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Coronavirus

March 30, 2021

Area School Districts Slated To Receive Nearly $40 Million To Keep Students Learning During Pandemic

Ellwood City and Riverside School Districts are among the area school districts expected to receive approximately $37.2 million in federal funding to ensure programs, services and safety measures are in place as more students return to the classroom announced by Governor Tom Wolf this week. Locally, State Representative Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence, said the funding will help schools address a broad range of needs, from educational and building supplies to special programs that will counter learning loss and progress gaps resulting from the pandemic. “The pandemic created a slew of challenges for school districts, including how to keep kids engaged during…

March 25, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine To Be Made Available In Ellwood City

Mayor Anthony J. Court, Lawrence County Commissioner Lorretta Spielvogel and the Ellwood City Emergency Management Agency have secured 200 doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine. The vaccine will be distributed Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Location will be at the Crescent Place Nursing Home, located at 630 Crescent Avenue in Ellwood City. Anyone in Phase 1A as indicated by the Department of Health is eligible to receive the vaccine. Phase 1A is anyone over the age of 65, any individual with underlying medical conditions, smokers, teachers, and any First Responders could be vaccinated. “I am hoping…

March 18, 2021

Lincoln High School Senior Featured On Pittsburgh News Publication

Lincoln High School senior Makinley Magill was recently featured on an online Pittsburgh news publication, Pittsburgh Current. To mark the one year anniversary of the first day of the pandemic lock down, Pittsburgh Current began a series titled ‘COVID Pandemic Stories’ The pandemic resulted in many different things for many different people and the series provides a voice from some to reflect. Makinley writes an essay describing her journey over the past calendar year amid the challenges of the shutdown. Her essay reads: If there are two things that most people learn about me soon after meeting me is that…

March 17, 2021

Butler Health System Offers COVID-19 Vaccine Update

Butler Health System (BHS) is now accepting ALL individuals eligible under PA Department of Health Group 1A, without restriction of any kind. This means the vaccine is no longer limited to residents of Butler, Clarion and Forest Counties. For guidance on Group 1A eligibility visit www.butlerhealthsystem.org or www.health.pa.gov. Butler Health System has proudly vaccinated over 55,000 individuals, including 35,000 who are fully vaccinated. For more information and to sign up visit www.butlerhealthsystem.org/. If you are without access to a computer and need assistance with scheduling a vaccine, contact the Butler County Center for Community Resources at 888-550-7468.

March 15, 2021

Gov. Wolf: Effective April 4, More Options for Restaurants & Businesses, Mass Gathering Maximums Increase

As COVID-19 cases have declined and vaccination rates are climbing, Governor Tom Wolf today announced the lifting of some targeted restrictions on restaurants and other businesses, as well as increased gathering limits. Effective April 4, restaurants may resume bar service; alcohol service will be allowed without the purchase of food; the curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables will be lifted; and indoor dining capacity will be raised to 75 percent for those restaurants that are currently self-certified and those that undergo the self-certification process, which involves agreeing to strictly comply to all public health safety guidelines and orders, including…

March 10, 2021

BC3 Nursing Students Gain “Once-In-A-Lifetime” Experience Serving Community During Pandemic

(Butler, PA) Nearly a year after Butler County Community College donated personal protective equipment to healthcare workers at the outset of a global pandemic, its registered nursing students are gaining “once-in-a-lifetime” experience – experience uncommon among nursing schools, they add – as volunteers serving the community at a COVID-19 clinic inoculating up to 1,200 visitors a day. Brittney Barnett, Mackenzie Dean, Michele Gaiser and nearly 80 others from the Nursing, R.N., program on BC3’s main campus are assisting senior citizens from Butler Memorial Hospital’s parking lot and into its nearly 3-month-old COVID-19 clinic that is providing vaccinations against a virus…

March 9, 2021

Ellwood City To Host Easter Treat Bag Hand Out

This year marks the Ellwood City Area Easter Egg Hunt’s 26th community event and this year things will be slightly different. Due to COVID-19 and continued safe social distancing practices, this year’s event has been changed to a drive thru event where treat bags will be handed out. “Instead of doing 25 Golden Eggs this year we are going to do something different,” said committee member Kathy Brenner. “This year we are going to put a theme to our event – An Easter Parade.” Have your child(ren) help you decorate your vehicle and get a slip to enter a contest…

March 4, 2021

Teachers Now Qualify for COVID-19 Vaccinations

As Pennsylvania strives to return more students to their classrooms for in-person instruction, teachers are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations under a newly announced expansion of the Commonwealth’s immunization plan, according to Senator Elder Vogel. Under today’s (March 3) announcement, teachers will have their own separate vaccination program and will not be included in Class 1A (senior citizens and those with pre-existing medical conditions). Teachers will not receive priority status nor will they receive vaccinations ahead of those in Class 1A. “By vaccinating teachers, Pennsylvania can expedite the reopening of schools all across the state,” Senator Vogel said. “This…

March 1, 2021

Gov. Wolf Revises Mitigation Order on Gatherings and Lifts Out-of-State Travel Restrictions

As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and the state’s vaccination plan is amplified, the Wolf Administration announced revised and lifted mitigation restrictions that are effective statewide today. “Pennsylvania is taking a measured approach to revising or lifting mitigation orders,” Gov. Wolf said. “The reason we are seeing cases drop can be attributed, in part, to people following the mitigation efforts we have in place. Mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene are making a difference and need to continue even as we see more and more people fully vaccinated. We need to balance protecting public health with leading the state to…

February 26, 2021

Senator Vogel to Host March 9 Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 Vaccines

Senator Elder Vogel will discuss the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan and answer questions regarding the vaccine during a virtual town hall meeting set for 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam and Norm Mitry, President of Heritage Valley Health System, will be special guests during the conversation to answer questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Community residents can register to participate in the virtual town hall by visiting www.senatoreldervogel.com/access-live. The virtual town hall format allows community residents to participate in the discussion without the need to travel throughout the region. Participants can ask questions or…