West Kittanning Borough Addressing Collapsed Greenhouses

The West Kittanning Borough Council is addressing the removal of two greenhouses belonging to Ford's Flowers that collapsed during this past winter.

by Nathan Lasher

West Kittanning Mayor Bernie Bowser, Jr. commented on the Borough’s need to address two collapsed greenhouses belonging to Ford’s Flowers during a public meeting held last night.

“The Ford’s Flowers greenhouses is an issue that’s going to have to be addressed,” said Bowser. “It’s a dangerous structure. It needs taken out of there. Why it hasn’t been done so far; I thought he was going to take it out fairly quickly, but it hasn’t been touched yet. I’ve had a lot of concerns brought my way on that issue.”

West Kittanning Borough Council President Cliff Neal commented that the structure was not all that needed to be addressed on that property.

“In addition to the greenhouses, the weeds around that complex are bad,” said Neal. “You have the auto dealership there; you have Ford’s Flowers, other homes, and a greenhouse that’s down. If any of that would catch on fire, there would be a brush fire, it’s a safety issue. The high grass, trees, and underbrush need to be addressed also.”

The owners of Ford’s Flowers had not been contacted by last night’s meeting. Mayor Bowser stated that he wanted to make everyone at the meeting aware of the issue first. “It’s going to have to be totally torn out of there in my opinion,” said Bowser. “It’s just a dangerous situation; a child goes over there, gets down over there, and it collapses more. We have a dangerous structure ordinance in effect, which we actually just got adopted about four months ago to put a little more teeth into it which gives us a little easier way to get rid of things.”

The two greenhouses owned by Ford’s Flowers collapsed February 18 of this year after heavy snow began to thaw. At the time of the incident, Ford’s Flowers was closed for the winter season. Therefore, there was no one working inside the buildings when the roof collapsed.

Clark’s Restaurant Changing Location

by Nathan Lasher

Since August 6, 2006, Clark’s Family Restaurant has been providing patrons with great food and a local, hometown feel at its 212 Market Street, Kittanning location. Now that the business has closed its doors, the Clarks are looking forward to the future.

Yesterday, many passers-by stopped to read signs that the business had hung in its storefront windows reading, “September 5, 2010 will be the last day of business at this location. Join us for our re-opening as ‘Clarks’ Landing’ in a brand new restaurant and menu in the Kit-Han-Ne Village below the courthouse on the corner of South Grant St. and Jacob St. Watch for our opening around: October 1, 2010. Thank you for your patronage!” and “Closing at 10AM due to movie. Sorry for any inconvenience. Join us in October at Clarks’ Landing. Think local jobs!”

The Clarks had initially planned to close their restaurant on Sunday, September 5 since their lease was set to expire on September 19. However, due to the lack of access for patrons during the recent filming of “One for the Money” earlier this week, the restaurant has already shut down.

According to owner Cathy Clark, this is not the last time that the Clarks will be feeding hungry residents in the Kittanning area. The couple is planning on possibly opening a new restaurant in the old H.M. Pollock building near the Armstrong County Courthouse.

“We’re figuring in October sometime,” said Clark. “It’s going to be a brand-new restaurant.”

During a telephone interview, Clark stated that the restaurant will be completely new and different on the inside from the current establishment. Also, besides the new facility, Clark was looking forward to possibly having more room for parking at the new location.

Simple Assault at Trailer Court

According to a Pennsylvania State Police press release, Elizabeth Graves, 24, of East Brady, threatened a 42-year-old male with a knife during a domestic argument at the Brady’s Bend Trailer Court Thursday at 10:15AM.

Graves was taken into custody and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James H. Owen.