Five Things You Need to Know This Week

1. Moon schools and teachers head back to arbitration

Officials from the Moon Area Education Association and the Moon Area School District again meet again with an arbitrator in an attempt to work out a year-long contractual dispute.

Representatives from the union and the district will meet at Moon Area High School at 10 a.m. Tuesday. It will mark the second time the parties have met since teachers returned from a 13-day strike in November. Stay tuned to Moon Patch for more coverage. 

2. Township closings continue this week

Moon Township administrative offices will be closed today. There are no meetings scheduled for the week. Offices will re-open for normal business hours on Tuesday, but will also be closed Friday for New Year's Eve.

Township supervisors will meet for their annual re-organization meeting on Jan. 3. 

3. Boys basketball compete in holiday tournament

There always seems to be a lull between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Beat it by attending the Moon Area High School's boys basketball tournament versus Franklin Regional High School this week.  The tournament kicks off at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Moon Area High School gymnasium and resumes 6 p.m. Wednesday at the high school.  

Of course, if you can't make the game, be sure to check out Moon Patch the following day -- contributor Ryan Hoffman will be providing coverage of the tournament. 

4. Moon Gets Ready for New Year's Eve

Check back with Moon Patch later this week for a listing of all the bars, restaurants and hotels in the township with plans to ring in 2011 with a party. We'll also have safety tips for the holiday and fill you in on the news you'll need for the new year. 

5. Robert Morris University and Moon Township relations are strengthening

Township and university officials have been holding regular meetings for more than a year now. Moon Patch will update you on how RMU's growth is likely to impact the township's future.