Apr 29, 2014 3 min read

Only one bus is scheduled for pickup in Washington and Greene counties. But that doesn’t mean the region won’t be well-represented in Harrisburg Tuesday.

A number of individuals also will be driving, car-pooling or taking corporate transportation that morning to and from the Pensylvania Jobs, Pennsylvania Energy Rally. It was organized by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, composed of 40-plus natural gas exploration and production companies that are interested in Marcellus Shale development in the state.

About 2,500 to 3,000 people from across the state are expected to participate in the rally, which will begin at Metro Bank Park and include a march to the capitol steps, speakers and a program.

Buses, organized by the coalition, will pick up passengers at about a dozen sites in Pennsylvania, including Tanger Outlets in South Strabane Township at 6:30 a.m. Participants will gather at the park between 10 and 11:30 a.m., march to the capitol, then listen to speakers and participate in the program. Buses will head for home at 3:15 p.m.

Gene Barr president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, will be the master of ceremonies. Nine speakers are planned, including Dennis Gilfoyle, CEO of Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania.

State Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, was fired up about coal Monday following the release of a study on the economic impact of that beleaguered energy source.

The study, conducted by the Pennsylvania Economy League and commissioned by the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance, said the coal industry supports more than 36,000 jobs in the state and contributes more than $4 billion per year to the commonwealth’s economy.

“This study proves unequivocally what we’ve been saying all along,” said Solobay, co-chair of the legislative coal caucus.

“Coal is still a critical part of our economy and remains a vital source of energy. Public policies that diminish coal in our energy portfolio are shortsighted and irresponsible.”

Solobay introduced a bill calling for stricter review of plans to close coal-fired power plants, such as the two in the region that were shut down in October: the Mitchell and Hatfield’s Ferry stations. A harsh winter followed, creating energy shortages that spurred warnings of enforced power reductions.

• Tori Haring-Smith, president of Washington & Jefferson College since 2005, was appointed to the board of directors of Tickets for Kids Charities. She will serve an initial term of three years on the eight-member board. Tickets for Kids, a Pittsburgh nonprofit started in 1994, provides no-cost tickets to events and activities to in-need and at-risk children and their families.

• Irene Keirsbilck, of Community Action Southwest in Washington, was honored in Harrisburg recently as Community Action Association’s Staff Member of the Year. She is a 35-year employee who has been housing counselor for the past 27 years, helping people purchase first homes and others to preserve their home ownership.