DUBOIS: A community-wide Formal Wear Collection Drive is underway to support local high school students by providing free access to prom attire ahead of the upcoming formal season.

The drive is sponsored by We Care for Kids, a local nonprofit group that works directly with the DuBois Area School District to help meet essential needs for students in the community. According to the organization’s mission, We Care for Kids partners with the school district to provide necessities for local children who may otherwise go without.

The collection drive is seeking gently used formal dresses, shoes, and jewelry, all of which will be used during free prom shopping events for high school students. Organizers say the goal is to remove financial barriers so students can fully participate in milestone events like prom.

Collection Dates
Donations are being accepted from February 2 through February 27.

Drop-Off Locations
Community members can donate items at the following locations:

• Jeff Tech Main Office
• Luv 2 Sew 4 U, 69 Beaver Drive, DuBois
• DuBois High School

About We Care for Kids
We Care for Kids is a DuBois-based organization dedicated to supporting students in need through collaboration with the DuBois Area School District. In addition to initiatives like the Formal Wear Collection Drive, the group focuses on providing necessities that help students succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Those looking to learn more about the organization or get involved can find additional information on its website at beacons.ai/wecareforkidsdubois or through its Facebook page at facebook.com/wecareforkidsdubois. The group can also be reached by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Questions and Contact Information
Anyone with questions about the collection drive or donation process is encouraged to contact Danielle at (814) 952-7074.

All donated items will remain local and will be used exclusively to support free prom shopping opportunities for area high school students.

Barely weeks into its existence, the new City of DuBois has already reopened its 2026 budget once—and the result looks less like a confident financial roadmap and more like a document held together with tape, hope, and a lot of unanswered questions.

This is not a routine first-year budget. It reads like a stopgap: pieced together from legacy borough systems, padded with one-time revenue, and built on assumptions that have not yet been stress-tested in the real world. That alone would warrant scrutiny. What elevates concern is how some of the biggest pressure points are being downplayed—or outright misrepresented—by city leadership.

A “Balanced” Budget That Isn’t Built to Last

On paper, the budget balances. In reality, it leans on non-recurring revenue sources—timber sales and asset dispositions—that city officials openly admit will not repeat year after year. That means the budget may work once, but it does not explain how the city plans to function in 2027 without either new taxes, service cuts, or both.

For a brand-new city with a low cash balance and no established reserve policy, this is risky. There is very little margin for error. Any unexpected expense—a harsh winter, infrastructure failure, or legal obligation—could push the city into scrambling mode almost immediately.

This is not a foundation. It is a bridge built while traffic is already on it.

The Police Budget: The Math Doesn’t Lie—Someone Did

The most glaring issue is policing.

Roughly 42% of the General Fund is allocated to the police department. That is not “normal,” no matter how confidently one council member reportedly claimed it was during public discussion. Comparable Pennsylvania municipalities of similar size typically range closer to the low- to mid-30% range for police spending as a share of the General Fund.

Words aside, the numbers are clear: DuBois is an outlier.

That does not automatically mean the police budget is unjustified—but it does mean it demands explanation. Staffing levels, overtime, pension obligations, healthcare costs, inherited contracts, and regional service expectations all matter. None of that analysis has been presented publicly in a way that supports the claim that this allocation is routine or harmless.

Downplaying this discrepancy doesn’t reassure residents. It erodes trust.

Libraries and Recreation: Trust, But Verify

Another quiet danger in this budget is fragmentation.

The city’s tax structure breaks millage into specific buckets—general government, fire, capital, library, recreation, and debt. While that can increase transparency, it also creates opportunity for funds to be shifted, delayed, or “temporarily” repurposed once the year is underway.

For citizens who care about the public library and recreational services, vigilance is essential.

These are often the first areas squeezed when budgets tighten—especially when police and infrastructure costs dominate the conversation. Residents should not assume that because a millage exists on paper, the funding will flow as intended in practice. Council should be pressed to explain, clearly and publicly, what safeguards are in place to ensure library and recreation dollars are not quietly cannibalized to plug other holes.

A City That May Have Bitten Off Too Much

This budget underscores a broader concern: whether current leadership underestimated the complexity of creating a consolidated city.

Merging systems, aligning tax structures, absorbing legacy obligations, and launching major infrastructure like a new sewer treatment plant are not small tasks. Doing all of that while operating with thin cash reserves and relying on one-time revenue is ambitious at best—and reckless at worst.

The budget itself acknowledges uncertainty around key operational costs, particularly sewer operations. Yet there is no clearly articulated “worst case” scenario, nor a plan for how the city would respond if costs exceed projections.

That is not strategic governance. That is reactive governance.

The Questions That Still Haven’t Been Answered

As citizens head into upcoming council meetings, these are the issues that deserve direct, on-the-record answers:

• How much of this budget relies on money that will not exist next year?
• Why is DuBois spending such an unusually high share of its General Fund on police, and what specific cost drivers explain it?
• Who decided this level of police spending was “normal,” and based on what data?
• What guarantees exist that library and recreation funds will actually be protected?
• What is the city’s plan if sewer plant costs spike or revenues fall short?
• At what point does leadership admit the consolidation timeline may have outpaced financial reality?

A Call for Citizen Oversight

Budgets are moral documents. They show what a city truly values—and how honestly it communicates with the people paying the bills.

Right now, DuBois’ 2026 budget sends mixed signals: ambition without cushion, confidence without clarity, and assurances that do not align with the numbers on the page.

This is precisely the moment when citizen engagement matters most. Ask questions. Demand comparisons. Insist on plain-language explanations. And above all, watch closely where the money actually goes—not just where the budget says it should.

Discuss this on our group.

DUBOIS: Xhale is back in full swing on South Brady Street, offering a growing slate of hot barre, pilates, and yoga classes that continue to set the studio apart in the local fitness scene.

Located at 1199 South Brady Street, Xhale operates in a fully refreshed space that uses infrared heat panels, warming the body from the inside out rather than simply heating the air in the room. The result is a workout environment that feels cleaner, more breathable, and more intentional — especially for movement-heavy classes.

According to studio owner and instructor Morgan Rosselli, the difference is noticeable almost immediately.

Infrared heat allows for deeper, more effective sweating, faster muscle warm-up, improved circulation and recovery, and consistent warmth throughout the room. It’s designed to support strength and mobility, not overwhelm participants with stuffy heat.

Rosselli, who leads hot yoga instruction at the studio, has been passionate about fitness since her teenage years. A former marathon runner, she previously operated a yoga and spin studio in DuBois more than a decade ago before returning to teaching.

While she continued practicing on her own over the years, Rosselli said she missed the experience of helping others grow stronger and more confident.

“It’s amazing how quickly people become stronger,” she said. “That part never gets old.”

Xhale’s class offerings include hot yoga, hot mat pilates, and hot barre — each with a distinct focus. Hot yoga at Xhale emphasizes full-body engagement, creative transitions, and challenging flows designed to test both physical strength and mental focus. Rosselli encourages students to breathe through difficulty rather than tense up, a lesson she says carries into everyday life.

“When things get hard, if you can control your breathing, you can control the way you feel,” she explained.

Hot mat pilates, led by Leanne Bontempo, has quickly become one of the studio’s most popular classes. The low-impact, precision-based workouts focus on core strength and controlled movement, intensified by the heat. Rosselli said Bontempo has been part of the studio since its earliest days, and the two have grown the business side by side.

Hot barre rounds out the lineup, blending pilates, barre, and strength training in a heated space. 

Beyond the workouts themselves, Rosselli described the studio atmosphere as intentionally dark, accented with neon lighting and upbeat music. The goal, she said, is to remove intimidation and help people feel comfortable — especially those new to group fitness.

“It makes people feel safe,” she said. “Like the spotlight isn’t on them.”

Xhale opened nearly two years ago in a much smaller space and has steadily expanded since. Classes regularly sell out, with about 18 participants per session. Plans are already in place to renovate and expand again in the near future, allowing room for 30 or more people per class.

In addition to group sessions, Rosselli offers private one-on-one instruction for those who prefer a more gradual or personalized approach. The studio also hosts themed classes throughout the year, including seasonal events, blacklight “flow and glow” sessions, and even puppy yoga, featuring adoptable puppies.

Xhale also carries select retail items, including yoga and fitness merchandise, Free People clothing, soy candles from Aroma Alchemy, and mushroom products by One Guy Fungi LLC.

This Week’s Schedule

Wednesday (1/28)
6:30 PM — Pilates with Abby Gemmel

Thursday (1/29)
5:45 PM — Barre with Carrie Savage

Saturday (1/31)
9:30 AM — Pilates with Leanne Bontempo

Class sizes are limited, and Xhale emphasizes that all official classes are booked and communicated directly through the studio. Any classes or events not listed on their schedule are not affiliated.

Those interested in attending can reserve a spot online.

With its expanding footprint, infrared heat system, and focus on inclusive, strength-based movement, Xhale continues to carve out a unique space for fitness and wellness in DuBois — right in the heart of Brady Street.

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DUBOIS: DuBois City Council met Wednesday, January 21, 2026, moving through routine approvals, winter operations updates, longer-range infrastructure planning, and multiple resolutions tied to fees, boards, zoning matters, and upcoming public hearings, following the agenda order that included consent items, special presentations, unfinished business, new business, and public comment.

Early in the meeting, council approved consent and fiscal items, including meeting minutes, year-end draft reports for the former municipal entities, bills, a fiscal report, and a wastewater treatment plant pay application (WWTP Pay Application #36).

City Manager Flags Cash-Flow Constraint During Bill Approval

During departmental and administrative remarks—roughly eight to nine minutes into the meeting—City Manager Ben Kafferlin highlighted a near-term cash-flow issue while asking council to approve bills so payments could be made as funds became available. Kafferlin said, verbatim:

“First of all, on the bills, we don't necessarily have the cash to pay all of those bills today. So, we were asking for approval so we can kind of pay them on a rolling basis for being judicious on on how that happens. Thanks for that approval.”

Votes And Actions

Below is a vote-focused rundown of actions referenced in the meeting transcript, including whether items passed unanimously or with dissent. No motions were recorded as failing in the transcript provided.

• Minutes and fiscal approvals (organizational meeting minutes, work session minutes, special meeting minutes, year-end drafts, bills, fiscal report, WWTP Pay App #36): Passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• Departmental reports and correspondence: Approved by motion and passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• Environmental Advisory Council: Council voted to move forward with the Environmental Advisory Council concept; the motion passed with one “no” vote indicated.
• Recreation Authority: Council approved advertising a public hearing for March 4; the motion passed with one “no” vote indicated.
• LERTA (Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance): Council authorized moving forward with expanding the LERTA footprint across the city and adding a residential component; the motion passed with one “no” vote indicated.
• Intergovernmental Service Fees (Resolution 2026-021): Passed with one “no” vote indicated.
• CAZAG Appointments (Resolution 2026-022): Passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• Subdivision / Consolidation at 14 Navajo Trail: Approved by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• DuBois Food & Beverage (Micro-brewery conditional use): Council authorized advertising a public hearing for February 18 at 5:30 p.m.; passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• Slab Run Project (Engineers’ Opinion / Memo Regarding Slab Run Project 2026-01-20): Council accepted the engineers’ opinion and moved the project concept forward; passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• Authorization to advertise ordinances (Council Bills #001–#005 of 2026): Council authorized advertisement; passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• Governance Committee citizen appointments: Council voted to amend the agenda, then voted to appoint Melissa Keen and Dave Lombardo to the governance committee; both motions passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.
• ATV permit fee clarification: Council clarified the ATV permit schedule as $150 the first year, $100 the second, and $50 the third and subsequent years; council then clarified that city employees would not be charged the fee, continuing prior policy. Both motions passed by voice vote with no opposition indicated.

Key Discussions

Winter operations and salt supply were discussed during department updates, including comments that available salt supplies could become tight if winter conditions remain severe, potentially requiring a shift to using smaller gravel on roads.

Council also discussed the Slab Run wastewater treatment plant, described as having reached the end of its useful life. Officials outlined a potential project to redirect flow to the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which they said could reduce redundancy and long-term costs. Financing possibilities referenced during the meeting included grants and USDA loan programs, with discussion about coordinating certain infrastructure work to reduce excavation and procurement costs.

Council also referenced grant awards connected to the Jefferson Avenue waterline replacement project and security improvements at the DuBois water filtration plant, including access controls, cameras, and networking-related upgrades.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed council during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Dr. Joseph Zeitler warned that Washington Township supervisors are dealing with a renewed push for a landfill proposal tied to earlier efforts dating back to the late 1990s. Zeitler told council that Washington Township is expected to vote on a subdivision matter integral to those plans and noted a Washington Township meeting scheduled for February 10, encouraging interested residents to attend and express concerns. He referenced prevailing winds and the potential for impacts toward Treasure Lake.

Lisa Gabler spoke about the Downtown DuBois Hometown Hero Banner program, saying the current version is being retired and the banners taken down after substantial discussion among the Downtown DuBois board and staff. Gabler cited challenges including the lack of a banner rotation design, no room for seasonal or downtown banners, inventory management difficulties, and deterioration of older banners. She said the program is not ending, but will be rebooted, with a retirement ceremony planned in March at the VFW where details of a new version will be shared. Gabler said the goal is to rotate banners every two years, simplify the application process, and make room for additional honorees. She also said banners may be picked up at her office and provided a contact number: 814-581-4147.

Closing

Council concluded with solicitor and manager comments followed by board member remarks, which included thanks to city staff, recognition of grant efforts, discussion of snow response and preparedness, and a reminder about an upcoming chamber business bash. A motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.

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