Senior citizens are among those most seriously affected by the recent financial meltdown and the government's economic recovery plan.

That's why St. Barnabas Charities will host a special installment of its Smart Money series. "Mae, Mac, Mergers and the Market" will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Hilltop Hall in The Village at St. Barnabas, 5850 Meridian Road, Richland.

The program is open to the public. John C. Mackie, a financial adviser with the Pittsburgh-based investment firm Hefren-Tillotson, will talk about the financial crisis, the reaction at the federal level and how to react during the downturn.

For information, contact Allyson Sveda, director of planned giving, at 724-444-5508.

For those not quite there yet but perhaps pondering an uncertain retirement scenario amid all the economic turmoil, the Zelienople Area Public Library is offering a program that might help.

A Social Security Online Retirement Seminar will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the library.

A speaker from the Social Security Administration will explain what you need to know about retirement benefits and how to navigate the Social Security's Web site, www.socialsecurity.gov.

To register, call the library at 724-452-9330.

So, you want to be a beauty queen?

If you live in Butler County, here's your chance.

Applications are being taken for the 2009 Miss Butler County USA pageant, which will be held Dec. 7 at Kean Theatre on the campus of St. Barnabas Health System. The winner will be eligible to participate in the Miss Pennsylvania USA pageant.

Contestants must be between 17 and 26 years old, never married and a resident of the county for at least six months or attend a college or state-approved school in the county.

Contact Marilyn E. Kane at 724-287-0576 or 724-287-3576.

Pine-Richland High School graduate Jamel Nicholas, above, is in her third season as a starter for the University of Notre Dame women's volleyball team. She's hoping to lead the Fighting Irish back to NCAA tournament after missing for the first time in 16 years last season.