Local briefs
Benefit planned On Saturday, a benefit cash night at the races will be held at Morrell Fire Hall and benefit Dunbar and Morrell volunteer fire departments. The doors open at 7 p.m., racing starts at 7:30, and complimentary food and drinks will be served. An attendance prize of $200 will be presented at 11 p.m.
Dinner scheduled
Mid Mon Valley Presbyterian Association will host its annual Lenten covered dish dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Belle Vernon at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Participants are asked to bring a covered dish. Bread, beverages and dessert will be provided. Missionary Patty Summerville will be guest speaker, sharing her experiences, with time for questions about her travels.
Speaker announced
Judge William H. Webster, Homeland Security Advisory Council vice chairman, will speak Monday as part of West Virginia University’s Festival of Ideas series.
His presentation, “Forensics-Guardian or Threat to Our Civil Liberties,” also is part of the West Virginia Law Review’s annual spring symposium and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the WVU Mountainlair Ballroom. The public is invited to a pre-event reception at 6:30 p.m.
Event slated
The Care and Share Shop, a mission outreach project of the California United Methodist Church, corner of Third and Liberty streets, will celebrate its 21st year of service with Customer Appreciation Days from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 31.
Visitors to the thrift shop will be treated to refreshments, door prizes and good buys.
Care and Share was born in March 1985 as widespread layoffs were occurring in the Mon Valley. Patterned after a similar church ministry in Oakland, Md., its mission is to provide some new but mostly used clothing and household items as well as greeting cards, toys, etc., in an attractive, store-like setting so all may shop with dignity.
Popular yearly sales include the annual fall coat and used furniture sale, holiday events such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and a monthlong Christmas sale. The Care and Share Shop has been a source for high school costume departments, emergency elementary school clothing needs, fire victims and individual emergency requests.
Those interested in volunteering may call the church at 724-938-2270. Donations of clean and usable items may be placed in the outdoor drop box between the church and the California Borough Building. The church also recycles aluminum cans that may be placed in proper outdoor receptacle.