Local News
UPDATE: Residents enjoy celebration they helped make possible
BROOKFIELD — More than 50 people showed up Saturday night for a celebration that Brookfield Township hopes will start an annual tradition.
They gathered around the gazebo at the center of the township green on State Route 7 between Warren Sharon Road and state Route 82. The gazebo had a Christmas tree at the center, decorated by lights and ornaments donated by township residents.
In front of that tree was a red chair on which Santa Claus sat after coming to the green on a township fire truck.
But before St. Nick showed up, Deborah Sanders of Farrell sang Christmas songs and township Trustee Gary Lees invited several children up to the gazebo to lead the crowd in singing whatever songs they wanted.
“We had a really decent crowd,” Lees said.
Several years ago, the township had a choir sing at the green, but there hasn’t been an annual event. Township officials said they would like that to change.
Lees said they might try different celebrations in the future.
“We’re looking at other avenues,” he said. “Like possibly having a Christmas dance at the firehouse with the entire community invited. Next year we might try to have an ensemble with the high school band or choir.”
Kortney Schiska of Brookfield, who came with a group of children, both hers and her friends, said she would look forward to having a holiday celebration every year.
“Hopefully it will grow in years to come,” she said.
Many parents and grandparents brought their children and grandchildren, and almost all of them came to see Santa Claus.
That’s why Pat Roth of Masury brought her 3-year-old grandson, Jacob Hodge.
“He’s going to ask Santa for a motorcyke,” she said. “That’s short for motorcycle.”
Mrs. Roth said she was also looking forward to the holiday celebration becoming an annual event.
“It’s really nice,” she said.
- Local News
-
-
Court nixes ruling man is sexually violent predator
State Superior Court has denied a local judge’s request to issue a precedential opinion in a rape case.
Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge John C. Reed had ruled that Chad S. Thompson, 24, formerly of Stoneboro, is a sexually violent predator, but Superior Court said in a 2-1 decision July 8 that an expert’s testimony was insufficient to back that declaration.
-
Stacey wants to continue fight over razed home
Raymond Stacey has requests pending in three courts as he presses his long-running attempt to prosecute the city of Hermitage and those he believes are responsible for illegally demolishing his parents’ house.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Philadelphia, on April 29 quashed an appeal because Stacey did not file his argument brief and appendix of supporting documents.
-
Burglars strike while residents sleep
Several Shenango Valley residents’ homes were broken into overnight Tuesday and Wednesday while they slept.
Two burglaries in Sharon involved people entering open windows.
-
Commissioners formally move to raise sewer fees
Hermitage commissioners introduced an ordinance Wednesday to increase sanitary user fees.
Residents tapped into the Hermitage Municipal Authority lines now pay $95 a quarter. That rate will bump up to $105 a quarter on Jan. 1, under the proposed rate hike.
Two more hikes on Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 1, 2013, will result in the rates increasing 50 percent from the current fee. -
Water is on at Forrest Brooke
Water service has been restored at Forrest Brooke Manufactured Home Community after well problems left the 165-unit complex dry Tuesday.
A boil and conserve water advisory has been issued by the DEP and will remain in place until tests confirm the water is safe to drink, Forrest Brooke’s manager Pete Havens said.
-
Storm damages trees, wires
Thunderstorms ripped through parts of Mercer and neighboring counties Wednesday night, downing trees and wires and keeping rescue workers on their toes.
A Mercer County 911 dispatcher shortly after 8 p.m. said they were busy with calls across the northern part of the county. He said there had been a few reports of trees falling on homes.
-
City leaders open to talks
Sharon officials aren’t opposed to sitting down with their counterparts in Farrell to revisit the idea of combining the two struggling cities.
“It never costs a penny to talk and there’s no (idea) that’s not worth looking at,” Sharon councilman Ed Palanski said. “I think it would be foolish to oppose looking at the idea.”
-
Murphy’s Law doesn’t faze regional planners
A complicated, two-day public meeting blitz in 32 counties ran headlong into Murphy’s Law in Mercer County on Tuesday.
The group Power of 32 are looking to re-write the regional map and create a grand, 15-year strategic economic plan for the 32 counties in four states that make up the Ohio River basin and greater Pittsburgh area.
-
Forrest Brooke copes with water outage
Residents of Forrest Brooke Mobile Home Community in Jefferson and Lackawannock Townships woke up Tuesday morning to find they didn’t have any water.
Managers of the park could not be reached for comment, but residents said they were told they won’t get water service back for at least another month.
-
City facing bleak financial reality
LaVon Saternow has been Farrell’s city manager since 1992. Shortly after she took the job, Sharon Steel, the city’s economic engine, officially closed down.
Since, the city has struggled to remain solvent and Mrs. Saternow said it is facing its worst financial crisis in her tenure.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Court nixes ruling man is sexually violent predator
