The women's basketball teams at the three district colleges are ready for big seasons. California, a perennial Division II power, and Waynesburg, coming off a disastrous season, have new head coaches. Washington & Jefferson, with an experienced lineup returning, including point guard Kennan Killeen is a favorite to win the Presidents' Athletic Conference title.

The Chartiers Creek Workcamp project is accepting applications for free home repairs at as many as 100 residences next summer.

The project involves high school students who will offer basic home repairs such as inside or outside painting, installation of wheelchair ramps, weatherization and repairs to steps and porches during the week of July 5-11.

To qualify, homeowners must be physically or financially unable to repair their own home; live within 20 minutes of Canon-McMillan High School, where the students will be staying; and have someone in the residence during the repair time.

For an application, call 724-745-0810 or e-mail chartierscreekwc09@verizon.net.

Plans for improving a section of Route 21 in Cumberland and Monongahela will be displayed by the state Department of Transportation from 6 to 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Cumberland municipal building, 100 Municipal Road, Carmichaels.

The construction area will be between Route 88 and the Hatfield power plant in Greene County.

For information about the open house, call Ronald Murray, project manager, at 724-439-7312.

The Midway Volunteer Fire Department is sponsoring its first Thanksgiving pie and cookie fundraiser. Fourteen varieties of items, including pies, nut and pumpkin rolls, lady locks and cookie trays, baked by The Pittsburgh Cookie Co. are available.

Items can be ordered by contacting a firefighter or The Pittsburgh Cookie Co. at 724-796-6500 or www.pittsburghcookie.com. Proceeds benefit fire department operations.

The order deadline is Tuesday. Pick up will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Midway Fire Department.

The department provides fire protection, rescue service and emergency medical service/quick response service for Midway and Robinson.

California University of Pennsylvania dedicated a smart classroom in the Keystone Education Center with a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 30.

Cal U President Angelo Armenti Jr. clicked a computer mouse to start a program designed by student Ryan Terrell that showed animated shears snipping a cartoon ribbon.

The classroom, a former lecture hall, has been converted into a state-of-the-art teaching space with a high-tech learning environment.

The university invested about $222,000 in designing and constructing the room. Another $60,000 in technology fees was spent on software and interactive devices.