Neighbors

May 10, 2008 Last Updated: May 10, 2008 10:03 AM Neighbours

David Uram

David Uram of Center Township received the Jeune Professional Award from the L'Academie Brillat-Savarin and Chaine des Rotisseurs Foundation at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute's April 14 commencement in Pittsburgh.The award was given for unparalleled dedication to the culinary arts and exceptional talent in the kitchen while he was studying at the institute and at his externship at The Greenbrier resort in While Sulphur Springs, W.Va.Uram, who is the son of Ron and Amy Uram, is now in a three-year apprenticeship at the Greenbrier.He is a 2005 graduate of Butler High School and a 2007 graduate of the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute.———

The NexTier Junior Bank Board of high school student leaders will give shoes away to students May 20 at the Mt. Chestnut Head Start on Reiger Road.JBB members will distribute shoes they purchased during a picnic they organized at the Head Start facility. Board members solicited donations from several local businesses.The following are JBB members:Audrey Eberle and Brennan Zanella of Butler High School, Christina Wick and Hannah Beck of Karns City High School, Brian Callan and Kara Young of Seneca Valley High School, Kayla Rowland and Zane Barger of Slippery Rock High School, and Loren Vonrhein and Marie Noah of Knoch High School.———

The Mars High School Interact Club presented Rich-Mar Rotary with a check for $3,219 April 30 at Rich-Mar's weekly meeting at Treesdale Golf & Country Club. The check was part of a fundraiser to benefit Heifer International.Interact Club members enlisted fifth and sixth graders at Mars Area Centennial School to read as many books as they could during Read across America Week and seek pledges for each page read. In support, Rich-Mar Rotary pledged to raise the school's contribution to $5,000 to purchase an Ark for Today's World with Heifer International.———

BOAdacious Queens, a group of Red Hat Society Queens from chapters in Western Pennsylvania, held a "Swing into Spring" fundraiser recently in Cranberry Township and raised $4,500 for Make-A-Wish.Ginger Dlutowski, Queen of Red Bonnets and Bifocals, and Connie Faulk, Queen of Gabby Gadabouts, organized the event. More than 200 Red Hatters attended.———

Seeds of Hope, an annual fundraiser, raised more than $500 for Lifesteps Family Caring Fund. Nine Butler County businesses and organizations participated by selling $1 Seeds of Hope cards.———

Mary Miles of Butler recently received the "Archey Award" at the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology's annual meeting in Clarion.The Archey Award is presented to a nonprofessional archeologist who has given his or her time and talent to further archeology in Pennsylvania over a long period of time. Mary has been active in many digs in Pennsylvania.Edmund and Ginger Dlutowski of Butler Township received Proclamations of Gratitude for almost 50 years of dedication to the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology.Butler Early Bird Toastmaster Walter Smith of New Castle won first place for the division level of the evaluation contest held in Greentree May 3. Smith will continue in the international contest by competing at the regional conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 7. The Early Bird Toastmasters Club provides its members a communication and leadership development program.———

A spaghetti dinner held April 26 to benefit Chrissy Elick of Slippery Rock raised over $7,500 to help purchase a wheelchair accessible van for Elick's family. The dinner was held at West Liberty United Methodist Church in Slippery Rock.