n Fountain Springs: At its Dec. 5 meeting, the North Schuylkill school board: Authorized Business Manager Robert Amos to open a certificate of deposit with Riverview Bank for $500,000 at .75 percent; approved an agreement for speech services for the remainder of the 2012-13 school year with Invo HealthCare Associates Inc., Jamison, at $65 per hour for contracted speech and language pathology services on an as-needed basis in addition to services offered by the district's two speech teachers; approved Chris Glessner, Richard Leibig and Kieran Connors as assistant baseball coaches for the 2013 spring season at salaries of $1,100, $1,550 and $1,700 respectively; approved John Chuma, Paul Kowalick, Steve Ennis and Robert Yesalusky as volunteer baseball coaches for the 2013 spring season; approved Luke Lapotsky, Bill Ennis and Melissa Lorady as assistant softball coaches for the 2013 season at salaries of $1,550, $1,100 and $950, respectively; approved Fred Kushwarra, Shaina Whitecavage and Danielle Grasso as volunteer softball coaches for the 2013 spring season. Board committee assignments will be announced at the next regular meeting set for 7 p.m. Jan. 23. The Committee of the Whole will meet at 6:30 p.m. the same day. There will be no meeting on Wednesday.
n Orwigsburg: The borough will mark its bicentennial in 2013 and plans to kick off the celebration on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, at the Orwigsburg Community Memorial Building, Grove and Washington streets. The event, organizers said in a release, is for adults only and will feature musical entertainment by the Sterling Koch Band as well as food and refreshments. Tickets are $40 per person and $75 per couple and are available at Orwigsburg Borough Hall. "Orwigsburg is known for our ability to come together in celebration, and this event is a great way to kick off our year-long celebration," Jen Bowen, bicentennial committee chairwoman, said in the release. A special feature at the event will be a "red carpet screening" of a video that was produced to promote the borough and its bicentennial as well as the town's features for future businesses and residents. The video was spearheaded by Dave and Stacy Rubright, who are both members of the bicentennial committee. It will include interviews with past and present residents plus information on what Orwigsburg has to offer as a community. Other bicentennial events also are on tap throughout the year, including the annual Memorial Day parade May 27, Heritage Day Sept. 7 and the Festival of Lights Dec. 7. A dedication ceremony to officially commemorate the bicentennial is scheduled for April 13, during which members of Schuylkill Masonic Lodge 138 will unveil the work they completed on the original clock from the Schuylkill County Courthouse, which was first located in Orwigsburg. The bicentennial committee meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month at the community historical society quarters, Mifflin Street. Everyone is welcome to attend. The committee's approach to the bicentennial events, according to the release, is to "include the entire community." The group is encouraging local businesses, groups, organizations to plan and organize events throughout the year. The community's churches are working to organize an old-fashioned camp meeting for April and also have an event involving tours of all of the churches. A list of all of the bicentennial celebration activities and fundraising opportunities is available on the borough's website at www.orwigsburg2013.com. Anyone interested in contributing to the effort should call borough Manager Mike Lonergan at 570-366-3103.
n Pottsville: The Pottsville Area High School Guidance Department will conduct an informational scheduling sessions in the high school auditorium for eighth-grade students planning to attend the high school for the 2013-14 academic year. In a press release, Michelle G. McGinty, the district's director of guidance, said it is "extremely important that Saint Clair and parochial students register" with Pottsville Area before attending the session. For more information, contact the district office at 570-621-2915. Parents/students whose last names begin with A through L are assigned to the session set for 7 p.m. Jan. 7. Parents/students whose last names begin with M through Z will attend the session slated for 7 p.m. Jan. 8. All students and parents of D.H.H. Lengel Middle School and Saint Clair Area are reminded to bring the course selection booklets they received in school.