Students from Economy Elementary School were recognized at the school board meeting Monday, Jan. 13. Below are a few of the students who were recognized for standing out in the classroom. Ambridge Area property owners won’t pay more in taxes than the threshold permitted under the state’s Act 1 Taxpayer Relief Act. The school board voted down a measure 6-3 Monday night that would have allowed administrators to apply for special exceptions to increase taxes above 2.07-mills or 2.8 percent, the index set for the 2014-15 school year. MC Knafelc, Kimberly Locher and Scott Angus voted in favor of applying for Act 1 exceptions, while Mary Jo Kehoe, Jeremy Angus, Kelly Smith, Robert Keber, Roger Kowal and John Baker voted against it. Under the state’s Act 1, the district could apply for three special exceptions: to help cover the increase in the Public School Employees' Retirement System, special education and “grand-fathered” debt expenses. Knafelc, who made the motion, said the board shouldn't limit its options. “I hope very much that we can avoid raising taxes, however in the process, we need to have all the avenues available to us,” Knafelc said. Instead, the board voted 5-4 to adopt a resolution supporting its decision not to increase taxes above index for the 2014-15 school year. Kehoe, Jeremy Angus, Smith, Keber and Baker voted in favor while Knafelc, Locher, Kowal and Scott Angus voted against the resolution. In presenting preliminary budget numbers, Business Manager Mary Baker said the district faces a deficit of approximately $1,139,153 without a tax increase. A 2.07-mill increase would leave a $631,886 deficit. Baker, who the board officially hired as business manager Monday night, said the district’s projected expenses include salaries, retirement increases and health insurance increases, and takes into account potential revenues from tax collection and a loss in federal ACCESS funding. “Everything is very preliminary. We've received no state and federal allocations at this time,” Baker said. Baker said she doesn't believe Ambridge will end this school year with a budget deficit. The district instituted a budget freeze on Jan. 1, excluding utilities and other necessities. There is also about $4 million in the fund balance, which could be used to help offset shortfalls or tax increases. Mark Turnley of Ambridge is currently conducting a thorough audit. A homeowner with an assessed value of $50,000 would pay $103.50 more per year in taxes for 2014-15 as compared to currently. Roger Kowal said he believes some people will lose their homes if taxes increase. “I think what we need to do is not raise any taxes and start looking at ways to save money,” he said. Knafelc said she got on the board three years ago for the students, and has watched programs for the students get cut. “I pay taxes. I hate taxes, but I love students and I will not vote again to cut any programs, sports, anything. I owe to these kids at least as much school as I got, as my parents got during the Great Depression. I am not cutting programs that we somehow could handle during horrific times.” Superintendent Cynthia Zurchin said administrators will focus on other alternatives to find savings while continuing to offer wonderful programs. “Certainly we do not want to cut programs, we do not want to cut our services to our students,” Zurchin said. Kehoe cautioned that “the budget is always a work in progress.” “It changes daily, weekly,” Kehoe said. The district must adopt a final budget in June. Like Ambridge Connection on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Have a story you'd like to share? Email connect@ambridgeconnection.com. By Larissa Dudkiewicz Ambridge Area teachers and administrators braved 39-degree water for a good cause. On Saturday, a team of 32 participants from the school district took the plunge in the Beaver River as part of the second annual Beaver County Polar Bear Plunge. Lauren Freeman, spokeswoman, said the local group's size was a record for the plunge, which attracted about 350 participants this year, up from around 125 last year. Each participant was required to raise $50 or more in pledges to join in the Polar Bear Plunge at Bridgewater Landings Marina. More than $50,000 was raised this year compared to $18,000 last year. Funds go to support the Pennsylvania Special Olympics. “It’s for the kids,” said Freeman, who teaches fourth grade special education. Freeman said the Special Olympics sponsors more than 20,000 individuals with special needs each year. All five buildings in Ambridge competed by raising funds for the plunge from Dec. 19 to Friday, Jan. 10. Highland Elementary School was declared the winner of the competition, raising a total of $1,336. As part of the drive, Highland Principal Nicholas Tisak offered to go into the water up to his knees if his building raised $75, up to his waist for $150 and up to his shoulders for $250. Freeman said the homerooms raised $564, ensuring Tisak would have to take the full plunge. Jackie Smithhammer led as Ambridge Area team captain. Like Ambridge Connection on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Have a story you'd like to share? Email connect@ambridgeconnection.com. By Larissa Dudkiewicz Brenda Pucci was upset to learn her Baden home had been burglarized. She made the discovery Wednesday after her 11-year-old son complained of his cell phone missing. She soon found an iPad had also disappeared, along with brand-new Nike Elite socks. “If he wouldn’t have had his cellphone, I wouldn’t have noticed anything missing,” said Pucci of Mellon Avenue. Baden Police said it’s the fourth confirmed home burglary within the past two months, and the recent crime activity has put many residents on edge. More than 20 people attended a Neighborhood Crime Watch meeting in Baden Thursday night, anxious to discuss the burglaries that police say began happening just after Thanksgiving. Baden Police Sgt. David Alvarez said the homes that have been targeted are concentrated in the borough’s south side. None of the homes showed signs of forced entry, leading police to believe thieves are targeting unsecured properties. Alvarez assured residents that police are saturating the area with patrols, and working hard on their behalf. “We have an idea of where the source is coming from,” he said. Margie Lease, co-chairwoman of the neighborhood watch group, passed out fliers to warn residents. Lease said she was startled on Wednesday night when a stranger unexpectedly knocked on her door. She didn’t answer, but took note as a tall, thin white male in jeans and a black hooded jacket turned and headed off down the street. She immediately called the police. Lease said the male had a scruffy face and didn’t appear to be a kid. “He was maybe in his 30s,” she said. Pucci said her door was unlocked for her son to get in after school, which presented an opportunity for someone to slip in. She was able to track her son’s cell phone to a Wolfe Street address in using the phone finder. She said the phone and iPad were recovered, but the socks are still missing. Alvarez said police plan to charge two juveniles with receiving stolen property, but don’t have enough evidence to file burglary charges. He asked residents to remain diligent and to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. “I’m a firm believer that everybody gets caught eventually. We get them one way or another,” he said. Baden Neighborhood Watch Margie Lease and Richard Gallagher started the Baden Neighborhood Watch group in June 2011, after Lease said she became fed up with having her car broken into. In addition to reporting suspicious activity, the co-chairs offered other home security tips, advising residents to look out for a neighbor’s mail or newspapers piling up, and to take notice of elderly shut-ins who haven’t been seen over a period of days. The group meets at 7 p.m. every second Thursday of the month in the community room at the municipal building, 149 State St. To report suspicious activity, call the Baden Police Department at 724-869-2813. Baden Residents: There will be a Baden Neighborhood Watch meeting tonight at 7 PM at the Municipal Building in the Community Room (downstairs next to the police station).
An Oakdale man accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl remains in Beaver County Jail unable to post $100,000 bond.
Local Girl Scouts started the cookie season off right with a Cookie Kickoff Rally Wednesday night. Leaders try to really motivate and energize the girls for the Cookie Program. At the rally the older scouts ran stations where the younger girls got a chance to taste the cookies, learn about safety rules and selling tips, see the recognitions, learn the value of setting goals and most importantly, get excited about selling cookies. What is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie ? Due to the weather conditions, classes for students in the Ambridge Area School District will be on a two hour delay schedule on Wednesday, January 8, 2014. No A.M. Vo-tech. Please dress warm and be safe.
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