Local briefs
Courses offered Summertime is often a good time for adults and career-minded professionals to take classes to enhance their careers or learn something new. Dozens of classes are being offered at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus this summer to appeal to a wide variety of interests.
Computer training classes include introductory courses in Word, Excel, Access, Internet and
e-mail. Business and industry courses cover communications, supervision and leadership, coaching and problem solving, and interviewing and selecting employees. Community and public safety classes range from first aid to CPR to classes for professional health care providers, such as emergency first responders and EMTs. Credit courses for educators are available, such as Internet Safety for Educators. And, for personal enrichment, adults can learn ballroom dancing, golf, yoga, or train their dogs.
For more information, a complete schedule or to register, call 724-430-4211.
Seminar offered
California University of Pennsylvania’s Government Agency Coordination Office (GACO) will host a “Federal Government Contracting Seminar for Veteran-Owned Businesses” from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.
The seminar will be held at the Center for Research and Economic Development at Waynesburg University.
The federal government spends about $300 billion annually on a variety of goods and services to support its operations. Purchases include items such as office supplies, cleaning equipment and supplies, software and machined parts. Service related procurements range from janitorial and construction services to environmental and information technology services.
To ensure that small businesses get their fair share of government contracts, statutory goals have been established for federal executive agencies. The goal established for awarding contracts and subcontracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses is 3 percent. There is a best faith effort for doing business with veteran-owned businesses.
The free seminar will provide veteran-owned businesses with information on federal government procurement processes, regulations and contracting opportunities. A representative from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) will discuss key legislation that supports veteran business owners as well as the programs that are available through CVE to assist veterans to pursue federal contracts. Seminar attendees also will hear from prime contractors and government agencies regarding their contracting opportunities
For information on the seminar, contact Deborah Wojcik at 724-938-5881 or wojcik@cup.edu.
Two cited
Two men were cited for contempt of court in Greene County for failing to comply with court orders for support of their children. Judge William R. Nalitz cited Clarence J. Dickens of Rices Landing and Joseph J. McCorkle of Brackenridge on Monday for failing to comply with their child support orders.
Auxiliary to meet
The Walter E. Brown VFW Post 21 Ladies Auxiliary will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 3 at the post home. Auxiliary delegates to the Harrisburg state convention will present reports of the 2008-09 programs and the actions to be taken.
All members are urged to attend.
Bill approved
U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown and chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, announced Tuesday that the House Appropriations Committee has passed a $72.7 billion fiscal year 2009 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that includes design funding for a Pennsylvania National Guard maintenance shop in Coraopolis.
“Pennsylvania has one of the most heavily deployed National Guard forces in the country,” commented Murtha. “We must provide them with state-of-the-art maintenance facilities to properly and safely maintain both equipment and combat vehicles.”
The appropriations bill provides $3,250,000 for a new 130,000 square foot administrative, supply and maintenance support facility. The project will consolidate four inadequate maintenance facilities in the Pittsburgh area by creating a state-of-the-art complex to maintain Army National Guard ground vehicles throughout Western Pennsylvania.
“It is mandatory that we provide our guardsmen with the most up-to-date facilities to maintain equipment and meet the challenges of an operational force,” said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, the adjutant general of Pennsylvania. “The combined support maintenance shop, proposed for Coraopolis, will greatly increase our capability to meet these needs. It will consolidate four inadequate facilities into one state-of-the-art facility which will greatly assist us in meeting the challenges of our state and federal mission, now and into the future.”
The new facility will be able to accommodate the largest vehicles in the Army inventory, including Stryker Brigade equipment, Wright said, and is the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s number one priority for military construction.