[naviga:h3]University garners 3 awards in Ireland[/naviga:h3]

SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University’s marching band, the Marching Pride, earned three awards during its trip to Ireland.

The band performed at the 2019 St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Sunday, capturing the event’s “Best Adult Band” and “Best Overall Band” parade awards.

Jonathan Helmick, SRU assistant professor of music and director of bands, said winning the awards was a surprise, but the students earned that honor through their hard work.

“(Winning these awards) really says something about the caliber of what is going on, not only in our program, but throughout the university,” Helmick said. “Magic can happen, and for us, it happened live in front of a half-million people.”

The group marched along a two-mile parade route through the streets of Dublin as one of 11 marching bands from three countries and eight states at the event.

The band also earned “Best International Band” on Monday at the Limerick International Band Championship, competing in front of 30,000 people and performing alongside 19 other bands comprised of more than 1,000 musicians.

[naviga:h3]City residents can compost leaves[/naviga:h3]

Butler residents can dispose of leaves beginning on April 6 by taking them to the designated area in Memorial Park.

Signs will direct people to the designated area, which will be open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays.

Leaves will be added to the compost site. Plastic bags or other material used to carry leaves cannot be left at the site.

Residents who want to burn leaves on private property must call the fire department at 724-283-3100 for instructions.