Harmony

The borough and its business association are joining forces to keep the town's annual summer concert series alive.

At council's meeting Tuesday, officials said they will apply for a $3,500 matching grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development to help fund the performances.

Council President Jeff Smith said the borough and the Harmony Business Association will jointly solicit donations from businesses to match the grant.

If they are unable to raise enough money, Mr. Smith said, the two groups will subsidize the balance.

Until last year, the business association sponsored the free shows, which are held on alternate Thursdays during the summer on the lawn of the Harmony Inn, but the group did not have the money in last year because it was still recovering from the floods of September 2004.

Local businesses chipped in last year to keep the concerts going.

Mr. Smith said the borough will write the grant application and the primary solicitation letter to larger companies in the area, and members of the business association will help with other areas of fund raising.

He said the business association will continue to book the performers and handle the operations for the concerts.

Mars Area Schools

The school district will not conduct an internal investigation of the circumstances that led to the Feb. 4 stabbing death of a high school senior.

Robert Naser, 19, died after being stabbed twice in the chest in the parking lot of the Burger King in Butler Township. Student John Auxier and Chad Sutter, who graduated last year, also were stabbed in the fight in the parking lot.

Mr. Naser's body and Mr. Auxier were found in a parked car at Mars Area High School, but Superintendent William G. Pettigrew said the driver had been told by dispatchers to pull into the high school parking lot to wait for police.

"We have no reason to conduct an investigation because it didn't happen on school property," Dr. Pettigrew said.

Butler Township police issued a statement after the stabbing that it "occurred as a result of criminal activity that went wrong."

When Fritz Bielo was a student in the school district, he was able to take driver's education that included instruction behind the wheel of a car.

So he asked the school board why his children don't have the same opportunity.

Mars Area offers a driver education theory class to sophomores, juniors and seniors in the morning before school starts but does not offer behind-the-wheel classes.

The district has too many students, and there are too many required classes to fit driver's education into a normal school day, Superintendent William G. Pettigrew said.

Many students take private driving lessons to supplement the theory class, board member Kim Geyer said.

Mr. Bielo asked the board to revisit the issue.

"There are a lot of benefits to the community," he said. "When you have better drivers in the community, there are less accidents, and less accidents mean lower insurance rates in the community."

The school board will negotiate another bond swap that could net the district $400,000.

Christopher Selby, of HT Capital Markets, the district's financial adviser, told the board Tuesday that the 2002 bond issue can be swapped for bonds that do not need a go-between, and save the district money.

The $12.88 million bond issue went through the Butler County Authority in 2002. By eliminating the middleman, the district can save about $400,000, Mr. Shelby said.

The board authorized Dr. Pettigrew to give the final word on whether to go through with the swap. Dr. Pettigrew said he will poll the board members by phone before making a decision.

The district did a similar swap last year, with bonds totaling $20.5 million, saving $900,000.

Marshall

A developer in Marshall has proposed building single-family homes on what some township officials called a coveted piece of land -- the former Ruffner farm on Pleasant Hill Road.

Developer Gary Herbert presented a concept plan Monday to supervisors for a 75-acre project that would be called The Summit.

The 28 homes would be priced from $800,000 to $1 million, Mr. Herbert said. They would each be on one acre with 175-feet of frontage and have public water and sewers. A barn that now sits on part of the land would be removed, he said.

Township Manager Neil McFadden said the township had considered buying the property to build a community center, but the price was too high.

"It's centered in the township and it's really a beautiful farm," he said. "It has a tremendous view to the west."

Supervisor Arleen Lipsman agreed. "Residents who travel that road enjoy the view there," she said. "It's one of the most scenic areas of the township."

Supervisor Tom Madigan said he was concerned about the number of entrances/exits the developer is proposing along Pleasant Hill Road, considering the speed of traffic on that road. The plan calls for five curb cuts.

Mr. Herbert said he expects to file formal plans with the township soon.