It was a close race between students at

Connoquenessing and

Meridian elementary schools to help needy families this holiday season.Students at the two Butler School District buildings collected nonperishables beginning around Thanksgiving.Connoquenessing won with 3,580 items and Meridian students had 3,518 items.Connoquenessing donated the food to the Evans City Food Cupboard while Meridian donations will go to St. Vincent DePaul.———The

Rotary Club of Butler recently donated $1,595 to the

YWCA of Butler.The YWCAwill use the funds for new building maintenance equipment.———

Lorraine Worsley and

Henry Nelson tied for first place with

Clem Rosenberger and

Don Toy at the

Butler Duplicate Bridge Club game held Dec. 12.