Victims’ attorney: PECO was at nursing home two hours before blast – Bucks Round-Up – January 2, 2025

Victims’ attorney: PECO was at nursing home two hours before blast

An attorney representing victims of last week’s explosion at a Bristol Township nursing home maintains that PECO workers arrived on site in response to word of a gas leak in the facility’s boiler room two hours before the deadly blast. John Cordisco, of Cordisco & Saile LLC, also said the firm’s initial probe of the incident revealed that people in the lobby of the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, formerly called the Silver Lake Nursing Home, reported a strong gas odor to center staffers over a half-hour before the building ignited. Cordisco said that, despite PECO’s response to the smell, evacuation was not ordered. The explosion killed two individuals and injured 20 others. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

All-abilities park planned for Northampton Township

Rabbi Yehuda Shemtov of the Newtown Shul is planning the construction of an all-abilities recreation park on the site of what was once Breezy Point Swim Club in Northampton Township. The $6-million  amenity, to be called PlayaRaya, is intended especially for children and adults with special needs. Shemtov envisions the finished site to feature a zipline, a fishing pond, treehouses, and an upgraded pool for those with disabilities, who are twelve percent of the population in Bucks County. He anticipates schools, camps, and other local institutions will make use of the facility which he hopes will be open this year. 

Levittown man charged in theft that resulted in police chase and crashes

The driver of an allegedly stolen van incurred charges after fleeing local police and Pennsylvania state troopers after fleeing pursuing officers and striking two cars, including that of a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle. PSP apprehended Ryan Laskowski, 38, of Levittown, identifying him as the driver of a stolen 2025 GMC Savana U-Haul van. Bristol Township and Bensalem Township police departments as well as PSP filed the charges resulting from the chase and crash that took place in Bristol and Bensalem townships. Laskowski, whose charges include five felonies, four misdemeanors and six summary charges, was arraigned the day of the pursuit and was assigned bail of 10% of $250,000.

Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.