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A Response to the Ellwood City School District on Outsourcing and Negotiations

Julie Blust, a representative of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, and on behalf of The Ellwood City School District Workers Bargaining Committee, released a response to the Ellwood City School District outsourcing negotiations over the weekend. “We found the School District’s account of our contract negotiations to be worryingly inaccurate so we feel that it is important to set the record straight,” Blust begins in her statement which reads as follows. For anyone who has not been following this issue closely, last year the School District made the alarming announcement that they would like to outsource school district jobs,…


BC3 Volleyball Squad Crowned WPCC Champs Again

Butler, PA- Brittney Bianco had 35 assists and Emily Magusiak 11 kills as the Butler County Community College volleyball team on Saturday won its 14th Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference title since 1977, ninth under coach Rob Snyder and third in a row by sweeping the Community College of Beaver County. BC3, the tournament’s top seed, beat the Titans 25-16, 25-16 and 25-20 in the best-of-5 finals and moved to 17-5 entering this weekend’s National Junior College Athletic Association Region XX Division III championships. BC3 will defend its back-to-back NJCAA Region XX Division III crowns in a tournament it will host…


Local Communities Observe National School Bus Safety Week

Today concludes National School Bus Safety Week – a week that schools and communities around the nation partake in to raise awareness of school bus safety. “Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties – to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety,” the National Association for Pupil Transport’s site states. This year’s theme was #STOPONRED and Franklin Township showed their support to the…


Ellwood City Man Facing Endangering Welfare of Children Charges

Charles Ray Murray, 38, of Ellwood City, is facing charges after leaving four young children at home without any adult supervision while he went out to play cards. According to the criminal complaint, police were called to Murray’s Crescent Avenue residence by the biological mother of his children after she was talked to their 11-year-old over the phone who stated they were unsupervised in the residence. Murray had agreed to watch his three children, ages 11, 9, and 7, and also a friend’s seven-week-old baby on the night he went out to play cards with friends, leaving the children for…


FREE Hand Sewing Class Offered at Daysprings

A free hand sewing class will be held at Dayspring Gifts on 6th Street in Ellwood City on Saturday, November 4 from 10a.m.-11:30a.m. The class will be taught by local artist and clothing designer, Katie Keally. Participants are requested to bring along an old pair of jeans or denim jacket to transform them into a piece of art! Participants can also bring along a pair of scissors, thread, needles, ribbons, lace, buttons or any trim wanted to embellish the denim with. Students will be guided through a variety of stitching and sewing techniques. Sign up for the class by calling…


PA Drivers Encouraged to Remove Expired Registration Stickers

State Representative Aaron Bernstine posted the following information on his Facebook page: Pennsylvania drivers are encouraged to remove expired registration stickers from their license plates as out-of-state police officers have pulled over drivers with outdated stickers. At the end of 2016, PennDOT stopped issuing the stickers, saving taxpayers more than $3 million. PennDOT has alerted police from other states and Canada of the lack of registration stickers. However, out-of-state police officers have been reported to pull over Pennsylvania drivers who still have the outdated stickers on their plates. Pennsylvania State Police encourage residents who are pulled over to politely explain…


Ellwood City Social Service Organization Asks for Extra $1,000 Donation by Borough

The Holy Redeemer Ministerial Social Service Organization is asking council to approve a donation for their Energy Fund in the amount of $4,000 – $1,000 more than the original requested amount, paid for by the Borough’s general fund. The motion was discussed Monday evening at the council meeting and has been approved for the $3,000 donation but is pending approval for the requested $1,000 extra. Despite Borough Manager Bob Villella stating any extra money is usually already allocated, Council President Connie MacDonald believes council can work something out. “It [the extra money requested] is something that we should be able…


Motion Approved: T&M to Regrade Ebony Way

The owners of T&M Hardware have had dreams of expanding the store for nearly two decades and finally, over the past year, they have been making the dream a reality. Earlier this year the owners finished razing the properties next to the store to make room for expansions. Now, after much careful planning and due diligence, they are nearly ready to start construction. The owners plan on using the empty lot to expand the shop an estimated amount of 5,000 square feet, using the additional lot space for a larger parking lot. At Monday’s council meeting, store owner Tim Post…


Girls and Boys Soccer in the WPIAL PLAYOFFS

Both the Riverside Girls and Boys Soccer Teams qualified for the WPIAL Playoffs. The boys will play first as they play this Saturday, October 21 at 3PM at North Allegheny High School as they take on Freeport High School.  The bus will leave from the high school K- Center parking lot at 1 PM. The girls will open up play on Monday, October 23 at 6PM at Moon high School as they will play South Side High School.  The bus will leave at 4PM from the high school K- Center Parking lot Congrats to both teams on making the playoffs…


CCBC Foundation Appoints Local Financial Leaders to Board of Directors

Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) announces the appointment of Tod Arbutina and Tom Nist to the CCBC Foundation Board of Directors. Comprised of volunteer business and community leaders who support the strategic plan and advancement of the college, the CCBC Foundation Board is charged with enhancing the educational environment and creating new opportunities for CCBC students, faculty and staff through philanthropy. Tod Arbutina has spent over 30 years as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and business leader. As a certified financial planner with Big Four experience, Arbutina has been profiled in Kiplinger’s, named one of the “best personal wealth…