KEYSTONE CLIPS UPMC Horizon offers 'E-Cards'

Sending warm wishes to a friend or loved one in the hospital is just a computer click away, if that person is a patient in UPMC Horizon's facilities in Greenville or Farrell. Electronic greeting cards or "E-Cards" are now available on the hospital's Web site at www.horizon.upmc.com. Get-well, new-baby, birthday or holiday cards are available. The cards are received, printed and hand-delivered to patient rooms by the hospital's volunteer services at no charge.
Canoe launch dedication
Shenango River Watchers Inc. will dedicate its canoe launch at the Shenango Valley Freeway and Budd Street, adjacent to the bridge, in a ceremony at 2 p.m. May 15. The organization, with the help of a lot of volunteer labor and materials, built the launch last year.
Camp Cadet program
Pennsylvania State Police are accepting applications from Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver and Butler County young people interested in the 2004 Camp Cadet program. The camp will be Aug. 8-13 at Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect. It's designed to provide young people with a positive attitude toward the law-enforcement profession and others as well as build self-esteem, confidence and discipline. It includes drills, physical training, instruction in law enforcement, hands-on law-enforcement demonstrations, swimming, softball and team-building rope courses. The only cost is a $30 registration fee. The program is open to anyone between ages 12 and 15 who hasn't attended the camp before. Applicants must fill out an application and submit an essay saying why they want to attend. Applications are available at the Butler state police station or by calling (724) 284-1134, Ext. 250.
Car donations
Getting rid of an old car? Donate it to the Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County and get a tax deduction. The agency started a new program that allows donors to receive tax benefits when the car is donated to the shelter and sold through a reputable auction dealer. Proceeds help victims of violence and abuse in Lawrence County. Forms are available from the shelter by calling (724) 652-9036.
Adopt-a-School speakers
Justice Max Baer of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was the keynote speaker at Union High School's Adopt-a-School commencement ceremony; Judge Dominick Motto of Lawrence County Common Pleas Court spoke at Shenango High School's closing ceremony. Launched in 2001, Lawrence County's Adopt-a-School initiative is a collaboration of the FBI, U.S. Attorney's Office and Lawrence County District Attorney's office. Active in six of eight Lawrence County schools, the program involves mentoring and teaching the principles of law-enforcement to ninth-graders while addressing tough issues facing teens, such as drugs, crime and violence.
Environmental education
The Lawrence County Conservation District is getting a $10,000 grant to partner with Environmental Concepts to provide environmental education to Boy Scout leaders, according to state Rep. Chris Sainato of New Castle, D-9th. The grants are regularly awarded to schools and conservation districts to help increase environmental literacy. Projects range from creative, hands-on lessons for pupils to teacher-training programs to ecological education for residents.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Harold Gwin, Vindicator Sharon Bureau; Laure Cioffi, New Castle Bureau.