Includes funding for Aliquippa streetscaping, Monaca business facade improvements

(AMBRIDGE, Pa.) Nearly $200,000 in new funding from the state Department of Community and Economic Development will fund streetscape improvements for the city of Aliquippa and storefront renovations in Monaca, among other improvements, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said the grants awarded under the Keystone Communities Program include $100,000 to the Aliquippa Economic Development Corp. for the Clean and Safe Franklin Avenue project and $45,000 to the Monaca Community Development Corp. for the Façade Grant Program.

“The new funding will bring fresh changes to the Aliquippa and Monaca downtown areas,” Matzie said. “The grant to Aliquippa Economic Development Corporation will fund streetscape improvements to the Franklin Avenue corridor, supporting the city’s efforts to make real substantive change to the downtown’s appearance.”

“Likewise, the funding to the Monaca Community Development Corporation will support work to restore building facades in the downtown area, which will draw more pedestrian traffic and boost area stores.”

Matzie said that in addition to the Aliquippa and Monaca funding in his district, the Beaver Falls Community Development Corp. was awarded $43,500 to renovate a home through the Jubilee Housing Project.

Keystone community grants are administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development for projects such as business facades, accessible housing, public infrastructure and other community-strengthening projects.

The grants are part of a package of funding for 51 projects statewide. More information is available at: https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-announces-nearly-8-million-in-new-funding-to-support-51-community-improvement-projects-across-pennsylvania/.

(File Photo)

(Pittsburgh Pa.) Officials have made two additional arrests in a contraband investigation that lead to a former Allegheny County Jail corrections officer being charged.
Officials say that police obtained arrest warrants for 42-year-old Lamar Castile, an inmate of the jail, and 33-year-old William Gilliam. They were both charged with contraband, criminal conspiracy and other related offenses.
Castile was served with an arrest warrant Monday night and he is still in jail and is awaiting arraignment.
Gilliam was arrested at the Pittsburgh Municipal Courts building on yesterday afternoon and was taken to jail and is awaiting arraignment.
Castile and Gilliam were identified as the individuals receiving the contraband from Raymond Toomey a former corrections officer who is also a former Pittsburgh police officer who had previously been charged.
Toomey is accused of selling K-2, which is synthetic marijuana, to an inmate.
Toomey was released on a non-monetary bond. He is awaiting his preliminary hearing in January.

(Beaver, Pa.) The Beaver County Board of Commissioners’ Work Session Meetings scheduled for Wednesday, December 21 and 28, 2022 have been canceled. The next Work Session Meeting will be held Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at 10:00am in the Commissioners’ Public Meeting Room.

(File Photo) A crane is in place as part of clean up efforts at the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh that collapsed Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) The Fern Hollow Bridge is set to reopen today less than one year after it collapsed into a Frick Park ravine
The bridge was rebuilt in what is considered rapid time, partially thanks to $25 million in federal funding.
A ceremonial ribbon-cutting will be held today with Governor Tom Wolf and Mayor Ed Gainey in attendance.
Ten people were injured in total when the bridge collapsed, with four of them taken to the hospital. Thankfully, no one was killed.

(File Photo of The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)
By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s statewide elections agency says it’s moving ahead with plans for special elections to fill three state House vacancies in early February unless a court orders otherwise. The Department of State submitted a 17-page response Friday to the lawsuit by Lancaster County Republican state Rep. Bryan Cutler. He’s seeking to stop scheduled Feb. 7 special elections in Pittsburgh-area districts held most recently by Democrats. Control of the House hangs in the balance after Democrats netted 12 seats in the November election, enough for a one-seat majority. But one member died in the month before he was reelected and two others resigned after winning higher offices.

(File Photo)

Story by Beaver County Radio Staff
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Geneva College announced today that it has received a charitable donation of land to extend the footprint of the college in Beaver Falls, PA. AES Realty, LLC has generously donated 21 acres of property and facilities along the entire eastern border between the current campus and the railroad tracks next to the Beaver River. The new property begins just south of the Eastvale Bridge and extends to just north of the current northern border of campus along the river.

The property expands the College’s holdings from 55 acres to 76 acres and provides strategic opportunities for growth at Geneva. AES Realty, LLC received an appraised property value for the donation of $9.3million. The donation includes the current buildings on the property as well as the land associated with it. The donation will further the College’s longstanding partnership with the City of Beaver Falls to benefit the whole community including the prospect of extending the Rails to Trails project north along the Beaver River.

“What an extraordinary gift to the College. We are grateful to our faithful God for such generous neighbors who have grasped what an investment this gift is for the future of Geneva and our community. The timing of this gift to the College is an incredible blessing.,” remarked President Calvin L. Troup, PhD, “This property opens new vistas of opportunity to enhance the mission of the college and the educational experiences of our students, faculty, and staff.”

Further plans for this property will be developed in coming months as Geneva works through the property transition with the donor. Geneva will incorporate the use of the 21-acre property into the College’s campus master planning efforts and consider any possible uses of the property that will ensure the furthering of Geneva’s mission to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. “The possibilities God has given to us through this donation are amazing, and we are excited to dream about what’s next,” said Troup.

Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God’s kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva’s programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).