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June 19, 2018

Riverside School Board Votes to Reorganize Food Service Positions

The Riverside School Board voted Monday to reorganize the current 19 food service positions into 15. One cafeteria worker has decided to retire and three are moving to different part-time positions in the district. According to Shawn Plassmeyer, school board president, the districts goal is to eliminate jobs naturally, through retirement or otherwise. One cafeteria worker decided to retire, and the board is waiting to hear back from several others who are considering doing the same. The district saved approximately $40,000 with that one retirement. If several others also decide to take a retirement package, the district will be closed…

June 19, 2018

Evan Westlund Wins Ellwood City 2018 Beautification Award

On Monday, Mayor Anthony J. Court was honored to present to Evan Westlund of Mt. Vernon Drive, Ellwood City, the 1st 2018 Beautification Award Winner with a Yard Sign and a Gift Certificate at a local restaurant. This is the 2nd time Evan has been nominated and presented with this Award, once in 2013 at a previous address on Wampum Avenue and now at his Mt. Vernon Drive residence. This is the 8th year for Mayor Court’s Beautification Award Program and it has been a huge success. There will be a total of 7 Winners in 2018, so if you…

June 18, 2018

This New Ellwood City Barbershop Will Become a Legend

LGNDS a new Barbershop on Lawrence Avenue had their soft opening Friday. Carla Bunney and Shawn Johnson Jr. are the co-owners and partners of the new local barbershop. The dream of having a barbershop started long ago when both Bunney and Johnson were working for Youngs Barbershop. They found that they wanted to branch out and start their own business, they wanted to do things their own way and they wanted to work for themselves. “People get in this business because they want to do their own thing,” Johnson said. “When you work for someone for a long time, you…

June 18, 2018

Ellwood City Area Public Library Activities for Week of June 18

Activities taking place at the Ellwood City Area Public Library include the following: Monday, June 18, at 10:00 a.m. — “Coloring for Adults,” a weekly program that is free and open to the public. This program is usually held on Wednesdays, but will meet on Monday mornings instead during the summer months. “Coloring for Adults” is a program designed to help reduce the stresses of everyday life. Everyone is welcome, so call the library at 724-758-6458 for more information. Monday, June 18, at 1:30 p.m. – Afternoon Book Discussion Group for Adults. The group will discuss the book, “As Close…

June 18, 2018

Ellwood School Board Amends Academic Competition Policy

Controversy ensued at Thursday’s Ellwood City Area School Board meeting when the board voted to approve amendments to its academic competition policy. The amendments were requested by board member Renee Pitrelli to better promote students involved in competitions. According to Pitrelli, the new policy will enable the district to support academics as much as athletics and leadership. Board members Jennifer Tomon and Danielle Woodhead believed the amendments were too vague and requested tabling the motion in order to polish the language. The amendment requires the district to pay all the travel expenses for students in statewide and national competitions, while…

June 15, 2018

No Proposed Tax Increase for Riverside School District

Total revenue for Riverside School District is proposed to be $24,608,155 with $24,933,735 in expenditures. The district isn’t proposing a tax increase this year. Top expense categories, which reflect 95 percent of the budget, include wages and benefits, debt service, transportation, tuition, supplies and books, utilities, special education services, substitute services, Questeq, equipment and other costs, comes out to $24.9 million, with $271,368 in budgetary reserve. The budgetary reserve includes health insurance, approved private charter and nonpublic school tuitions as well as technical school tuitions. That $271,000 is reserved in the budget for possible increases that may or may not…

June 15, 2018

What’s Going On In Ellwood? Ellwood City Activities for June 15 to June 23

Friday, June 15th: Rustic Wood Sign Painting: Paint a rustic wood sign for $25 and help the Ellwood City Library from 6-8pm! Price includes all materials and complimentary cookies, fruit trays, coffee and punch. Contact the Library at 724-758-6458 to reserve your spot. No experience necessary & must be over 18. “The Up and Down Detective Agency”: See the comedy “The Up and Down Detective Agency” at the Red Barn Theatre at 8pm on June 7-9 & 14-16. The year is 1938 and they’re about to take on one of their most puzzling cases and end up knee deep in…

June 15, 2018

Senate Approves Vogel Bill Promoting Telemedicine in Pennsylvania

The Senate today (June 13) approved legislation introduced by Senator Elder Vogel (R-Beaver) aimed at promoting telemedicine in Pennsylvania as a way to overcome barriers to quality patient care created by distance and reduce the costs of those services. Senate Bill 780 specifically defines telemedicine as “the delivery of health care services provided through telecommunications technology to a patient by a healthcare practitioner who is at a different location.” It also establishes guidelines regarding who can provide telemedicine services, and provides clarity regarding insurance company reimbursement for those services. “Telemedicine can help patients get the care they need. It allows for…

June 14, 2018

Bernstine Appointed to Bipartisan Budget Watchdog Committee

HARRISBURG – Furthering his opportunities to be involved in shaping some of the most critical fiscal issues facing the Commonwealth, State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) Tuesday was appointed by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) to replace outgoing state Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) on one of the General Assembly’s most influential watchdog committees. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative service agency tasked with making research-supported recommendations for the elimination of wasteful expenditures and promotion of economic growth, as well as ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer dollars. “I’m looking forward to the…

June 14, 2018

Council President Responds to PUC Letter From Council Members

Earlier in the month, council members Rob Brough and Lisa Guerrera sent a letter to council president Judith Dici requesting a reduction in electric rates based on a Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) announcement that customers across the state would be receiving a discount. Dici, although absent from Monday’s agenda meeting, left a written response to the council members as follows: I am aware of the May 18, 2018 decision of the Public Utility Commission (PUC). This decision was as a result of the substantial decrease in Federal tax rates and other changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of…