Wedge received the Nettie Mann Award at the Sharon-based agency's annual employee awards and recognition dinner.

The Nettie Mann Award honors an outstanding employee for positive attitude, hard work and dedication. Wedge, who began working with the blind association in 1952, also will be honored in June by Pennsylvania Industries for the Blind and Handicapped as a nominee for the 2001 Handicapped Worker of the Year.

After learning chair-caning at Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind in Pittsburgh, Wedge used his knowledge at the local blind association. His responsibilities have included rug-weaving, working on cloth diapers sold to state institutions, shipping and receiving, inventory, sales, preparing documents for microfilming contracts, bottling chemicals for sale, folding letters and labeling envelopes.

When the agency ended its chair-caning service, Wedge started "Caning by Art." He opened a workshop in his home and sells his wares at area craft shows.

Others honored and their awards were: