KEYSTONE CLIPS Rep splits pay raise among charities

Ten charities in the 3rd Congressional District benefited from the annual automatic pay raise for U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie.
English has steadfastly refused to accept the automatic raise, arguing that members of Congress should be willing to vote on an annual increase if they think they deserve one. He gives the money to charities in his district, which includes all or part of Mercer, Erie, Crawford, Butler, Armstrong, Venango and Warren counties.
His 2001 raise was divided as follows: $1,000 to the American Red Cross Sept. 11 Fund; $500 each to ARC of Mercer County and United Way of Butler County; $250 each to Community Integration Inc., Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Center, United Way of Western Crawford County and Helping Hands Food Pantry; and $100 each to Lake Erie Regional Conservancy, The Ophelia Project and Butler County Humane Society.
No. 1
Grove City College has been ranked No. 1 in the state in the preparation of elementary-school math teachers.
Elementary math teachers who received their training at Grove City performed the best on assessment tests given by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Professional Development Assistance Program. The tests are designed to measure teachers' knowledge of core math and reading subjects.
A report on the tests listed schools that varied significantly from the state norm, and Grove City ranked at the top.
There are 92 teacher-training colleges in Pennsylvania.
In addition to finishing first in elementary math, Grove City graduates scored fourth in elementary reading knowledge, second in middle school reading and fifth in secondary reading.
Funding
Local artists and community groups can apply for funding through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program.
More than $120,000 is earmarked for grants, said Pa. state Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th.
He said any nonprofit organization, individual or arts programming agency could apply for a grant.
Applications are available in LaGrotta's district offices or online at www.artsnet.org/pca/pdf/venango_guidelines_and_application.pdf.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Harold Gwin of The Vindicator Sharon Bureau and Laure Cioffi of the New Castle Bureau.