In brief

March 07, 2008 10:47 pm

— Pitt students to help Habitat for Humanity
A group of students and staff from Pitt campuses in Johnstown and Greensburg depart today for Walton County, Florida, where they will work on a Habitat for Humanity home.
Bryan Valentine, an administrator at Pitt-Johnstown and former director of housing and residence life at Pitt-Greensburg, will chaperone nine students. The groups will work on the home from Monday through March 15.
The trip is part of Habitat for Humanity International’s “Collegiate Challenge” program, which allows students from across the country to spend their spring breaks doing something rewarding in a community oftentimes far from home.
N. Cambria holding school registration
The Northern Cambria School District will hold prekindergarten and kindergarten registration from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in the elementary/middle school auditorium.
For prekindergarten, a child must be 4 years of age prior to Oct. 1, and for kindergarten a child must be 5 before Oct. 1.
Parents must bring to registration a birth certificate, Social Security card, immunization records and proof of residency. More information: 948-5880, ext. 1500.
Woman faces trial
on theft charges
A Coopersdale woman will face Cambria County Court action on charges she embezzled $177,519 from her former employer during a four-year period.
Cynthia L. Bersamina, 52, of the 200 block of Cooper Avenue, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Michael Musulin, of downtown Johnstown. She was released Tuesday on bail.
Johnstown police said that Bersamina, who was a secretary, started taking the money from the Winston Corp.,
425 Locust St., Johnstown,
in 2004. She was caught on Jan. 8, police said.
State official to speak to Somerset Dems
BERLIN – State Auditor General Jack Wagner is to be the keynote speaker at the Somerset County Democratic Committee at its spring banquet at 6:30 p.m. March 27 at the Berlin Community Building.
Wagner is a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran, former president of the Pittsburgh City Council and former state senator.
Democratic candidates for the open 69th district state House seat, Steve Smerbeck and Kenneth Warnick, are expected to address the group.
All Democratic candidates for the 72nd House race also have been invited to speak.
Ticket information is available by calling the committee chairman at 467-5137 or the county committee at 445-8331.
Tickets also are available from county Democratic elected officials. The deadline for tickets is March 23.
Prison inmate dies
en route to hospital
GREENSBURG – Police say an inmate at the State Correctional Institute in Greensburg died on the way to the hospital.
Police say 36-year-old Michael Edward Christie was having difficulty breathing.
Christie became unresponsive when being moved from the cell block to the medical facility. Paramedics tried to resuscitate the inmate on the way to Westmoreland Hospital. He was pronounced dead early Friday.
The Westmoreland County coroner will determine the cause of death after an autopsy. It was not immediately clear why Christie was in prison.
Central Cambria field getting repairs
EBENSBURG – Central Cambria School District’s baseball field will get a spring makeover.
The school board awarded a $112,000 contract on Monday to WG Land of Champion for the seeding, sodding and general refurbishing of the field.
71st candidate hosting forum
William D. Stasko of Westmont, one of six candidates vying to be the Democratic nominee for the 71st district, has scheduled a Meet the Candidate night Tuesday to share his vision for the district and the region.
The event will be held at
7 p.m. at Joey Del’s 2001 Caterers, 2001 Bedford St. in Stonycreek Township.