Mar 9, 2024 By Rick Shrum 3 min read

Students in the culinary program at Greene County Career & Technology Center have been heralded for the annual December holiday dinner they prepare for the local community.

A little more than a week ago, they gained further acclaim in a statewide culinary competition in Harrisburg.

The team at the Franklin Township school took second place in the management category at the 10th annual Pennsylvania ProStart event. Culinary teams in that division had to create a restaurant concept, complete with menu items, marketing tactics and a floor plan.

Greene County Career & Technology finished behind only Crawford County Career & Technical Center, located in Meadville. Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center (New Stanton) was third.

The competition took place Feb. 29 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, which represents the state’s hospitality and tourism industries, was the host.

A total of 130 students from 19 high schools competed.

Crawford Tech, located in Meadville, took first in the top two divisions – culinary and management. That team will advance to the National ProStart Student Invitational April 26-28 in Baltimore.

Crawford Tech won in the culinary category after creating a three-course gourmet meal using only two butane burners.

Energy webinar reset

A Washington & Jefferson College official said the school’s Center for Energy Policy and Management had to postpone the webinar scheduled for Thursday, March 7, “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

“The Future of Carbon Capture” has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. April 10. Those who had already registered will receive access on the new date.

The free, hour-long webinar will focus on the basics of carbon capture and direct air capture as part of its Energy Lecture Series.

Dave Luebke, technical director of the Direct Air Capture Center at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in South Park, will speak.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities via the burning of fossil fuels, and contributes to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Technologies are being developed that can capture CO2 from industrial emissions at their source and capture CO2 from transportation and other activities directly from the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then stored deep underground in geologic formations or used to make other products.

Luebke will explain the basics of carbon capture and storage (CCS), and explain how both point-source CCS and direct air capture (DAC) can help the U.S. reduce its CO2 atmospheric levels.

84 Lumber

The North Strabane Township-based building materials supplier has announced that it made the 2024 Inc. Regionals list for the Northeast division – an extension of the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Companies in a particular region.

This is the first time 84 Lumber made the Inc. Regionals list, ranking No. 164 out of 199 in this region of the country. The company previously made the Inc. 5000 list four times – in 2019 and each of the past three years.

The Inc. Regionals list, according to a news release from 84 Lumber, recognizes “the innovative achievements of companies in generating sustainable growth and jobs and is one of the most esteemed honors growing private businesses and business leaders can receive.”

Maggie Hardy, owner and CEO of 84 Lumber, said in a statement: “It is an honor to have made the Inc. Regionals list. I would like to proudly recognize our stores located in the Northeast region, as they have done a tremendous job contributing to the success of this company.”