Future events
local stage
Flatwoods Productions will present “The Wizard of Oz” from Dec. 2-4 at the Curfew Grange, located at the corner of Buena Vista Road and Route 201 South in Flatwoods. A dinner theater will be offered on Saturday, Dec. 4. For information, call 724-785-6896.
Dry Knob School House Theatre, located at the corner of Dry Knob and Kissinger roads in Fairchance, needs students for the December presentation of “T’was the Last Mailing Day Before Christmas.” Rehearsals will be one-hour long two days a week. Rehearsals meet at 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. This 45-minute program has many parts for many players. The presentation is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 2. Speaking parts, singing parts and a three-part scenery are needed. Interested participates ages 6 to 18 are welcome. For more information, call 724-564-4575.
Geibel Catholic High School will present “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on March 10-12 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. The show will offer a ride through biblical Egypt hosted by the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is a musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel’s favorite son. Tickets will be sold at Geibel Catholic High School and at the State Theatre box office. For more information, call the school at 724-628-5600.
art
Uniontown Art Club’s holiday sale is expanding to include original artwork and gifts at the Colorworks Store, 39 E. Main St., Uniontown. The sale will run throughout the end of December. Items include paintings, calligraphy, ceramics, photography, jewelry, glass, floral items and more. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and during Light-up Night and downtown holiday events. For details, call president Tonye Sharp at 724-439-2824.
The Frank L. Melega Art Museum at the Flatiron Building, 69 Market St., Brownsville, will present a new exhibition of ceramic art by California University of Pennsylvania art professor Duke Miecznikowski titled “Miecznikowski: Clay and Fire.” The exhibition will run until Sunday, Dec. 18. The museum is also open by appointment. For information, call 724-785-9331.
music
Greater Uniontown Chorale will continue rehearsals every Monday at 7 p.m. in the Swimmer Auditorium at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, as it prepares for its fall program of events, including Handel’s Messiah and many seasonal selections. For information, call Richard McCoy at 724-437-6400 or Warren Shirer at 724-628-1988.
Greater Uniontown Children’s Choir will hold rehearsals for the 2005-2006 concert season at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the music room at Dunbar Borough Elementary School on Pechin Road. New and old members are welcome. For information, call 724-439-6477.
The Point Marion Lions Club will hold its annual fund-raiser every second Saturday of the month through June 2006. The events are held at the Lions Club skating rink in Point Marion and begin at 6 p.m. It is a smoke- and alcohol-free event with live music, entertainment and food. Suzie Long and Billy Carter will be featured Saturday. Some surprise guests will also be featured. The open stage will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. with Ray Rhodes and Friends. The doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m. To participate or for more information, call 724-725-5737. A donation is accepted at the door.
odds & ends
Toys for Tots will be collected at all four offices of The Scottdale Bank and Trust Co. Toys should be unwrapped and will be distributed to children in the local area age infant to 12 years old. The last pickup day will be Monday, Dec. 19. Distribution dates will be Tuesday, Dec. 20, and Wednesday, Dec. 21, at a location to be announced at a later date.
Breakfast with Santa will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. at Divito Park in West Leisenring. There is a cost for the all-you-can-eat buffet. The menu includes scrambled eggs, sausage bacon, hash browns, milk and juice. Ice skating and roller skating passes may be purchased at the door for an additional cost. The event benefits the Uniontown Exchange Club programs promoting the prevention of child abuse, Americanism, crime and fire prevention and various community services. Advance ticket purchase is required. RSVP by Dec. 3. Call Georgiann at 724-984-2639 or Carrie at 724-880-1502.
“Homes for the Holiday” house tour is planned for 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11. Tickets will go on sale beginning Monday at the Crime Victims’ Center, 109 W. Fayette St., Uniontown. There is a tour donation. Opening their doors and hearts in the spirit of the season are Dr. Gary and Joyce Sontheimer, Rick and Kathy Rafail, Bob and Patty Fleszar, Russell and Debra Rhodes and the historic St. Anthony Friary, which is home to the Rev. Matthew Brozovic, the Rev. Richard Portasik, the Rev. Damian Cesanek and Brother Damien Murkley. Guests are welcome to tour the homes, meet the owners and enjoy refreshments. The Friary will be celebrating the advent season in preparation for Christmas. In addition to the tour, a Chinese auction offering a myriad of holiday gifts, arts and crafts and gift certificates donated by local businesses will be held at the Friary. A special drawing will be held for an overnight stay at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington. Guests are also invited to enjoy a post tour dinner at Caileigh’s Restaurant in Uniontown. There is a cost for the dinner, and reservations are required. Due to a limited number of tour tickets, guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 724-438-1470.
Old Petersburg/Addison Historical Society will hold a Christmas House Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. This year, three houses, a one-room school house and the newly restored Frederich Augustine Welcoming Center/Historic House will be featured. Local artisans will showcase their work in an art show and sale on the same days. Tickets for the tour may be purchased at the Methodist church. Food and greeney will be could at the church. For more information, call 814-395-5584 or 814-395-5291.
The “Carpathian Cookery” cookbook, now in its 11th printing, is again available for sale. There is a cost for the cookbook. To order, send a check or money order to Ethnic Craft Club, St. John Byzantine Catholic Church, 185 E. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. 15401, or call 724-438-6027 for more information.
Christmas Craft/Bake Sale will be held from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 185 E. Main St., Uniontown. The event will feature decorations, folk crafts, baked goods, cookbooks, homemade candy, imported items and much more. Call 724-438-6027 for information.
“Christmas Adventure through Narnia,” a free event in celebration of the upcoming movie “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” will be held at Third Presbyterian Church in Uniontown, at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Enjoy Narnia-themed games, activities, snacks, a bonfire and hayrides. Drawings and door prizes will be held at the end of the evening. Call the church at 734-438-2529 for directions or information.
First Baptist Church of Fairchance invites the public to walk through the scenes of live events that lead to the manger and the birth of Jesus on “One Amazing Night.” Guided tours will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9-10. Refreshments will be served. Call the church at 724-564-2080 for information.
Christmas candlelight tours will be held at historic Nemacolin Castle on Front Street in Brownsville this Saturday through Dec. 18. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 2 and 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Activities will begin with Light-Up Night on Nov. 25 when the castle grounds and walls are lined with luminaria. There is an admission charge. No reservations are needed except for groups of 20 people or more. Groups may schedule at earlier hours, and there is a group rate. For more information, call 724-785-6882.
Smock’s annual long roll sale is going on now. Apricot, nut, poppyseed and prune are available at a cost. Orders will be taken through Dec. 3 with pickup or delivery on Dec. 10. Call Rita Kantorik at 724-677-2415 to place orders.
Connellsville Bicentennial in 2006 has various events scheduled and more in the works. Sprinkled throughout the year are black history events, a grand bicentennial parade, Geranium Festival and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Other events include local bands, sporting events, reunions, church tours, food booths, carnivals and children’s events. Interested residents can make contributions to the CFFC or Community Foundation of Fayette County. Indicate on the check that the money is for the Connellsville Bicentennial Fund and mail it to Bicentennial Committee, P.O. Box 698, Connellsville, Pa. 15425.
Limited copies of “Another Look – Uniontown and Fayette County” by the late Walter “Buzz” Storey Jr. are still available. A grab bag of people, places and ideas, the book includes 200 pages and many photos. The book is on sale at the following Uniontown locations: Bethesda Christian Book Store; Borders Book Store at the Uniontown Mall; Fayette Chamber of Commerce; Herald-Standard office, 8-18 E. Church St., Uniontown; and Uniontown Public Library. Books also may be mailed anywhere in the U.S. for an additional cost or ordered online at ktweardy@heraldstandard.com. For more information, call 724-439-7518.
“A Dickens of a Holiday” in Uniontown continues on Thursday, Dec. 1, when downtown businesses will partner with their favorite charities and share cookies and recipes with patrons.
Then patrons can visit the Fayette Building to purchase their favorite cookies from the charities for the holidays. On Thursday, Dec. 8, school spirit night features choral performances from Fayette County schools that will also be decorating storefronts of downtown businesses in November. On Thursday, Dec. 15, coupon books will be distributed as visitors enter the State Theatre for the large-screen performance of the Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Following the movie, Uniontown will host Zambelli fireworks. For information, call 724-437-4571 or 724-437-1750.
The eighth annual “A Country Christmas in the Greenhouse” craft show will be held this Saturday through Dec. 4 in Duda’s Greenhouse, Republic. The show will feature crafts by more than 30 local crafters. Live wreaths, swags and blankets will also be available. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
For more information, call 724-785-6778.
64 Crayons at Jozart offers local playwrights the opportunity to see their work produced on the fully equipped stage at Jozart Studios, 333 Second St., California.
Scripts of no more than 10 pages will be considered from any one author through Tuesday, Nov. 22.
A reader’s fee will be charged to offset the costs of production. Playwrights whose work is accepted for production will be expected to attend early rehearsals and at least one performance of their work. Plays will not be returned without a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Rights remain the property of the author. For more information, call Dr. Fred Lapisardi at 724-938-9730 or e-mail him at 64crayons@jozartstudios.com.
The Woodland Zoo/Herald-Standard Pavilion will present Christmas lights during the month of December.
Geezers’ Book Shop, now operating as 64 Crayons at Jozart Studios, has resumed Tuesday writing workshops from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at 333 Second St., California, located above the Dollar General store.
Instead of concentrating on a single genre as in past years, the current group agreed that fiction, creative, non-fiction, poetry, plays, film scripts and songs may be presented for discussion.
There is no charge for these sessions. For more information, call 724-938-9730 or e-mail 64crayons@jozartstudios.com.
Cal U’s Manderino Library Book Club will hold a reading session Tuesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. or 7 to 8:30 p.m. with discussion leader Alan James, dean of student development, on Juan Williams’ book “Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary.”
“Fayette County: A Video History,” an educational video of more than 90 minutes about the history of Fayette County, is available at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Coal & Coke Heritage Center at the Penn State Library or from the Fayette County Historical Society by calling 724-439-4422. Produced under the guidance of the Fayette County Historical Society, the video is filled with hundreds of photographs, interviews with historians and residents from the county, plus profiles of many towns and communities.
The book, “Abel Gray: A Romance of the National Road,” written by A.F. Hill in 1876, was reproduced by the historical society in 1998 as a fictional novel with accurate depictions of the National Road.
For information on these and other publications available, contact the Fayette County Historical Society Inc., P.O. Box 193, Uniontown, or call 724-439-4422.
The State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown will accept donations for the Fayette County Community Action Food Bank this holiday season. The theater will be accepting non-perishable food donations to benefit the Fayette County Community Action Food Bank. Donations will be accepted at the State Theatre box/administrative office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the Christmas Du Wop Spectacular on Dec. 2, “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 9-11 and at a “Celtic Christmas” on Dec. 17.
A Thanksgiving Dance titled “Golden Harvest: A Salute to Our Veterans” will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday at the Uniontown VFW Post 47 on West Main Street, Uniontown. It is the Uniontown Senior Citizens’ monthly dance. The Bill Francis Orchestra will provide music.
Round, line dancing, polkas, waltzes and other dances will be featured.
Refreshments and door prizes are planned by the committee. Pete Porreca is commander of VFW Post 47. Kassie DeWalt is dance chairperson.
area
stage
Pittsburgh CLO’s 2006 season opens at the Benedum Center on June 6 and includes Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” June 6-18; “Grease,” June 20-30; “42nd Street,” July 4-16; “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” July 18-23; “Bombay Dreams,” Aug. 1-6; and “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT,” Sept. 19-Oct 1.
Tickets and subscriptions are available on line at www.pittsburghCLO.org, by fax at 412-281-1150 or by calling the subscription hotline at 412-281-2822. Group sales hotline is 412-264-2560.
music
Martina McBride will appear at The Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. Tickets are on sale. All seats are reserved. Tickets can be purchased at the Petersen Events Center, all Ticketmaster ticket centers, charge-by-phone at 412-323-1919 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
“A Musical Christmas Carol” will be presented by the Pittsburgh CLO from Dec. 9-23 at the Byham Theater. Tickets are available at a cost, with half-priced tickets for children ages 3 to 14. Tickets are available online at www.pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the box office at Theater Square. Special group discounts and corporate programs are available at the group sales hotline at 412-263-2560 or e-mail groups@pittsburgh CLO.org.
“Seussical” will be presented by the West Virginia Public Theatre. School matinees will be held Dec. 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 at 9:30 a.m. and noon. Public performances are Dec. 17, 21, 22 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. For tickets, call 304-291-4122.
The St. Vincent College Concert Series will continue. Remaining concerts in the 2005-2006 season are instrumental ensemble Chatham Baroque, Dec. 3; Spencer Myer, piano, Jan. 14; Volkan Orhon, double bass, Feb. 11; Svetoslav Stoyanov, percussion, March 11; and Chengzong Vin, piano, April 22. For ticket purchase or more information, call the concert series at 724-537-4565. MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted.
Westmoreland Youth Symphony is looking for young musicians, high school through college age. WYSO rehearses on Wednesday evenings through December from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Cecilian Hall at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. To arrange for an audition or for more information, contact WYSO Manager Ramona Coppage at wysorc@verison.net or call 412-241-4954.
The Scottdale Choral Society will hold rehearsals for its 2005-2006 concert season at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Christ United Methodist Church in Scottdale. Under the direction of Dwight Brown and accompanied by Sue Booker, the society will begin to prepare music for the upcoming Christmas season.
New members are welcome. For more information, contact Brown or any Scottdale Choral Society member.
art
“Home; the shape exactly,” featuring the sculptural work of St. Vincent College artist-in-residence Elizabeth Mead, will continue on view through Sunday, Dec. 11. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. For information, call 724-805-2107 or check the Web at http://facweb.stvincent.edu/academica/finearts/gallery.html.
Three Rivers Arts Festival will present “By Design,” an exhibition of new work by 16 Pittsburgh designers. “By Design” aims to provide insight into how designers make connections, interpret content, express meaning through visual form and observe the world. The exhibition runs through Friday, Jan. 13. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday noon to 5 p.m.
odds & ends
Sophistocated Singles of Pittsburgh will sponsor a Singles New Year’s Eve Dance Party on Saturday, Dec. 31, in the Grand Ballroom, Greentree Holiday Inn. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the festivities beginning at 8 p.m. and ending at 2 a.m. There is a cost. There will be hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, pizza, snacks, hats, horns noisemakers and party favors. The public is invited. No reservations are needed. For a free brochure, call 412-572-5259.
Historic District Christmas Candlelight Tour in Cumberland, Md., will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Sites include Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Ss. Peter and Paul Church, The Gilchrist Gallery, Gordon-Roberts House, the Woman’s Civic Club and the Inn at Walnut Bottom. Early bird tickets are available until the day of the event at these sites, The Book Center in Cumberland and Main Street Books in Frostburg.
Early bird tickets are available. A city bus will run a circuit between the sites on Saturday. For information, call 301-777-8678.
Thrasher Carriage Museum at 19 Depot St., Frostburg, Md. decorates for the holiday. This year’s theme is “The Bells of Christmas.”
Participants will travel back in time and jingle through the museum discovering sleigh bells, Conestoga bells, shaft bells, jingle bells and more. The museum will participate with the Frostburg Christmas Storytime on Dec. 3 with the story of “Nell’s Bells” at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The museum open house will be held on Dec. 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. with the “JoyBell Ringers” providing music at 3 p.m. Cookies and tea will be served. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Group rates are available. For additional information, call the museum at 301-777-8678.
Candlelight Tours at Compass Inn Museum in Laughlintown continue on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 7 p.m. through Dec. 11. There is an admission charge for adults and students through high school. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Allow one hour for the tour.
Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are requested for groups of 10 or more and required for groups of 20 or more.
For information, call 724-238-4983 or visit the Web site at www.compassinn.com.
Westmoreland Symphony’s “Nutcracker” tickets are on sale at the WSO office. Three performances featuring the Laurel Ballet Company are offered at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling the WSO office at 724-837-1850. Group sales rates are available.
Flenniken Public Library, 102 E. George St., Carmichaels, will offer pre-school story hour every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The library is also offering after-school tutoring for students in kindergarten through high school.
A state-certified teacher runs the program. Sessions are customized to fit each child’s learning style.
For more information, call 724-966-5263.
The West Newton Senior Center will take a three-day, two-night trip of Washington, D.C., on April 29 through May 1.
Touring will include the World War II Memorial, Capitol Hill, Embassy Row, The White House, the Smithsonian and a stop in Baltimore Harbor in Maryland on the way home. Two breakfasts and dinners are included.
For more information about the trip, call Rosemarie Budai at 724-872-4976 or 724-872-6087.