social Service Agencies if Impasse Occurs

HARRISBURG, May 17 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, has introduced a bill (H.B. 2077) that would fund schools and human service agencies if a budget is not enacted by the July 1 deadline to start the new fiscal year. Under Gibbons’ bill, if a budget is not successfully enacted by July 1, all line items from the previous year’s budget will continue to receive funding equal to that of the previously enacted budget, with the exception of the Governor’s Office, the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, the Senate and the House of Representatives. These offices will not receive funding until a…

May 18, 2016

Kaufman House Renovation Project Receives $500,000 State Grant

Zelienople, Pa.- Efforts to restore the historic Kaufman House in Zelienople received a significant boost in the form of a $500,000 state grant, according to Senator Elder Vogel. The grant was part of more than $2.6 million in funding awarded through the Keystone Communities program to support 14 community revitalization projects across the Commonwealth. “This is a great contribution by the state to support a major project by a coalition of organizations that will provide a significant economic boost to Zelienople and the entire region,” Senator Vogel said. “This project will help the Kaufman House rise up from the ashes…

May 17, 2016

Gibbons Invites Public to Upcoming Town Hall Meeting

State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, will host a second town hall meeting to update residents on local community events and important state government-related issues. The second town hall will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Ellwood City Borough Municipal Building, 525 Lawrence Ave.  “As a state legislator, it is important for me to know firsthand how decisions that we make in Harrisburg impact the lives of my constituents,” Gibbons said. “Town hall meetings are a great opportunity for me hear constituent concerns and discuss issues affecting their everyday lives.” Gibbons said he encourages his constituents to…

May 13, 2016

Ellwood School Board Takes No Action on Athletic Director

Over a dozen visitors filled into the board room on Monday, May 9 to support Athletic Director Darrin Morella, who had offered his letter of resignation to the Ellwood City Area School Board. Although approving the resignation was slated as part of yesterday’s voting meeting agenda, the motion was removed in the interim. Because Morella’s contract is a personnel matter, it is exempt from Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law. The board may hold discussions under executive session and doesn’t have to provide information to the public. However, several visitor comments and unofficial statements indicated a raise was at the heart of…

May 13, 2016

Ellwood City School Board May Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Area School Board meeting held on Thursday, May 12. Recognition The district and administration congratulated the varsity softball team and head coach Gary Rozanski. The team finished the season 16-0, won the section and are ranked #1 in the WPIAL Class AA by the Beaver County Times. They will begin the playoff season at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at Seneca Valley against the winner of a Neshannock vs. Waynesburg Central game on Monday. Revenue/Finance The board rejected a motion to pass the 2016-17 proposed preliminary general fund budget in…

May 11, 2016

Senate Approves Vogel’s Cost-saving Legislation for Schools

The Senate today (May 10) approved legislation introduced by Senator Elder Vogel that will allow school districts to save thousands of dollars in annual mailing costs. Senate Bill 1077 eliminates the mandate that school districts annually inform parents by physical mailing when the district uses audio and video recording to identify and address discipline issues on school buses. The mailer mandate was included as part of Act 9 of 2014, which gave school districts the ability to use audio recordings on school buses. Instead of the physical mailing, which can easily cost thousands of dollars each year, schools must post…

May 9, 2016

Four Environmental Projects in 47th Senate District Awarded State Grants

  Four different environmental projects in the 47th Senate District will receive Growing Greener grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, according to Senator Elder Vogel Jr. The Lawrence County Conservation District will receive $810,283 for the Slippery Rock Watershed Agricultural Restoration project. Stream Restoration Inc., will receive $99,785 towards the Raccoon Creek Bank & Buffer Project. The Allegheny County Conservation District will receive $54,395 for remediation of the Raccoon Creek Streambank. The Beaver County Conservation District will receive $25,667 towards the North Fork Little Beaver Stabilization/Habitat Project II. “These are great investments by the state helping to protect…

May 9, 2016

Gibbons Invites the Public to First in a Series of Town Hall Meetings

NEW GALILEE, May 9 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, will be hosting the first in a series of town hall meetings to update residents on local community events and important state government-related issues. The first town hall will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the New Beaver Borough Municipal Building, 777 Wampum New Galilee Road, New Galilee. “I want to give all of my constituents an opportunity to ask questions about the state budget and how it would impact their families,” Gibbons said. Gibbons said he encourages all of his constituents to attend. And those who…

May 3, 2016

Veterans Specialists to Visit Gibbons’ Office Next Week

State Rep. Jaret Gibbons today announced he will host two veterans specialists in his Ellwood City office next week. “I am happy to provide this service so veterans can understand their rights and benefits,” said Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence. Stephanie Bengoa and Ryan Paglia will participate in the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 to lend help to veterans and their families. Bengoa of the American Legion Veterans Assistance Program will be in Gibbons’ office to assist veterans with understanding what benefits they have earned, filing appeals to existing claims, enrolling in the Veterans Administration health care system…