Mar 21, 2014 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County commissioners Thursday proclaimed this week as 4-H Week.

The proclamation recognizes 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands and Health), a community-based youth development organization with the goal of engaging young people in leadership, citizenship and life skills. More than six million youth participate in the program nationwide, and members focus on animal and plant growth and care, natural resource management, ecology and the environment, and science technology, engineering and math.

Locally, the Greene County 4-H has more than 180 active youth and more than 30 adult volunteers. The program is conducted through Penn State Cooperative Extension.

For more information, visit http://greene.extension.psu.edu.

The commissioners also proclaimed March as American Red Cross Month.

The proclamation acknowledges the Red Cross, a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing disaster relief, emergency assistance, and education and outreach. As part of the proclamation, the Red Cross asks all Americans to help carry out its lifesaving mission with a donation of time, money or blood.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania chapter of the Red Cross recently opened a new field office in Greene County through a partnership with Greene County United Way. An open house and grand opening is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday at 748 E. High St. in Waynesburg.

“We’ve been trying to grow the Red Cross’s presence in Greene County for the past two years or so,” said Red Cross volunteer Mark Carlson, noting the field office has made alliances with various agencies and organizations to increase its number of volunteers and shelters in the county.

The county’s Disaster Action Team has grown to 15 to 20 volunteers able to respond to fires or other emergencies, Carlson said.

The field office is also introducing a Smoke Alarm and Fire Education program in Waynesburg Borough and will conduct a canvass of homes today. Volunteers will be assisted by students and staff from Waynesburg University as part of the university’s “Day of Service.”

For more information, visit www.redcross.org.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Accepted the resignation of Jason Baily from the Children and Youth Services advisory board, and appointed John Menhart, Rich Pekar, Chris Bates and Vicki Monas to fill the existing vacancies on the board;

• Approved a resolution designating Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall as the sole authorized signatory on all documents related to Greene County bridges;

• Accepted the resignation of Edward Deter from the Conservation District board of directors.