Madison Hart
Redlands Daily Facts, Calif.
(TNS)

Mar. 16—Redlands will remove and replant an acre of poorly performing city orange groves that may become the site of a future fire station, city leaders have decided.

The city has been looking for a new fire facility location, and the opportunity presented itself with the City Council’s approval March 7 of several agreements for the grove removal and replant project. The removal and replanting work is funded by the Nevada Palmetto Grove sale proceeds in the amount of $227,700.

The city, along with the Redlands Fire Department, identified the groves at the southwest corner of Lugonia Avenue and Judson Street as an ideal location for a new fire station. The possibility of the new fire station is expected to be discussed by the council at a later date.

The Lugonia Grove is 18 acres and, due to its age, its productivity is flat, Assistant City Manager Chris Boatman said. Under contracts approved by the council, Washburn Grove Management will clear 1 acre for “an amount not to exceed $59,400,” and Mariposa Landscapes will install an irrigation system and replant the groves for “an amount not to exceed $105,100.”

The city will order 2,500 Washington Navel orange trees from Gless Ranch Nursery for “an amount not to exceed $42,500.”

In October 2022, staff proposed the Citrus Preservation Commission reserve 1 acre of the Lugonia grove for a future fire station. The commission agreed, but as part of the proposal, the city would replace the acre removed.

The acre of lost citrus in the Lugonia grove will be replanted in other existing groves, the city said. Currently, the city is looking at replanting the acre adjacent to the California Grove on California Street. City staff are scoping out other groves, if that area doesn’t work out.

The city farms nearly 200 acres of citrus, many of them requiring replanting, according to Boatman. During the council meeting, he said the Citrus Preservation Commission has had the grove on Lugonia in mind for replanting for over a year.

“It’s going to seem like it’s tearing at our heart, and our soul — part of our heritage being torn down,” Councilmember Mario Saucedo said at the meeting, noting his sadness about having to remove the groves. “But progress has to happen.”

Saucedo said he was in full support of a new fire station, and the council unanimously approved of the replanting project with plans to discuss the fire station at a later time.

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(c)2023 the Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, Calif.)

Visit the Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, Calif.) at www.redlandsdailyfacts.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Dave Sutor
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
(TNS)

Mar. 17—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — State officials announced Thursday that 39 projects in Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties will receive a total of more than $7 million in the latest round of Commonwealth Financing Authority funding.

“The approval of these grants by the CFA will provide immense benefits to our community,” said state Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr., R-Richland Township, whose district includes Cambria County. “I look forward to seeing the organizations complete these projects across the 35th Senatorial District to enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

Grants awarded

Cambria County

—Blacklick Township to replace street signs — $28,370

—Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority for equipment — $172,000

—Carrolltown Borough to purchase a new mower and tractor — $25,151

—City of Johnstown for the purchase of a new trail maintenance vehicle — $28,115

—Conemaugh Township to purchase a multi-use tractor — $65,425

—Conemaugh Township to rehabilitate two playgrounds — $51,972

—Conemaugh Township Police Department to purchase new equipment — $56,584

—Cresson Borough for upgrades to emergency service radios — $300,000

—Cresson Borough to install sidewalk and curbing along Keystone Avenue — $366,146

—Croyle Township to resurface Oaks Road — $500,000

—Croyle Township to resurface Lake Road — $292,000

—Daisytown Borough to purchase a dump truck and snowplow — $85,000

—Dale Borough to repair a flood wall along Solomon Run — $635,340

—East Conemaugh Borough to replace and/or repair stormwater inlets — $140,000

—East Taylor Township to purchase a police cruiser — $33,855

—Ebensburg Borough to renovate the Ebensburg Borough Pool — $134,600

—Ferndale Borough to purchase a police vehicle — $51,750

—Franklin Borough for the demolition of 11 blighted properties — $170,000

—Franklin Borough for the purchase of new fire equipment — $83,925

—Franklin Borough for the purchase of a multi-functional tractor — $87,053

—Geistown Borough for a winter maintenance vehicle — $62,183

—Jackson Township Water Authority for a new water authority vehicle — $61,700

—Lower Yoder Township for the purchase of a backhoe and dump truck — $187,984

—Nanty Glo Borough to repair the Davis Run Reservoir — $66,616

—Northern Cambria Borough for the construction of a new fire station — $500,000

—Richland Township to rehabilitate Luray Avenue Park — $935,100

—Stonycreek Township for playground equipment — $220,840

—Stonycreek Township for three dash cameras and 10 body cameras — $32,085

Somerset County

—Conemaugh Township Municipal Authority for upgrades to the water monitoring equipment to the water system — $39,506

—Confluence Borough Municipal Authority for waterline improvements along Draketown Road and Dull Hill Road — $250,000

—Elk Lick Township to reline culvert piping underneath the flood control levee — $123,576

—Jefferson Township to construct a maintenance shed — $100,000

—Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority to purchase a vehicle — $49,720

—Seven Spr

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 3, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives David Cicilline and Seth Magaziner announced $5,242,766 in new federal funding for four local fire departments across Rhode Island.

The federal awards through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs will support the hiring of new firefighters as well as the purchasing of new vehicles and equipment, and will improve public safety for numerous local communities.

Fire departments in the following communities will use these federal funds to hire personnel and purchase new trucks, safety, and communications equipment, including:

Cumberland: Over $450,000 to purchase a new fire engine which will allow for their existing 18-year old apparatus to be placed in reserve service. 

East Greenwich: Over $280,000 to improve the operations and safety of the department through acquisition of upgraded portable, mobile, and base radios and vehicle repeaters which allow for reliable communications during emergencies and while rendering mutual aid.

Smithfield: Over $3.6 million to hire 12 new firefighters, helping to achieve full-staffing levels for the department while reducing response times and increasing response efficiency across the town and for neighboring communities.

West Warwick: Over $900,000 to purchase a new 100-foot ladder truck with modern equipment and safety features that will replace the department’s current apparatus which is more than 24-years old.

“Making sure that Rhode Island’s local fire departments have proper staffing and modern equipment is essential to enhancing public safety across our state,” said Senator Reed. “These federal funds will help equip Cumberland, East Greenwich, Smithfield, and West Warwick with the resources and staff needed to respond to emergencies more efficiently and effectively, all while helping to ensure the safety of our firefighters.”  

“This federal funding provides long overdue equipment and technology upgrades and adds capacity to our local fire departments,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “I am committed to continuing to secure funding that supports our firefighters and strengthens public safety efforts across our state.”“This federal funding will provide critical resources to Rhode Island’s firefighters – improving safety and efficiency,” said Congressman Cicilline. “These are the types of investments we must continue to make to ensure public safety across our state.”

“Whenever Rhode Islanders are in crisis, firefighters stand ready to answer the call,” said Congressman Seth Magaziner. “These critical federal dollars will ensure that firefighters across our state have the necessary staff, vehicles, and equipment to keep our communities safe.”

“The new fire engine will greatly improve operations and safety for our firefighters and the citizens of Cumberland. It will enhance the reliability of our equipment as well as reducing the cost of repairs on an aging fleet,” said Cumberland Fire Chief Nick Anderson. “The Cumberland Fire Department would like to thank FEMA and the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation for their support of this program.”

“The East Greenwich Fire Department is very appreciative to be receiving this federal funding. The AFG award will provide us the funding to purchase new portable, mobile and base radios. This grant will dramatically improve radio communications during emergency incidents. We are very grateful to the members of our Congressional Delegation for all of their support,” said President of the East Greenwich Fire Fighters Local 3328, Captain William Perry.

“The Smithfield Fire Department is very grateful to Senator

On March 15, members of the Brownwood (TX) Fire Department performed the ceremonial wet down and push-in of its new rescue engine, the department said in a Facebook post. The engine is now fully equipped, in service and ready to respond to emergency calls.