YESTERYEAR

Monessen Elementary School fourth-grader Christina Alberts won first place in the Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries (PCBL) contest in 1988. Christina traveled to Harrisburg with her family and met several Friends and Trustees of the Monessen Public Library. They participated in the annual Legislative Day trip to Harrisburg to discuss public library funding with state legislators. Christina is shown holding her award certificate with House Majority Leader, state Rep. James J. Manderino of Monessen. Also shown are Christina’s parents, St. Michael’s Antiochian (Syrian) Orthodox Church pastor, the Rev. George Alberts and Carol Alberts, her siblings, Sara and David. Despite wearing a cast on her leg, she also met with Speaker of the House, K. Leroy Irvis, who signed her cast. Christina read her essay on the House floor before Gov. Robert Casey Sr., and Don Fadden of the PCBL. Monessen children’s librarian Lou Anne Sokolowski was Christina’s sponsor.