No doubt area residents have been feeling relief and satisfaction over Ken DeFurio's commitment to openness regarding Butler Memorial Hospital.

DeFurio, the hospital's new interim president and chief executive officer, reiterated the pledge Monday during the Butler Health System Board of Trustees' annual public meeting.

DeFurio's pledge represents a 180-degree change from the attitude of his predecessor, Joseph Stewart, who opted for secrecy rather than transparency.

Speaking at Monday's meeting, DeFurio said, "You may not have heard this, but I have promised two things: When I know the answer to a question, then you'll know, and when I don't, I'll tell you I don't know."

It is important that the community be kept aware of developments concerning the proposed large-scale hospital construction and renovation project, as well as other hospital issues important to the community.

It's refreshing that DeFurio understands that importance and is dedicated to an unimpeded flow of information and open dialogue.

It's expected that in a disaster of the scope of Hurricane Katrina, mistakes will be made in the relief efforts. Relief efforts from local, state and federal officials were slow and inadequate. The failures of the federal emergency response system are well-documented.But once the Federal Emergency Management Agency got up to speed, it rapidly began to provide financial and housing assistance. In the chaos of the devastating storm's aftermath, FEMA appears to have handed out money (taxpayers' money) with little concern for accountability.A report by the General Accounting Office (GAO) reveals that more than a year after Katrina, millions of dollars still are being wasted. The GAO report found that $17 million has been wasted in paying rental payments to people already living in free, federally provided trailers and apartments.Just as disturbing is the fact that FEMA has recovered less than 1 percent of the approximately $1 billion in fraudulent payments made following the August 2005 storm.According to an agency spokesman, FEMAis making changes to prevent duplicate payments. Learning from its mistakes is good, and making changes to avoid a repeat of the Katrina failures is expected.But it is shameful that neither FEMAofficials nor Congress is talking about serious efforts to recover the fraudulent payments.FEMAidentified $290 million in improper payments, yet it has recovered just $7 million.FEMA's cavalier attitude toward handing out taxpayers' money is unacceptable. It's another example of people spending other people's money — carelessly.If every FEMAofficial had treated the billions of dollars of aid as a giant-scale version of his or her own personal contribution to storm victims, they would have been more careful in handing out money.

Members of the Portersville-Prospect Rotary Club have found an unconventional way to get in the holiday spirit this year. It doesn't involve a sleigh and reindeer; it involves a school bus.The Rotarians bought the bus Nov. 11 for the Evangelical Church of the Redeemed in Gonaives, Haiti, after its pastor failed to find "just the right bus" for the church's school during a visit here in September.That bus is an 18-year-old no-frills vehicle — the only kind shops in Haiti have the equipment and skills to repair.After buying the bus for the school, the Rotary Club turned its attention to finding the most cost-effective way to get the bus to Haiti.But not only did the club focus on how the vehicle would be transported, members initiated the special goal of buying gifts to place in the bus — such as Spanish or Creole textbooks.The club has started a fundraising effort to pay costs — including the transportation costs — associated with the project. Checks can be sent to the Portersville-Prospect Rotary, FNB, 1051 New Castle Road, Prospect, PA 16052.The pastor of the church in question, the Rev. Lahens Sanon, has ties to Butler County and the Rotary Club going back 20 years. As a teenager, he came to the area, under the club's sponsorship, for training and to attend mechanic school.When he returned to Haiti, he started the church and accompanying school for approximately 125 elementary and middle school-aged students. Since then, he has dedicated his life to that endeavor.It's commendable that someone in Butler County has chosen to step forward to help Sanon and his school.The effort is in keeping with the true spirit of the holiday season.