The name of Michael Herschl's company is Wishy-Washy, but the results from the 10-year-old's efforts are anything but wishy-washy. He deserves much praise for the entrepreneurship and charity he has demonstrated since starting his chalkboard cleaning service at McQuistion Elementary School.

Wishy-Washy has earned more than $120 to date, with a check for $111.17 already having been sent to St. Jude's Hospital — not bad for an in-school company that began only last month.

Wishy-Washy already operates an eraser-cleaning service known as Eraser Buddies in a further display of entrepreneurship.

As with most small businesses, Michael learned early on that he could not run his company alone. Fortunately, classmates Rennae Wigton (vice president), Elizabeth Bell (secretary), Andrea Cygan, Amanda Hillard and others joined the effort to help guide it to success.

Wishy-Washy currently has four teams consisting of three to four members each — and named for the color of sponge they use.

And the company prides itself on the quality of work that it does — and the amount of money earned to date indicates that there is abundant customer satisfaction.

A fourth-grade class dealing with entrepreneurship was the seed from which Wishy-Washy was born.

It's obvious that these young entrepreneurs were wide awake when the class discussion was taking place. And this early business experience could well lay the foundation for success in other enterprises later in life.

Mars School District parents have begun to display a refreshing level of interest regarding the new $9.7 million Centennial School, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2007-08 school year.At a school board meeting on Jan. 9, parents asked board members and administrators questions such as whether the school's library would have books and other media appropriate for students with advanced reading levels, how the students would be changing classes, as a group or individually, and about outdoor recess activities.School officials answered those questions, enabling those parents to disseminate that information to their children and other parents.During the meeting, it was disclosed that the school's interior should be completed by mid-April and open houses were being planned for May and June.Centennial School, which will serve approximately 600 students in Grades 5 and 6, is a two-story structure with 24 classrooms. Construction has been under way since spring 2006.It is being built on a 39-acre tract straddling Adams and Middlesex townships, behind Quality Gardens off Route 228.As with any school project or activity in Mars or elsewhere, parents and other district residents should not hesitate to ask questions. An informed public is a school district asset.

It was a shame that an obviously talented and well-regarded teacher had to damage — if not destroy — her career, but Christine Kosik, an English instructor at South Fayette High School, should have known better than to allow an underage drinking party to take place in her basement.Kosik, who was a semifinalist for the 2007 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Award, had permitted her 17-year-old son and 40 to 50 of his friends to hold a party Dec. 30 at her home. While the party was not intended to include booze, someone brought alcohol to the gathering.Instead of halting the party and confiscating the booze, Kosik, who was at home at the time, along with her husband, allowed it to continue. The teacher's problems began when the party became unruly and police were called.About 30 teens, including Kosik's son, were cited for underage drinking that night. Kosik and her husband, John, were charged with corruption of minors.Police said the Kosiks were responsible for the party because they were home at the time.Christine Kosik obviously maintained high standards in her classrooms. Too bad on Dec. 30 she let those standards lapse.She has resigned from her teaching position.