Praise is in order for everyone who helped Longmore Academy achieve its book-collection goal of 6,000 volumes — amazingly, in just two weeks.

The academy, which has a building at the Mars Home for Youth, educates disadvantaged and disruptive students. To obtain a private academy license from the state Department of Education, enabling it to teach its students who live at the Mars youth home, it needed to comply with a requirement of having at least 11,000 volumes in its library by Jan. 1.

Prior to the book drive, the school had just 5,000 volumes.

When Longmore's book effort was reported in a Nov. 14 Butler Eagle article, the school's officials didn't know what to expect.

Even if they felt their 6,000-book goal was attainable by the New Year's deadline, they never anticipated that the drive would be so short-lived.

In a Nov. 29 Butler Eagle article, Longmore officials admitted that they were stunned by the community's immediate and overwhelming response, and the article announced that no more books were being accepted.

Brian Scotece, a teachers' aide at the school, said there was no way to properly thank the community for its generosity.

To most of the book contributors, it was probably thanks enough to play an important role in helping the school achieve its objective.

In the aftermath of the heavy rain that wreaked havoc in numerous areas of Butler County during the past week, it is fitting to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of the emergency responders who helped the many individuals and families who were adversely affected.Likewise, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the efforts of individuals who helped neighbors — and even strangers — who were affected by the prolonged rain event.At this time of the year, this county usually is not faced with an emergency like this. The arrival of snow on the heels of the heavy rain was what people here normally expect to see in late November and early December — not the soaking that filled many people's basements, closed roads and bridges, and caused some drivers to become stranded.But it is the emergency crews and private individuals who helped others who now merit praise for what they accomplished. They were instrumental in meeting many people's needs and helping them weather the situation.It was a mission of compassion in which presumably hundreds of Butler County residents were deeply involved as the heavy rain continued to pummel the county and also after the rain subsided, but problems continued.County residents should remember that help when fire departments and other emergency services conduct their annual fundraising efforts. The money that those units receive through such money-raising campaigns helps provide the equipment and training necessary for them to be able to meet their communities' needs when adversity strikes.

The newspaper headlines on Friday said Gov. Ed Rendell had “found” $45 million to plug a budget hole at the Port Authority of Allegheny County.While recognizing that public transportation is critical for many people in urban areas, most Pennsylvanians would expect PAT to rationalize routes and reduce labor and fringe benefit costs before getting more state aid. And most people don’t believe that has happened. Most reports suggest that the $45 million is just a short-term fix — and another reason for the public transit agency to avoid improving operations and cutting expenses.The idea of Rendell “finding” money is also disturbing. The $45 million is to be diverted from federal economic development projects that are stalled or came in under budget.According to a Pittsburgh newspaper, $20 million of the $45 million is being taken from a stalled retail development project along Route 228 in Cranberry Township. In January 2009, the potential developer, Simon Property Group of Indianapolis, pulled out over lack of funding for extensive widening of Route 228.While commercial and retail development will likely continue in Cranberry without sweeteners from the state, most people would prefer that the $20 million be applied to improving Route 228, something that would benefit motorists in the high-growth area for decades.Instead, the money going to PAT is, at best, a short-term fix to long-term problems. To make matters worse, PAT drivers are reportedly set to receive a 3 percent wage hike in January. Most state taxpayers, relatively few of whom are scheduled for pay increases in January, will not see the logic — or fairness — in Rendell’s PAT bailout.It was wrong in 2004 when Rendell diverted $400 million in federal highway funds to bail out public transit agencies in Pennsylvania. And it’s wrong now when the outgoing governor redirects $45 million for Pittsburgh’s bus system.