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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…

April 29, 2016

Gibbons Announces Over $200,000 Awarded to Area First Responders

Harrisburg, April 28 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, has announced that 16 local fire companies and one EMS squad are receiving more than $211,000 in state grants. Gibbons said the state grants can be used toward repairing, building or renovating facilities and can also be applied toward the purchase of new equipment, training or facility maintenance. “Our first responders save lives in time of need,” Gibbons said. “The vehicle and equipment upkeep can be very expensive and this grant award can be used to repay a possible debt-related loan.” The grants are made possible by the Fire Company and…

April 28, 2016

Next Mayor’s Crime Watch and Advisory Meetings

The next Mayor’s Advisory Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 26 at 3 p.m. in council chambers at the Ellwood City Borough Municipal Building. The Crime Watch meeting will be held the same day at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers. The speakers will be Mayor Anthony J. Court himself and Frank Sniezek. All residents are invited to attend.  

April 27, 2016

Lawrence County Primary Election Results

Aaron Bernstine won the Republican nomination for State Representative in the 10th Legislative District in a three-way race. In state and national elections, Lawrence County largely followed the trend throughout Pennsylvania, with Donald Trump winning a majority for the Republican presidential primary and Hillary Clinton a majority in the Democratic primary. 10,979 Republican ballots and 11,785 Democratic ballots were cast in Lawrence County representing 47.60 percent of registered Republicans and 51.09 percent of registered Democrats. For the president of the United States, Trump, Republican front runner and overall winner of Pennsylvania, received 6,964 votes, more than Ted Cruz and John…