IN Mars Area Spring 2020 | Page 8

WHAT’S NEWS IN MARS AREA Center. Team 5740 adapted toys with special buttons, lights, and vibrations as their Holiday Toy Project. These toys provide opportunities for medically fragile children to play. To fund the project, the Trojanators held an all-school fundraiser. “North Catholic Robotics has been incredibly generous in donating adapted toys to our patients and families… we truly appreciate their hard work,” says Pam Keen, CEO of The Children’s Home & Lemieux Family Center. The mission of the NCHS robotics program is building students of creativity, leadership, and professionalism by investing students in FIRST Robotics. To learn more information about the Trojanators, visit tinyurl.com/north5740. Mars Area High School senior, and Student Council member, Jenna Sutton presents “Cookies for a Cause” proceeds to St. John Specialty Care Center Executive Director David Gritzer. FAMILY HISTORY CONFERENCE Dates and Times: March 13, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m.; March 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Address: Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way (15237) Contact: NorthHillsGenealogists.org or [email protected] Registration is required. This conference focuses on FamilySearch.org as well as Irish and overseas research. Participants may attend one or both days. The featured speaker is David E. Rencher. LOCAL AUTHOR JIM KNIGHTS’ NEWEST BOOK ‘COOKIES FOR A CAUSE’ RAISES FUNDS FOR ST. JOHN SPECIALTY CARE CENTER St. John Specialty Care Center received an early Christmas present when Mars Area High School senior, and Student Council member, Jenna Sutton presented a $1,655 check to St. John Executive Director David Gritzer on Dec. 16. The gift comes after a summer of selling cookies with fellow Student Council peers at the weekly Mars Farmers Market. “I had a great time doing the fundraiser and I’m thankful for the people who made the sacrifices for our country,” said Sutton. 6 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ The donation will benefit the activities department at St. John Specialty Care Center, where proceeds will go toward veteran-focused events. NORTH CATHOLIC ROBOTICS TEAM HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE BENEFITS THE CHILDREN’S HOME OF PITTSBURGH & LEMIEUX FAMILY CENTER On Dec. 19, North Catholic High School Robotics Team 5740—the Trojanators—gifted adapted toys to the Pediatric Specialty Hospital at Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family icmags.com Local author Jim Knights’ latest historical novel was published by S and H Publishing of Purcellville, Va. “Soldier Girl Blue” was inspired by the true story of Sarah Emma Edmonds of New Brunswick, Canada, who— disguised as a man—fought in the Civil War for two years while also spying behind Confederate lines. Knights is also the author of a popular historical trilogy titled