Halloween event has fun for all ages

The Mercer County Courthouse lawn in the borough of Mercer will be the scene of a Halloween Family Fun Day from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 31.
The event, sponsored by the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce, features various contests such as pumpkin carving, pie eating, bobbing for apples, Jell-O dipping and a costume competition for children ages 1-10. There will also be pony rides.
The public is invited to attend the event and the borough's annual trick-or-treating hours to follow from 3 to 5 p.m. Participants for the contests must register in advance and can do so by calling (724) 662-4185.
Conference for women
The Mercer County Commission for Women will have its fall conference, "The Female Spectrum of Life" from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon, 875 N. Hermitage Road, Hermitage.
Amber Stembal-Persinger, a top 100 "American Idol" finalist, will provide lunchtime entertainment. Conference topics include finance, beauty, menopause, fitness, nutrition, self-defense, adult education and legal issues. There is a $6 fee. For more information, call (724) 786-7341.
Ribbon sale for soldiers
The Yellow Ribbon Girls will be selling magnetic ribbons at the Lawrence County Courthouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. The price is $4 for a large one and $2 for small. The proceeds are used to send care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Project gets award
The New Castle Human Services Center has won a national award honoring superior assisted housing and community development programs. The HSC won for its Grant Street Project, which renovated an entire city block to provide housing and care for the mentally ill. The 2004 Award of Excellence comes from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, and was officially presented Tuesday at NAHRO's national conference. The Grant Street Project is one of 22 programs nationwide to receive the 2004 award, out of an original pool of 329 applicants. The project won for innovation in community revitalization. The project renovated six condemned houses, providing office space, housing for eight homeless adults with a history of mental illness and a drop-in center for the mentally ill.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Harold Gwin, Vindicator Sharon Bureau, Laure Cioffi, New Castle Bureau.