Lifesteps of Butler County recently recognized

Bill and Justine Brown of Butler for their dedication to children in Butler County.An early childhood development teacher at Butler High School, Justine Brown and her classes have helped create ornaments and decorate the Lifesteps' Christmas Spirit Tree. They also help by purchasing gifts for needy children in the Butler area.With her husband Bill and their children, the family also travels to local churches, housing complexes and child care centers playing the roles of Santa and Mrs. Claus and their elves.———

<b>John Pickerd</b>, 13, of Butler was chosen as a runner up in the annual Edgar Snyder and Associates "My Winter Wonderland of Fun" coloring contest, open to students in schools for children with special needs and children in Western Pennsylvania Hospitals.Pickerd, who attends The Education Center at The Watson Institute, received a shopping spree at Toys 'R Us.His artwork will appear on the law firm's 2005 holiday card.———

Winners at the Butler Duplicate Bridge Club game held Dec. 1 were:<b>Pat Wilde and Alexander Bealles,Nicholas Tredennick and Alan Martin,Polly Black and Lorraine Worsley,Teresa Fraas and Art Aronson,Raymond Kramer and William Frank andLynn Rafferty and Marilyn Entzi</b>