Geneva College is accepting applications for 160 torch carriers to participate in a 220-mile torch relay between Northwood, Ohio, and Beaver Falls as part of the school's 160 anniversary.

"Geneva's Passing the Flame" will cap off a weekend of Founder's Day festivities on campus April 18-19. Geneva was founded on April 20, 1848, in Northwood. It moved to Beaver Falls 32 years later. The college will host numerous commemorations on the campus throughout the year to celebrate its 160th anniversary.

Torch carriers will transport a flame from Northwood to Beaver Falls to symbolize the journey of the institution. Students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, friends of the college and members of the Beaver Falls community are invited to carry the flame.

Those interested should complete a form. Visit www.geneva.edu/object/torchform or call 724-847-6521.

The Lutheran Service Society has broken ground for Lutheran Village, an apartment complex at 133 Gertrude St., Chippewa.

The two-story building will feature 34 one-bedroom apartments -- each with combined living and dining rooms and a private bath.

Units will be available for individuals who meet income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Lutheran Village will be the Society's first senior housing program in Beaver County and the seventh in Western Pennsylvania.

Construction is expected to be completed in October.

The Heritage Valley Health System has received $87,000 in federal funds to expand and renovate its hospital emergency departments in Beaver and Sewickley.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, was scheduled yesterday to deliver the money, which was included in the final budget bill passed in December by the U.S. House.

The emergency room expansion and the upgrade of the decontamination capacity of the facility will better prepare Heritage Valley Beaver -- the closest hospital to the nuclear power plant in Shippingport -- to handle an influx of people injured or contaminated during a bioterrorism event.

When the emergency department upgrade is completed, it will expand from 13,000 square feet to 23,000 square feet and will be able to accommodate 60,000 patients a year.

Heritage Valley Sewickley's emergency department will also receive a portion of the funds to expand its facility from 8,700 square feet to 21,800 square feet. With this expansion, it will have the capacity for 46,000 annual patient visits -- more than double the 22,000 patients it is designed to accommodate.

A task force examining the reuse of Mayview State Hospital in South Fayette will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. today in the Regional Conference Room of the hospital's Dietary Building.

The state Department of Public Welfare is targeting the end of the year for closing the hospital. The task force is addressing the issue of reusing the facility after it closes.

Task force members are state Rep. Nick Kotik, D-Robinson; state Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon; Ford Thompson of the state Department of Public Welfare; Joe Brimmeier Jr. of the state Department of General Services; Rich Kuppelweiser, chief operating officer of Mayview; Deron Gabriel, South Fayette commissioner; Mike Hoy, South Fayette manager;, Emerald VanBuskirk, executive director of the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce; Chris Goswick, planning division, Allegheny County Economic Development; and Roy Kraynyk, executive director of the Allegheny Land Trust.