SAXONBURG - II-VI has formed a partnership with SemiSouth Laboratories in Starkville, Miss., and with Mississippi State University for the development of a silicon carbide semiconductor.

Carl Johnson, II-VI's chairman and chief executive officer, said the company's manufacturing teams in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have made advancements in growing single crystal silicon carbide materials and the Mississippi partnership will help in the development of "high volume production," of these materials.

The amount of money II-VI has invested in this project was not disclosed.

MARSHALL TWP, Allegheny County - Marconi, a British-based telecommunications firm, has begun about 100 employee layoffs at its township office.At one time, the office housed about 1,400 employees, and about 800 two years ago. With this round of layoffs, that number will drop to about 350.The cause for the layoffs has been attributed by a company spokesman to a restructuring of the company.

CLINTON TWP - Castcon-Stone has hired James Clark to fill the new position of chief operating officer.Clark has been manager of operations services for Pittsburgh Plastics in Butler.He also was the general manager of American Textile Co. in Duquesne, was project manager for Rockland Industries and was district operations manger and fabrication center manager for custom window projects for JC Penney.Clark lives in Wexford with his wife, Alicia. He has three children.

SEVEN FIELDS - First National Bank has named Glenn Hendrickson as relationship manager for its Commercial Lending Division. He will be based at the bank's Seven Fields branch.In this position, Hendrickson will help businesses of all sizes with banking and financial services. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where he earned a bachelor's of arts degree in business administration. He lives in Franklin Park with his wife, Sue, and their three sons.

WEXFORD - The Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce is hosting two luncheons.The Athena, Arcadia, NACCC Scholarship and Alicia Photography Scholarship luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. April 21 at the Treesdale Golf and Country Club. Cost is $25 per person.The May Leadsheet Breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. May 5 at the Wildwood Gold Club in Allison Park. Pre-registration cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. An additional $5 will be charged at the door for late registration.For information, call 724-934-9700.

The Butler County Chamber of Commerce announces these upcoming events.11:30 a.m. April 29 - In cooperation with the Cranberry Area and Zelienople-Harmony Area chambers, a meet-n-move luncheon at the Pittsburgh Marriott North at Cranberry Woods Drive. Cost is $20 for chamber members or $30 for non-members.6 p.m. May 12 - In cooperation with Leadership Butler County, a business mixer at the Butler Little Theatre, followed by a 7:30 p.m. performance of "The Sunshine Boys."For information, call the chamber at 724-283-2222.

Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Butler Memorial Hospital are sponsoring a new award for 2005 - Employee of the Year.This award will be presented at the employee appreciation lunch on April 21 at The Atrium on Route 422.All nominees for the award must be employees of a Butler County business. They should be exceptional individuals who have achieved excellence in their profession and work to carry out the mission of their business or organization through outstanding work habits and ethics. The recipient will be determined by a group of judges.Nomination forms are available by contacting the chamber at 724-283-2222.

BUTLER TWP - Butler County Community College is offering free career development workshops through the New Choices/New Options program.This program is made up of workshops focusing on employment assessments, career exploration, goal setting, communications skills, resume development, community resources, computer instruction and job search and networking skills.For information call the college at 724-287-8711, ext. 8393, or look at newchoices@bc3.edu.

GROVE CITY - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in cooperation with the Northwest Pennsylvania Cooperation Council and the Midwestern PA Labor-Management Council, will host a seminar on Wednesday.The seminar will have two topics: "Developing an Effective Safety and Health Program," and "Worker's Comp and Drug Testing." It starts at noon at Hoss's Steak and Sea House, across from the Prime Outlets. Cost is $20 per person.For information or to register, call Roger Smith at 724-654-8848 or Wendy Hawthorne at 724-588-3000.

<B>Bon-Ton Stores'</B> sales for the five weeks ending April 2 decreased 4 percent to $100.5 million, compared to $104.6 million for the same period last year. Year-to-date decrease is 3.5 percent, or $175.3 million.