Norwin area: Breakfast with Santa, pirohi sale, more

Board changes meeting dates

The Norwin School Board decided to meet on different dates in the new year.

The school board opted to meet once a month for most of the year, rather than twice a month with a workshop and legislative meeting to vote on issues. The board had been meeting twice monthly for most months, which has been the practice the past several years.

The board will meet on the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in January, February and March, as well as June, September, October and November. The board will meet on the first and third Mondays in April; the first, second and fourth Mondays in May for budget discussions; and the first and second Mondays in August.

There is no meeting in July, and a combined reorganization and legislative meeting will be held the first Monday of December.

Darlene Ciocca was reelected president by a 6-3 vote. Three board members who are part of the minority faction — Robert Wayman, Alex Detschelt and Shawna Ilagan — voted against her. No other candidate was nominated.

Ray Kocak was elected vice president. Wayman and Detschelt voted against Kocak.

Irwin hires employee

Irwin Borough hired a full-time billing, lien and assistant code officer to fill a vacancy after the person who held the post was hired as the assistant manager.

Stephanie Hughes was hired by borough council at a wage of $18.10 an hour.

The position became vacant when Katelind Sartori was hired as the assistant manager in October, replacing Stacie Santimyer, who resigned in October.

Breakfast with Santa set

A pancake breakfast with Santa and the Grinch is planned from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 18. at the Hartford Heights Fire Hall, 14335 Route 30, North Huntingdon.

Children can play games and there will be a free gift.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children age 5 to 12. Children age four and younger eat for free.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or before Dec. 18 by calling 412-952-5860.

Church pirohi sale is Dec. 16

St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church, 90 Bethel Road, North Huntingdon, will hold a pirohi sale beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 16.

A dozen pirohi will be sold for $12.

For more information, contact the church at 412-627-1678.

Scholarships available

through American Legion

• The Pennsylvania American Legion is accepting submissions for its 2023 PA Oratorical Program Contest, which awards annual scholarships of $7,500 (first place), $5,000 (second) and $4,000 (third). This year’s contest will take place Jan. 5 and is open to students in grades 9-12 in public, private, parochial, charter/cyber and online schools as well as home-schooled students.

Students wishing to participate must notify their local hometown Legion post by Dec. 20. Rules and regulations are posted at PA-Legion.com under “student programs.”

• Applications are being accepted for the Legion’s 2023 PA American Legion Essay Contest, which will award three scholarships totaling $9,000. The contest is open to students in grades 9-12 in public, private, parochial, charter/cyber and online schools as well as home-schooled students.

Participants must submit essays to their local Legion post by Jan. 9.

• An additional essay contest is open to students in grades 6-8. Those essays are due by Feb. 5.

For more information, email District 31 Oratorical Chair Jim Drnjevich at jgdrnjevich@aol.com.