Latest news with #Waynesboro
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What to know about Waynesboro Area School Board candidate before May 20 primary
Pennsylvania's primary election is May 20 and one of the positions on the ballot is a seat representing Washington Township on the Waynesboro Area School Board. Lindsay Weaver and Steven McRae are running in the primary for the opportunity to be the Republican candidate in the November general election. No Democrats are running for the township school board seat. Another election Q&A: Primary election is May 20. Learn about First Ward Waynesboro Borough Council candidates We asked the GOP candidates to respond to a few questions via email. Below are McRae's answers. Weaver did not respond to the Q&A. Age: 37 Town: Waynesboro Education: Bachelor's in Technology Education, Master's in Adult Education Professional Experience: For 3 years I taught Technology Education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Edgewood Middle School in Harford County, MD. I worked with students of all learning styles and abilities and gained a lot of experience in curriculum development, lesson planning and classroom management. I was also published in the January 2014 edition of STEM Magazine where I discussed ways to implement STEM into the core education courses. While in education, I started a Science Olympiad club where students applied STEM to compete in regional, state and national levels. In the three years that I was the leader for the Science Olympiad club my Edgewood Middle School team made it to the Maryland State competition each year. I have also held leadership roles with training newly hired employees while working at Comcast over the past 10 years. After spending three years in the public education system I found that my passion had been drained due to the decisions of the school board that I worked under. I still have a passion for education, and I believe that being a school board member I can use my years of experience and my education to make improvements to the Waynesboro Area School District that will benefit students in their educational and professional endeavors. I believe that our entire education system is focused too much on standardized testing and basing a student's educational value on test scores and not practical, real-world education. I feel that, especially in the Waynesboro community, that more focus and opportunities for trade schools and apprenticeships should be implemented so that all students can succeed and not be judged solely on the scores of a standardized test. A major issue that is affecting our school systems nationwide now is the blurring of political values and educational values. While I am 100% for freedom of speech and expression, there should be no place in the classroom for educators to make any comments, suggestions or opinions on a student's gender identity, political beliefs, or anything else that is not pertinent to the subject that is to be taught within the classroom. I feel that a major change in education that needs to be addressed is determining who is responsible for student performance in the classroom. I believe that a change in the mindset needs to be made so that there is equal responsibility for the education and development of children between the teachers, parents and the students themselves. I want to fight for the common-sense education for WASD and be the voice of parents and students that may not align with the many "woke" political values forced on children. Schools should be about children making friends, developing social skills and getting the common sense education that can be used in the real world. I believe we need to focus on the basics of education to ensure a solid foundation for children and provide a stepping point for their future. I want to work with the businesses in the community to try and help promote or create possible apprenticeship opportunities as not all students will be college bound. I will fight for parental rights to know what their children are being taught in schools. I will be a voice for the parents, students and teachers to promote a stronger education so that we can create a better tomorrow. Washington Township is the only place where there is a contested school board race. In the Borough of Waynesboro, there are two Republican candidates for two posts, Shane Harkins and Bradley Kiracofe. No Democrats are running. In the North End – Quincy Township, the Borough of Mont Alto and the Fifth Ward of Guilford Township – Democrat Kimberly Miles is running for the one school board seat. There are no Republican candidates. Polls will be open for in-person voting from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 20. Mail-in and absentee ballots must be returned to the Franklin County Voter Registration Office by 8 p.m. May 20. Ballots must physically be in the office by that time. A May 20 postmark is not sufficient. Only registered Republicans and Democrats can vote in the primary election. Additional information, including sample ballots, can be found on the Franklin County website. This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Republican Waynesboro School Board candidate Steven McRae answers QA
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Augusta commissioner comments on job in Burke County government
WAYNESBORO, Ga. (WJBF) – An Augusta city leader says his new job is not a conflict. The new elections supervisor in Burke County is Augusta Commissioner Brandon Garrett. Garrett says he's checked with the State and the City attorney, and working for one county while being a member of the governing body of another is not a violation of his oath of office. 'I work for a county, they pay me for the work that I do. I'm not the holder of any public funds which is what the oath actually says, so there is not conflict of interest even with me being Supervisor of Elections down here. Has zero to do with my work in Augusta as a commissioner,' said Garrett. Garrett says he does not plan to move and leave Richmond County and he is not going to resign from the commission before his term ends. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Learn all about herbs at Monterey Pass garden talks
The Garden Talk Series at Monterey Pass Civil War Garden will begin on Thursday, May 8. According to an announcement, Buttonwood Nature Center will host a series of garden talks on four consecutive Thursdays: May 8, 15, 22 and 29. The events will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the garden adjacent to the Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum at 14325 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. The programs are free and open to the public. The talks will be led by Penn State master gardener volunteer Annette Spry and Melissa Irwin, a former educator and accomplished gardener. Pam Hind Rowland, Buttonwood's educational site coordinator and garden director, will also contribute to the programs. The first session on May 8 is titled "All About Herbs and How to Use Them." Spry will discuss various herbs that can be grown successfully, including both perennial and annual varieties. Participants will learn about the needs and growing habits of each plant, as well as culinary uses for fresh and dried herbs. The session will also cover simple harvesting methods, and how to dry and preserve herbs for later use. On May 15, Irwin will present "Small Space Gardening." This session will focus on how to create productive gardens in limited spaces, such as small yards or balconies. Irwin will also explore vertical gardening techniques that maximize space. Melissa Irwin grew a giant lion's mane mushroom in her home garden last summer. Irwin is one of two presenters in a series of gardening talks in the historic garden at Monterey Pass in Blue Ridge Summit this spring. The third session, "Cooking with Herbs — What's the Buzz?" will take place on May 22, led by Spry. This talk will teach participants how to enhance food flavors using various herbs. Attendees will learn the differences between dried and fresh herbs, when to use each, and how to prevent herbs from bolting. Spry will also discuss the role of herbs in supporting pollinators like bees and other beneficial insects. The final session, "Garlic 101: Planting, Growing and Harvesting," will be presented by Irwin on May 29. Participants will discover how to grow garlic, from selecting varieties to creating garlic braids that can last until the next harvest. The session will cover culinary and medicinal uses of garlic, as well as its role as a companion plant and natural pesticide. The historic garden was created in partnership with the Friends of the Battle of Monterey Pass, based on extensive research. It serves as an educational tool for visitors of all ages to the Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum. According to an announcement, the garden is an interpretation of a Civil War-era garden, not a literal reproduction. Rowland noted that 19th-century gardens often included a variety of herbs used for both medicinal and culinary purposes. The garden is maintained by Buttonwood garden volunteers and members of the Blue Ridge Garden Club throughout the season. While registration for the programs is preferred, it is not required. Interested participants can go to for more information. Attendees are encouraged to wear appropriate shoes for the garden environment. Seating will be provided, but participants may bring their own chairs if they prefer. This program is produced in partnership with the Friends of Monterey Pass Battlefield and is supported by grants from the M&T Charitable Foundation, Younger Toyota, and contributions from various local supporters. Facility support is provided by the Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum and Washington Township. The garden was established by Buttonwood Nature Center with additional support from local businesses and organizations. This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. The Public Opinion, The Record Herald, Echo-Pilot are growing their local news This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: Garden Talk Series to begin at Monterey Pass Civil War Garden on May 8
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
How would a federal funding pause affect Franklin County schools, towns, organizations?
How would a federal funding pause affect Franklin County schools, towns, organizations? Show Caption Hide Caption Judge halts President Trump's pause on federal aid money A judge paused the Donald Trump's order to "temporary pause" certain federal assistance until at least Feb. 3, when another hearing will be held. Organizations, school districts, municipalities and other entities in Franklin County have a lot riding on the outcome of President Donald Trump's decision Monday to pause the distribution of federal aid. News outlets around the country reported communities were in a state of chaos and confusion following the sudden announcement that most federal grants, loans and other aid would go unfunded while agencies determined how they aligned with the administration's agenda. While a federal judge halted the funding pause through at least Feb. 3 in an order Tuesday afternoon, questions still remain about the impacts. Public schools in Franklin County Even if the funding pause goes into effect, public schools should feel little to no impact this school year. Chambersburg Area School District Superintendent Chris Bigger shared information he received from the Pennsylvania School Board Association stating Title 1 (which provides funding to schools serving low-income families) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (requiring free public education for disabled children) would not be affected because they have already been funded. The school board association said Head Start programs — which is known as First Start Partnerships for Children and Families in Franklin County — would not be affected by a pause in federal funding, according to Biggers. Waynesboro Area School District will dip into its fund balance if it is necessary to make up for any money lost due to a pause in federal funding, according to Superintendent Rita Sterner-Hine. "Unanticipated changes to a school district's revenues during the fiscal year creates challenges. For the Waynesboro Area School District, nearly all of our $1.4 million in federal funding supports teaching and instructional positions across all six of our schools," Sterner-Hine wrote in an email. "During an interim pause in funding, Waynesboro is positioned to use its fund balance to continue supporting those positions until the funding is renewed. However, the fund balance reflects one-time funds, and we must be cognizant that it is difficult to replenish the fund balance once it has been depleted." She also noted that any stoppage in federal funding would exacerbate problems WASD already deals with due to being underfunded. Pennsylvania's Basic Education Funding Commissioner determined Waynesboro needs $24 million more annually be considered "adequately funded," Sterner-Hine said. In Greencastle-Antrim School District, Superintendent Lura Hanks said she had no comment on Tuesday as officials were still working out to determine the impact of the funding pause. More: Chambersburg hires Dillsburg firm to build public works campus, likely starting in March Chambersburg Police Department In the Borough of Chambersburg, the police department could be affected if a grant the borough was awarded in September goes unfunded. Borough Manager Jeff Stonehill told the Public Opinion he received an email from the U.S. Department of Justice around noon Tuesday that disbursements of the Community Oriented Policing (COPS) grant was temporarily on hold. "We will continue to monitor this situation," he wrote in an email. "In the meantime, the one police officer partially funded by the grant remains on the Borough payroll, and seeing as it is a reimbursement type grant his employment will not be impacted by this pause. We have sufficient resources to pay his payroll for the foreseeable future." Through the COPS grant, the borough is to receive $125,000 over three years, which creates a savings of $41,000 for the borough, according to information shared at a Borough Council meeting in September. Stonehill said authorities were otherwise unsure of the impact. "We don't utilize too many federal grants. We have a US Department of Transportation grant for the Gas Utility, a US Army Corps of Engineering grant for Southgate, a US Department of Justice COPS Grant for the Police Department, and of course we are a US Department of Housing and Urban Development direct entitlement community. We also have a pending application for FEMA flood control but that hasn't been approved yet.," he said. More: Franklin County Jail collaborates with ICE to ensure handover of undocumented inmates Development projects in Franklin County Even if the federal funding pause is reinstated, new development projects in Franklin County should be unhindered. "While we have several projects that we are working on, none involve federal funding," Franklin County Area Development Corp. President Mike Ross said. Emails sent to the Franklin County commissioners office and the South Central Community Action Program, which helps people access federal assistance, was not returned on Tuesday. Amber South can be reached at asouth@
