ALIQUIPPA’S FRANKLIN AVENUE IS ABOUT TO GET A FACE LIFT. THE FRANKLIN CENTER OF BEAVER COUNTY INCORPORATED…IS TRYING TO RESTORE HOPE AND REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN AREA. VALERIE MCKELVEY. SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER’S “SERVING U BEAVER COUNTY” AND ITS PROPERTY MANAGER. MCKELVEY TELLS BEAVER COUNTY RADIO NEWSMAN PAT SEPTAK THAT PENN STATE-BEAVER’S CLASS OF 2020 IS COMING TO ALIQUIPPA TOMORROW…TO JOIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL ARTISTS…TO HELP TURN A FEW BLIGHTED BLOCKS INTO A SEA OF COLOR. IN ITS HEYDAY, FRANKLIN AVENUE WITH BUSTLING WITH BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS. BUT IN THE LATE 70‘S AND 80‘S, THINGS BEGAN TO CHANGE. SHE ADDS THAT IN THE 30 YEARS SINCE J & L CLOSED DOWN, FRANKLIN AVENUE’S CONDITION HAS DETERIORATED, LOOKING WORN AND EMPTY. MCKELVEY SAYS SHE WANTS HELP BRING BACK THE VIBRANT, THRIVING CORRIDOR THAT WAS ONCE DOWNTOWN ALIQUIPPA. THE PROJECT IS CALLED IS CALLED “PAINT THE TOWN”….AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THEY’RE GOING DO TO TOMORROW – STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS AND ARTISTS ARE GOING TO LITERALLY PAINT THE TOWN. THEY’RE GOING TO PAINT MURALS TO BEAUTIFY SEVERAL BLOCKS OF FRANKLIN AVENUE. ANYONE WISHING TO TALK TO MCKELVEY ABOUT VOLUNTEERING FOR THE “PAINT THE TOWN” EVENT IS ASKED TO CALL (724) 378-7547.