Paserba

WARRENDALE — John Paserba Jr., was picked for the international electrical power engineering Nari Hingorani Flexible AC Transmission Systems Award.

Paserba's technical contributions in the power and energy field were recognized at the awards ceremony on July 26 at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society 2011 annual meeting in Detroit.

Paserba works for Mitsubishi Electric Power Products in Warrendale, and is the general manager of the Gas Circuit Breaker Division.

The son of Mary Paserba of Chicora and the late John Paserba Sr. resides in Cranberry Township with his wife, Marie, and his children Nikkolas Vincent and Miya Rose, who attend the Seneca Valley School District. Paserba is a 1983 graduate of Karns City High School.

Butler Orthopedic Associates, One Hospital Way, is closing Sept. 30.Dr. Charles Spingola is joining an orthopedic practice in DuBois and will accept new patients there.Dr. Joseph Pullekines is moving out of state.Dr. Barry Hootman is retiring.Butler Orthopedic has seen patients for more than 50 years.<b>Friedman's stores hires new supplier</b>Friedman's Freshmarkets, the 111-year-old six-store supermarket company based in Butler, has chosen a new supplier – AWI, which is Associated Wholesalers Inc.Carole F. Bitter, president and CEO, said in a statement, “Our five-year purchase agreement with Supervalu expires on Sept. 30 and we don't plan to extend the contract with Supervalu.“We are happy to report that we are in the process of transitioning to AWI and will join the cooperative.”<b>Farmers bank gets fed funds to lend</b>EMLENTON — Emclaire Financial Corp., the parent company of The Farmers National Bank of Emlenton, announced Friday that it has received $10 million in the company's preferred stock from the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Small Business Lending Fund.The fund is a voluntary program to encourage small business lending by providing capital to community banks at favorable rates.William C. Marsh, chairman, president and CEO, said the bank will use this money to lend to small business.Simultaneously with these funds, the bank redeemed the full amount, $7.5 million, of shares of preferred stock issued to the Treasury under the federal TARP Capital Purchase Program.<b>VA Butler team earns 1st place</b>BUTLER TWP — The VA Butler Healthcare's System Redesign Team was recently awarded first place in a national competition.The team's work improved VA Butler's telephone care system and increased VA Butler's AudioCare usage to provide more efficient communication with veterans.VA Butler's team worked with Office of Information & Technology staff to enter information about veteran's incoming telephone requests. That ensures veterans receive a follow up call within 24 hours.The team also promoted greater use of AudioCare that calls to remind veterans of scheduled appointments.The redesign team included Dawn Staph, administrative coordinator; Faith Barber, medical support assistant; and Doreen Zablotsky, a retired clinical coordinator. Tina Hess, health system specialist, and Kim Ripper, patient safety manager, were team mentors. Dr. Ken Nowotny was the team's sponsor.<b>SAE employee awarded by peers</b>WARRENDALE — Jolene McKenzie, a 22-year employee of SAE International, headquartered in Warrendale, is the 2011 recipient of the Joe Gilbert Award.This award is the organization's highest staff honor. It recognizes employees who demonstrate positive professionalism in the workplace. Candidates are nominated annually by their peers and the recipient is selected by a panel of employees.McKenzie is an e-marketing specialist at SAE International.McKenzie lives in Cranberry Township.<b>Peoples TWP receives award</b>The state Public Utility Commission on Aug.; 12 presented Peoples TWP, formerly T.W. Phillips Gas and Oil Co., with a plaque commemorating the company's 115-year history of serving Western Pennsylvania.The plaque was presented by Tyrone Christy, a Butler native and former PUC vice chairman.Bob Hovanec, president and COO at Peoples TWP, accepted the plaque on behalf of the company and its employees, and then presented a $10,000 check to representatives of the Butler Emergency Relief Initiative (BERI), which helps families having a difficult time paying their heating bills.The Rev. Randall Forester of St. Paul's Community Church, a member of BERI's Oversight Committee, accepted the check on behalf of the organization.<b>PERSONNEL FILE</B>• Sherman Hostetter of Hostetter Auctioneers in Beaver Falls was elected to the National Auctioneers Association Foundation Board at the annual convention in July in Orlando, Fla.• Linda Muchicko of Butler has joined the Pentony Capital Management firm in Saxonburg as a registered assistant to Howie Pentony.• Dr. Danielle Godinez, a doctor of osteopathy, has been hired by the Saxony Health Center in Saxonburg. She lives in East Deer Township, Allegheny County.• Michael Dennehy Jr. of Gibsonia and Frank Thompson of Seven Fields were both reappointed to the state Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council by Gov. Tom Corbett.• Dr. James Eaton, who has a dental practice in Grove City, has been named to the 2011 edition of the “Guide to America's Top Dentists.” This is the third edition in which he has been included.• Cindy Moser of Allegheny Township has been named as director of human resources for Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights.• Wendy Vaughn has been named a new Eden Guide, which brings specialized programming to residents, for Chicora Medical Center, Fair Winds Manor, Sugar Creek Rest and Trinity Living Center.