PAGES OF THE PAST

• Several local teachers were awarded “Great Idea” grants from the Consortium for Public Education. Charleroi Middle School teachers Howard Johnson, Stephanie Rice, Joell Miller, Mary Tickner, Joyce Stanish, Michele Piatt, Bob Cotton, Jamie Pompanio and Natalie DiStefano were awarded $1,213.66 for their “H2O to Grow” program. Elizabeth Forward Greenock Elementary School teachers Sarah Nill, Jennifer Meliton, Chris Estadt, Lisa Tiberio, Lindsay Murray, Tara Gluscic, Gail Fleckenstein, Autumn Gaydos, Stephanie Raible, Florence Stahurski, Sharon Glowacki, Renee Repko were awarded $415.13 for their “Growing Greenock” program.

• Many people had a festive time at the annual Christmas celebration in Elizabeth Borough. The celebration included two performances of the “Nutcracker” at Grand Theater.

• Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed a bill that would have provided $6 million in much needed funding for rural transit systems. Rendell had promised to sign the bill but decided to veto it on the advice of the Pennsylvania Public Transit Association. Mid Mon Valley Transit Executive Director Nancy Basile is a member of the lobbying group that advised the governor to kill the bill. The bill called for the establishment of additional transit authorities, which would also share in the funds.

• A group of Washington Township firefighters told supervisors the fate of their department could be in the hands of local residents. Assistant Fire Chief Rob Bennett said the volunteer fire company was so far in debt that it might have to shut down in January unless it can prove to its lender that additional funds are available. Bennett asked the supervisors to approve a fire tax on local residents and business owners to fund the fire department.