Westmoreland County Community College Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Public Safety Training Center

August 17, 2018 Smithton, Pa.

Westmoreland County Community College held a ribbon cutting ceremony August 17 to mark the renovation of its Public Safety Training Center located in Smithton, PA.

The renovation of the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) was designed to improve areas of the building that service training of first responders. The renovation included an addition to the building to house two new classrooms, a break room for students, and individual showers designed for firefighters and others following their training. The PSTC provides education, training, certification and support services for the emergency response community including firefighters, police officers, emergency service workers and military personnel.

“The PSTC was designed to serve as the premier source for keeping the region’s first responders up-to-date with essential skills needed to perform their jobs safely,” said Dr. Tuesday Stanley, president, Westmoreland County Community College. “With the help of our county commissioners, we were able to make improvements to the building that provide additional opportunities for education by expanding classroom space, allowing us to offer more and different training.”

“The renovations to the PSTC will continue to serve the county and neighboring counties well,” said Chad Amond, Westmoreland Board of Trustees chair. “They can offer realistic fire service, rescue, hazardous materials, emergency medical services and law enforcement training. This is a valuable resource for the education community and the county.”

Westmoreland President Tuesday Stanley presided over the ceremony attended by business and community leaders and elected officials. Faculty and staff from the college also attended the ribbon cutting.

Speakers at the event included President Dr. Tuesday Stanley, Westmoreland County Commissioner Chair Gina Cerilli, Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles W. Anderson, Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas, and Westmoreland County Community College Board of Trustees Chair Chad Amond.

Special guests in attendance included Pennsylvania State Representative Justin Walsh, Rob Ritson representing Senator Kim Ward; Michael D’Orazio representing Senator Pat Toomey; Jordan Ball representing Senator Bob Casey; Westmoreland County Community College Board trustees Barbara Ferrier, Bridget Johnston, William Kerr, Charles Kraft, Larry J. Larese, Leia Shilobod, Jess Stairs, R. Douglas Weimer and John D. Wright; Westmoreland County Community College Educational Foundation Board members Christopher DeDiana, Phil McCalister, Joseph Trimarchi, and Dennis Diffenderfer, Foundation Emeritus; Mike Wineland, PA State Fire Academy; Larry Nemec and Mark Penska, Turkeytown Fire Department; Timothy Hallam, Chief of Operations 911; JT Anthony, Westinghouse; and Mary Beth Eslary, Bud Mertz and Christopher Tantlinger, Westmoreland County Public Safety.