HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf announced his intention to nominate Noe Ortega, the current Pennsylvania Department of Education deputy secretary of postsecondary and higher education, to serve as the next secretary of education.

Ortega will replace Pedro Rivera, who will continue to serve as secretary until he becomes president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Oct. 1.

Before joining PDE in 2017, Ortega spent eight years at the University of Michigan, where he held several academic and administrative roles. Ortega also spent nearly a decade working in the areas of financial aid and enrollment management at both public and private universities in Texas.

He also spent nearly seven years as director of a language institute in Japan where he trained teachers in the area of early childhood language acquisition.

The Butler County Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce summer events at Alameda Park:4 5:45 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at the Carousel Shelter, Fitness in the Park with yoga and Zumba4 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at the Alameda Waterpark. Join instructor Cathy Wendling for a combination of working out and cooling off4 6:30 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Odd Fellows Gazebo, “Free Family Summer Concert Series” with the Nightcrawlers4 Aug. 13 “Free Outdoor Discovery” with Bill May and the History of Alameda Park has been canceled4 Aug. 14 “Free Movie in the Park “The Little Rascals” at the athletic field located beside the Pine Shelter in Alameda Park.For more information, call the Butler County Parks and Recreation Department at 724-284-5383.

The Institute for Learning in Retirement will have a virtual fall semester with classes available wherever students can get an internet connection.As always, professionals, hobbyists and experts will teach the ILR classes.The IRL is a nonprofit organization for members. Among class offerings for this fall will be Storm Chasing, John Wilkes Booth and income in retirement.A catalog of classes is available on the IRL website: www.IRLRetirement.org. For more information, email info@ilretirement.org.

Christ Community United Methodist Church, 205 N. Duffy Road, is offering a Super Sprouts Preschool pre-K class for 4- and 5-year-olds on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The 3- to 4-year-old classes will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays.For more information, call the church office at 724-287-4462.