EVANS CITY — NexTier Bank is the winner of the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania's 2008 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

Annually, the BBB gives the award to three businesses in its 28-county service area that "maintain a solid commitment to conducting ethical business practices."

PENN TWP — The Butler Business Network, an affiliate of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, is offering a new program Friday mornings called "Coffee Club at the Country Club."Held at the Butler Country Club in Penn Township, the meetings will be from 8 to 9 a.m. each Friday with speakers covering a variety of business topics.Members of the Cranberry and Zelienople-Harmony chambers also are invited to attend the meetings.

FRANKLIN TWP — The Butler County Chamber of Commerce will host the 2009 Lunch & Learn business series beginning in February.Nicholas Neupauer, president of Butler County Community College, and Henry Sinopoli, an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Waynesburg University and in the humanities department at BC3, will present the workshops at The Atrium on Route 422 west.They will focus on business communications.For information or to register, call the chamber at 724-283-2222 or by e-mail at jennifer@butlercountychamber .com.

CONNEAUT LAKE — The $152,000 debt of a historic Western Pennsylvania amusement park has been bought by a firm that could move to foreclose on the property to get its money.The 116-year-old Conneaut Lake Park has been closed the past two summers because of its heavy debt load.First Capital Finance was the lone bidder Tuesday. It will pay Summit Township, Crawford County, $200,000 for the park's $152,000 debt. The park's total debt stands at about $2.4 million.Park officials say they were surprised the township took such a step to recoup the debt. Township and park officials say they expect First Capital will foreclose on the park property to get its money.