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March 11, 2016

Ellwood City Has Opening for Boys and Girls Basketball Coaches

At the school board meeting on Thursday, the board accepted the resignation of the girls basket coach and declared that the boys basketball coach position was open and is taking applicants. Both the girls coach, Jolene Krupa, and the boys coach, James Kosior, had been in their positions for two years and competed in Class AAA conferences. Krupa’s record was 21-24 and her team advanced to the first round of the playoffs in 2014-15, the first time a girls team has done so since 1997-98. In addition, Krupa had coached the team’s five seniors since 8th grade. Her sister, Dena…

March 11, 2016

Ellwood City School Board March Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Area school board meeting held on March 10: Recognition Congratulations to 5th grader Hayden Slade, 5th grader Grady Smith, 4th grader Gabrielle Kalantzis, sophomore Katelyn Cole, 7th grader Samuel DiCaprio and 7th grader Emily Borroni for receiving the 2016 Carson Scholarship. They were among 7300 students nationally to be named Carson Scholars and will each receive a $1,000 college scholarship. This was Grady’s second year being named a Carson Scholar, and he qualified as a 2016 Recognized Carson Scholar. Congratulations to junior Taylor Petrak, who won the WPIAL 50-yard freestyle…

March 11, 2016

Ag Committees to Hold Hearing on Cuts to Agriculture Funding

With an increasing groundswell of public outcry regarding the Governor’s slashing of state funding for agricultural programs, the Legislature will hold a public hearing on the impact of those cuts on Pennsylvania’s farmers and the various programs that support their livelihood, according to Senator Elder Vogel, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and Representative Martin Causer, Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a joint public hearing on “Agriculture Partial Budget Funding” beginning at 9 a.m., March 15,…

March 10, 2016

Board Discusses Lunch Program but Keeps Policy the Same

Revision: Students on free or reduced lunch plans always receive a lunch. This was known by the Ellwoodcity.org staff but overlooked when the article was written. Following a lengthy discussion Monday, the Ellwood City Area School Board decided not to change the food service policy which had been questioned in February by members of the Kitchen Cabinet, an Ellwood City volunteer group. As is, the cafeteria staff takes lunch from students whose meal account is $6.75 overdrawn. Excepting packaged items, the food is then thrown out for health and safety reasons. In grades K-12, students subsequently receive a meal of…

March 10, 2016

Ellwood Board Members Mention Potential Merger but not with Riverside

At the Ellwood City area school board agenda meeting on Monday, board members mentioned a potential merger suitor, sort of. Board President Renee Pitrelli mentioned that an official from another school district said that representatives from the district might be interested in a merger. Pitrelli would only say that the district is close, is not Riverside and that Ellwood is not currently engaged in any official merger discussions. However, Pitrelli said that drastic action may need to be taken due to the uncertainty in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania legislature still has not yet passed a budget for 2016. Meanwhile, the school…

March 2, 2016

Veterans’ Specialists to Visit Gibbons’ Office Next Week

March 1 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons today announced he will host two veterans’ specialists in his Ellwood City office next week. “I am happy to provide this service so veterans they can understand their rights and benefits,” Gibbons said, D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence. Stephanie Bengoa and Ryan Paglia will participate in the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 to lend help to veterans and their families. Bengoa, of the American Legion Veterans Assistance Program, will be in Gibbons’ office to assist veterans with understanding what benefits they have earned, filing appeals to existing claims, enrolling in the Veterans…

February 19, 2016

Perry Township Board of Supervisors 2016 Reorganization Meeting

The Perry Township Board of Supervisors held their reorganization meeting at 4 p.m. with their regular meeting immediately following on Monday, Jan. 4 at the Perry Township Municipal Building. Supervisors in attendance were John Zias, James Radich, Tim Boots, Secretary/Treasurer Janice Marshall and Solicitor Greg Fox. No visitors attended. The following appointments were made for the 2016: Board Appointments Chairman position: Boots motioned and Radich second for John Zias to be Chairman of the Board. Motion passed with all voting in favor. Vice-Chairman position: Zias motioned and Radich second for Tim Boots to be Vice-Chairman of the Board. Motion passed…

February 18, 2016

Property Tax/Rent Rebates Now Available in Senator Vogel’s District Offices

Applications are now available for the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program and qualified individuals should file as soon as possible, according to Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The program is open to state residents age 65 or older; widows and widowers age 50 or older; and, 100 percent disabled people 18 or older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, with half of Social Security income excluded. The deadline for filing an application is July 1…

February 18, 2016

Ellwood City Borough Council February Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Borough Council meeting held on Feb. 15, 2016. Announcements Picnic shelter reservations will begin on the fourth Monday in February (Feb. 22) for Borough residents and beginning on the fourth Monday in March (Mar. 28) for non-Borough residents. Commendations Loccisano’s Golden Dawn grocery store was presented with a commendation for its 100 year anniversary. Appointments/Resignations A motion was passed appointing Joseph Trocci to the Recreation Board for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2018. The motion passed 6-1 with Vice President David DeCaria dissenting. DeCaria supported the other candidate, Caleb Cragle….

February 15, 2016

Mayor’s Crime Watch February Meeting

Mayor Anthony J. Court will hold his February 2016 Crime Watch Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. All Ellwood City residents and business owners are encouraged to attend.