South Fayette High School social studies teacher Mary Chambon has been selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction for the second consecutive year by The National Society of High School Scholars.

Mrs. Chambon was nominated by student Prashant Gabani. The Claes award recognizes teachers who have made a lasting difference in their classrooms by encouraging students to strive for excellence.

A 24-year teacher at South Fayette, Mrs. Chambon teaches civics and child psychology.

• Danielle Hilgartner, Marc Noce, Shawn Mauro are among recent new hires as police officers for Port Authority Transit. They are filling positions left open by retirements, bringing to 44 the number of officers in the authority's police force.

Ms. Hilgartner, a former Port Authority security officer and dispatcher, also has experience with the Stowe police. Mr. Noce is a former Port Authority security officer and has worked with the Oakdale and Midway police. Mr. Mauro is the former chief of the Oakdale police.

• Olivia Bingman, of Moon, is one 11-year-old who knows how to give on her birthday as well as to receive.

The fifth-grader at Bon Meade Elementary School in Moon is marking her recent birthday by having her waist-long hair cut for charity.

Olivia has been letting her platinum blond hair grow for two years and will donate it to Locks of Love, a nationwide charity that uses the hair to make hairpieces for children with long-term illnesses.

• Crafton Boy Scout Troop 148 will hold an Eagle Scout Court of Honor Saturday at Ascension Church in Ingram for:

• Joshua Tarnow, 18, of Crafton, a senior at Bishop Canevin High School, who organized a project to paint more than 350 storm drains in Crafton to warn people not to dump pesticides or waste in the drains. The project was completed for Alcosan and will help to protect fish and wildlife due to reduced water pollution. He also is a member of his school's varsity hockey team.

• James Broderick, 15, of South Fayette, a sophomore at South Fayette High School, organized a project to build a bluebird trail along the Montour Trail. This involved building and installing 25 bird boxes to attract bluebirds, whose population has been rapidly declining in the region. The project will help to make the trail more usable because bluebirds help to reduce the insect population. He also is a member of his school's cross country and track teams.

• Andrew Weber, 18, of Oakdale, a senior at West Allegheny High School, organized a project to clean and renovate the building that houses the rest rooms and the storage locker at Ryan Field in Oakdale. In addition to cleaning and painting the building, fresh gravel was spread under the pavilion area and a new picnic table was built and installed for youth T-ball, softball and baseball teams. He also plays the trumpet and is section leader and brass captain of the high school band.