A Child Is Missing Alert Program is now available in the borough. The nonprofit helps law enforcement agencies locate missing children or elderly suffering from dementia, or any one lost.

The program uses computer mapping systems and technicians to place 1,000 alert phone calls in one minute to residents and businesses in the area where someone has gone missing.

Chief Michael Scott helped get the agreement with the group.

For more, call the department at 412-882-9600.

Rainbow Kitchen Community Services is collecting new and gently used winter outerwear, items such as coats, hats, scarves and gloves, to help low-income neighbors get through the cold winter months ahead.

All sizes for men, women, children and infants are needed; sizes 2X and 3X are especially needed.

The weather has already turned cold and the organization is receiving requests from families and individuals who are in need of warm coats.

For more, call contact Marlene Murphy at 412-464-1892.

Donations can be dropped off at the Kitchen, 135 East 9th Avenue, any week day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Center for Theater Arts has elected six new members to its board of directors. They are:

• Susie Bradley, of Mt. Lebanon, owner of Bradley Brown Design Group.

• Michael P. Flynn, of Bethel Park, an attorney with Dickie McCamie and Chilcote.

• Mary Ketchum, of Mt. Lebanon, a real estate agent with Howard Hanna.

• Myles Durham Lilley, of Mt. Lebanon, a branch manager with Dollar Bank.

• Sadie A. Stang, of Mt. Lebanon, a community volunteer.

• Steven A. Thompson, of Canonsburg, owner of Colaizzo Thompson Insurance Associates in Canonsburg.

Located at 250 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard, the Center offers classes in acting, musical theater, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and voice to children and teens. There are also classes in movie-making, comedy, audition technique and sketch comedy, and there are performance opportunities for singers, dancers and actors.

As the host municipality of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, North Strabane receives an annual sum from part of the revenue generated by the slot machines. Supervisors allocated part of the $2.3 million it received for this year to be donated to local community organizations.

Chairman Brian Spicer presented checks to two groups during a non-legislative meeting Tuesday night. First, he presented a $25,000 check to representatives of the Greater Canonsburg Public Library Board of Trustees for the library's capital campaign.

The idea of building a new library in Canonsburg, situated not very far from the current small library was conceived more than a decade ago. Fund-raising efforts have been going on for a number of years. Vice President Manuel Pihakis thanked the supervisors for their patience and promised construction would be underway shortly.

"We have the shovels ready and we'll notify you," he said.

Mr. Spicer also presented a $25,000 check to representatives from the Washington Area Humane Society.

Earlier this year, the board donated $75,000 to Canonsburg General Hospital, which is located in the township, and pledged $25,000 to the Canonsburg Lake Restoration and Improvement Committee, Mr. Spicer said.

Commissioners earlier this week approved advertising a list of properties that will be part of their new conservation zoning, a list that includes the Mayview State Hospital property.

The zoning district is designed to preserve open ground, allowing for recreational uses and for housing lots of at least 3 acres.

The hospital, which cared for the mentally ill, was closed at the end of 2008. A state-led task force has been studying the options for disposing of the property, about 300 acres along Chartiers Creek.

South Fayette officials created the CD-1 zoning district with the Mayview property in mind, with an eye toward turning part of it into a township park.

Township manager Mike Hoy also reported that the state Department of General Services, which controls the property, is preparing to issue a request for proposals from companies interested in buying and developing the property.

"That's something the township's been asking for, so we can look at proposals and not just sell to the highest bidder," Mr. Hoy said Monday.

It may be the season, but fall will be the last thing anyone wants to do when the Mon View Roller Rink and Community Center officially opens for skating at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Fall skating hours will be 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Admission to skate is $4, or $5 with skate rental. General admission to the facility is $3. Mon View is available to rent for private parties, and skate lessons are available by appointment.

The rink will host an all-ages "Halloween Skate" from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 31. Admission is $7. The night will be filled with games, prizes and activities.

The renovated Mon View Roller Rink, funded by a state grant, features a 120-by-60-foot wooden floor, a concession area, fog machine, disco ball and laser lights.

For more, call 724-943-3440.

North Shore Animal League America, The American Mutt-i-grees Club and the Western PA Humane Society Fallen Timber Shelter will hold a special adoption event, "Paws To Adopt A Pet" from 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30 at Century III Mall in the parking lot outside Entry A.

The initiative calls attention to the plight of millions of homeless animals and takes aim at reducing the numbers of euthanized pets whose lives are ended because there is not enough room in shelters.

Animals for adoption from the Fallen Timber shelter will be transported to Century III Mall in the Animal League's 35-foot Mobile Adoption Unit, a spacious, temperature-controlled unit that safely holds up to 35 animals.

For more, visit www.AnimalLeague.org and www.wpahumane.org.

Five high school seniors were named semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Benjamin Gauthier, Evan Komoroski, Claire LaRosa, Benjamin Pritz and John Wawrose will now continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, which will be offered next spring. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

In addition, Andrea Briggs, John Flaherty, Lindsey Golden, Melissa Jarrett, Taylor Maher, Joshua Schake and Benjamin West were named Commended Students by the National Merit Corporation for placing in the top 5 percent of the more than 1.5 million students who took the PSAT nationwide.

More than $5.3 million was donated by students throughout the nation this year, bringing the total raised for LLS to $47 million since the fundraiser started in 1994.

For more, call 412-395-2869 or visit www.LLS.org and www.olivegarden.com.

Munhall

The Steel Valley Veterans' Day Committee will hold the 27th Annual Veterans' Day Program at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 5 in the Steel Valley High School Auditorium.

The Veteran Honoree will be Joe Serenka and family for generations of service; and a video tribute will be given by Teacher Michelle Maddigan and student Earl Pearson.

These names will be added to the Memorial Tribute: Eugene Fawcett, John Venable, John Posipanka, Earle Wittpenn, Robert Kondas and David Jacobs.

Veterans of any era and those serving in the military are invited.

South Allegheny

The School Board has elected Jeffrey E. Solomon as principal of South Allegheny High School. The unanimous vote was Monday.

Mr. Solomon replaces Keith Gephart, who is leaving for the post of Special Education liaison in the Elizabeth Forward district.

Mr. Solomon is currently principal at the district's Middle School, a position he has held since 2006. Under his leadership, the middle school was awarded the "Schools to Watch" award in 2009, a distinction earned by only 40 middle schools in the country. He previously taught at the Middle School and previously served as the high school's assistant girls' basketball coach.

Mr. Solomon, of Pleasant Hills, has a bachelor's degree from California University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is enrolled in a Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility Program at the Cal U. He and his wife Nicole have one daughter, Giavanna, 5, and are expecting another child.

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First published on October 22, 2009 at 6:23 am