KEYSTONE CLIPS Star helps introduce disabled-kids tax bill

U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-21st, got star support when he introduced a bill providing tax relief to help families with developmentally disabled children.
Actor Brad Whitford, who plays Josh Lyman on the television show about the White House, "The West Wing," joined English on the House floor Wednesday. Jonathan Shestack, a film producer who is also founder of Cure Autism Now, was also on hand.
"Families with children who have developmental disabilities face a lifetime of challenges. The issues of how the family is going to afford many of the therapies that add tremendously to their child's quality of life should not be a cause for worry," English said.
The Families of Developmentally Disabled Children Tax Fairness Act of 2001 would provide an annual tax credit of $2,000 for each affected child.
Construction down: Where have all the builders gone? A look at the monthly building permit reports issued by Hermitage would indicate they're not building there. The total residential, commercial and industrial building permits issued for the first five months of 2001 totaled $5,217,796 in new construction.
That's down nearly $16 million from the same period last year, when permits showed $21,120,894 in new construction by the end of May. There's no reason to panic just yet.
This year's numbers compare fairly well with the first five months of 1999, when permits showed $6,002,454 in new construction. Construction that year went on to total more than $38 million, some $5 million higher than last year.
History festival: The Children's History Festival is planned for Saturday on the grounds of the Lawrence County Historical Society, 408 N. Jefferson St., New Castle. Activities begin at 11 a.m. and will include Civil War re-enactors, displays, American Indian crafts and fiber arts presentations.
There will also be guided tours of the Joseph A. Clavelli History Center, as well as several temporary displays at the Sosto and Jennie Medure History Building. The event is free and open to the public.
X Contributors: Harold Gwin and Laure Cioffi of The Vindicator Sharon and New Castle bureaus, respectively.