(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“This is going to be truly transformational to the borough.”

The Borough of Ambridge is gearing up for another festive season of lights, sounds, and holiday cheer, and they’ve already received a few gifts that will help continue growing the borough over the next few years. Borough Manager Mario Leone joined Matt Drzik on the November 7 edition of A.M. Beaver County to discuss these major moments.

A couple of major shifts for the borough has come from its police department under police chief John DeLuca. Two SROs (school resource officers) were brought into the Ambridge School District through the police department “That program’s going extremely well,” said Leone,” and we think we’re making our schools safer for the children and parents likewise.” Additionally, the Ambridge PD is reinstating its K-9 program, with assistance from a couple of fundraisers and a donated vehicle from Center Township’s police department.

One way in which the borough is going backwards is going backwards to 2019, the last time that Christmas On Merchant was held in its full, traditional outdoor display. After two years of “reverse parades”, Ambridge is planning to return to the normal Christmas on Merchant proceedings on December 9. The parade will begin at 6:00 PM, there will be ice sculptures in PJ Caul Park at 5 PM and 7 PM, and Beaver County Radio will be broadcasting the parade live, along with bringing along the Prize Caddy and Personality Prize Wheel for your chances to win.

The biggest wins for Ambridge, though, came in the form of two major grants received by the borough for future projects. “It was either last Wednesday or two Wednesdays ago that we received word of a $4.5 million R-CAP,” spoke Leone, “and the purpose of these funds is for a sports complex and community center.”  Leone personally thanked the efforts of Mayor Duke McCoy and State Representative Rob Matzie for their efforts in getting this indoor/outdoor complex built, along with additional funding secured by State Senator Elder Vogel. Additionally, the non-profit Crop & Kettle is also receiving $3 million for a new facility to be built in Ambridge.

To watch the full video with Mario Leone, click on the Facebook feed below!