METRO DIGEST || Veterans assistance help

Veterans assistance

ELLWOOD CITY, PA.

State Rep. Jaret Gibbons of Ellwood City, D-10th, will host veterans’ specialist Stephanie Bengoa in his office, 438 Line Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to help veterans and their families. Bengoa, of the American Legion’s Veterans Assistance program, will assist veterans with understanding what benefits they have earned, filing appeals to claims, enrolling in the Veterans Affairs health care system and any other questions regarding benefits. No appointment is necessary. Constituents with questions can contact Gibbons’ office at 724-752-1133.

Citizen workshop

YOUNGSTOWN

Community Legal Aid will conduct a two-hour citizenship workshop at 10 a.m. Dec. 15 at OCCHA’s center, 3660 Shirley Road. Free parking is available. During the workshop, eligible lawful permanent residents will receive information and apply for citizenship the same day. Legal-aid staff and volunteer attorneys will screen and advise on naturalization, distribute free study materials and discuss the citizenship exam. Time permitting, there will be help for pre-registered individuals to complete naturalization applications. Filing fee waivers and medical exemptions also may be prepared, if applicable. To register and for more information, apply at www.communitylegalaid.org, or call 800-998-9454 from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday or 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

2-hour outage

YOUNGSTOWN

Power was restored within two hours to about 4,200 people who lost electricity just before 7 p.m. Saturday, about half in Youngstown and the rest spread out among Campbell, Lowellville, Poland and about 200 in Struthers. It appears a FirstEnergy business customer had a problem with its equipment that backspread into a FirstEnergy substation, causing the outage, said Mark Durbin, First-Energy spokesman. Durbin said power was restored to about half of the customers in Youngstown by 7:48 p.m. and the rest by 8:45 p.m.

Girard boil alert

GIRARD

A boil alert has been issued for Girard water customers, including Liberty Township, after a water-main break Friday in the 900 block of Tibbetts-Wick Road. The road is closed for crews to repair the break, reports 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner. City officials say Girard water customers could experience low water pressure for a short period of time.

Waterfit classes

YOUNGSTOWN

Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, will offer a new “Waterfit” class beginning in January. The class is great for crossfit athletes, triathletes or lap swimmers wanting to improve their fitness. Classes will feature drill/stroke instruction and a high-intensity workout from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday. Cost is $25 for five classes, or $8 for each. Contact Caroline McDermott at 330-746-3250, ext. 112.