Aug 11, 2006 13 min read

local Point Marion Lions Club announced that no country music shows will be held until further notice. The club is closed for utility renovations.

The Beesontown Singers of Fayette County have announced auditions for the group’s fall season. Experience vocalists are being sought to fill several vacancies and to expand the choral group’s size. Directors William Dreucci and Jim Hutchinson have set August audition dates to secure sufficient singers so that the ensemble might be expanded from 16 to 24 members. The Beesontown Singers has the distinction of being the only auditioned community choral group in Fayette and Greene counties. The group’s goal is to preserve the diverse richness of the choral arts for future generations. Auditions are by appointment only and will be conducted on Aug. 20 and 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Interested singers who possess an experienced background in choral singing and desire to perform a varied spectrum of choral literature are asked to apply in writing to Beesontown Singers, 20 Dunbar St., Uniontown, Pa. 15401.

A Ministry Launch Concert has been slated for Sept. 10 at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Smithfield. Singer/songwriter Zach Ellsworth will perform his mix of inspired pop, rock and blues with the help of the band “Unwritten.” Admission to the event is free. Free tickets are available by calling Witness Jesus Ministries at 724-564-9934. Seating is limited due to capacity. Visit www.myspace.com/zachellsworth.

A Bluegrass Festival will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Oct. 14 on Main Street in Uniontown. The event will feature bluegrass entertainment, a Dulcimer group, a square dance demonstration, food and refreshments. For more information, call 724-430-2926.Gallery MD at 502 S. Pittsburgh St., Connellsville, welcomes three artists to the gallery. Ray Forquer’s work includes original oils and pastels with a focus on Pennsylvania landscapes as well as prints of a historical nature. Maureen Ryan does portraits of historic cars. In addition to her works at the gallery, she takes commissions. Wayne Arnold works in a variety of medium, including alabaster and rare stones. His work includes jewelry and free-standing pieces. A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 to welcome all of the new artists. Gallery MD is open from noon to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 724-626-2117.

Touchstone Center for Crafts’ summer series of art auctions continues on Thursday, beginning at 7 p.m. in the dining hall. The public is welcome at these weekly art auctions in Farmington, which feature unique works of art each week. The proceeds will benefit Touchstone, Pennsylvania’s only residential craft school. For information and directions, call 724-329-1370.A classic car show will be held Sept. 24 at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 185 East Main St., Uniontown. Registration will take place from noon to 2 p.m., and the car show will conclude at 4 p.m. The first 50 vehicles registered will receive a free dash plaque and more than 30 trophies, including eight “best-of-class” trophies. There will be plenty of food, including St. John’s pirohi. Other features will include a 50/50 drawing, Chinese auction, door prizes, children’s activities and entertainment by DJ Arnie Amber. For more information, call 724-438-6027. All proceeds will benefit the St. John the Baptist building fund.

The Scottdale Fall Festival will hold its annual race on Sept. 16. Registration will take place from 11 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. before the race. The scheduled time to begin is 2:30 p.m. in front of the Elks on Broadway. There is an entry fee. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female participants from each age group. After the race, refreshments will be served to all participants. Visit the Web site at www.scottdalefallfestival.org for race rules and sign-up sheet. For more information, call 724-887-7899.

Smock’s third annual Classic Car Show will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Smock Community Center, one mile off Route 51. Registration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Free commemorative towel, dash plaque and a hot dog meal coupon will be awarded to the first 100 registered entries. A total of 30 trophies plus eight best of class trophies will be awarded. Music will be provided by a disc jockey. The event will feature a 50/50 drawing, door prizes, a Chinese auction and food. All proceeds will benefit the Smock Heritage Museum, a nonprofit organization. For more information, call Dick Kantorik at 724-677-2415.

Christian Singles Fellowship of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church will offer a retreat for singles Sept. 1-4. The 33rd annual retreat will take place at the Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center near Hopwood. The speaker will be Holly Virden, a single author who understands the challenges facing singles in today’s society. Those who are single, separated, divorced or widowed are invited to attend. The retreat is open to singles of all denominations. For more information, call Glenda at 724-843-4899 or Janet at 814-849-7279.

The Downtown Uniontown Farmers’ Market is held every Friday in Storey Square next to the State Theatre Center for the Arts on Main Street. The market is held from 3 to 6 p.m. every Friday through Oct. 20. Fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers, including Duda’s Farms, along with homemade baked goods, candles, fresh cut flowers and Jackson Farms’ ice cream are just some of the items available every week. Heart healthy activities sponsored by STEPS to a Healthier Fayette are held bi-weekly. For more information, contact the Fayette Progress Council at 724-437-1750. Senior citizen and WIC Farmers’ Market vouchers are accepted.

The New Salem Presbyterian Church will sponsor its seventh annual Presby Peach Fest from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 26. Tickets are available for either the pork barbecue or hot dog meal, including cole slaw, baked beans, chips, drink and the choice of peach dessert with ice cream. Door prizes will be drawn every 30 minutes, and a bake sale will be held in front of the church during Peach Fest hours. The church is located at 27 S. Mill St., New Salem. Proceeds will benefit local church mission projects. Tickets will be available at the door. For more information, call 724-785-6480.

The Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority is planning the third “Arts in the City” event from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24. The authority is searching for artists, such as craftsmen, blacksmiths, weavers, quilters, stained-glass artists, metal workers, potters, silversmiths, jewelry crafters, ironworkers, painters, photographers and other artists and craftsmen. Food vendors are welcome to apply for the event. The authority also is looking for sponsorships to help with the cost of the yearly activities. Booths will be set up on Main Street from Gallatin Avenue to Pittsburgh Street, displaying the work of the artists. A total of 55 vendors displayed their talents at last year’s event. For more information, call Judy Vrabel at the Downtown Business District Authority office at 724-430-2926.

Music in the Mountains 2006 will be held Sept. 9-10 in Ohiopyle. Festivities will include Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Corvette Restorers Society, several musical acts to be announced, Ohiopyle Volunteer Fire Department’s annual triathlon, adventure race, food and artisan vendors and fireworks. For more information, call 724-329-8591 or e-mail ohiopylesp@state.pa.us.

Cruisin’ in the Park IV, a car, truck and bike show, which will be held Aug. 20 at Shady Grove Park in Lemont Furnace. There is a registration fee. Registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The car show will take place from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The top 90 trophies will be awarded. The first 200 will receive 11-inch stand-up dash plaques and mugs. D.J. Terry’s Tunes will provide music. A live broadcast from Pickle Radio will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Food and a 50/50 drawing will be featured. Portions of the proceeds will go to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. For more information, call Shady Grove Park at 724-439-3438 or 724-245-9557.

St. Therese Church Cookbook with familiar and traditional recipes “like Grandma used to make” is now available for sale. To place an order or for more information, call St. Therese Faith Formation Center at 724-437-1957 or Linda at 724-439-4036.

The 12th annual Salute to the Classics, a concert and classic car cruise, will be held Sept. 9 at Linden Hall. The gates open at 10:30 a.m. followed by the show at 12:30 p.m. Jeff Allen will server as master of ceremonies. Featured acts include Lou Christie, The Jaggerz, Frankie Ford, Dubs, Johnny Angel and the Halos, Elmoz Fire and Four Townsmen. The show is produced by Rich and Michael DePaulis. The show is sponsored by Music Power 104 and Coors Light. Tickets are available in advance and at the gate. For tickets and information, call 412-373-3860.

Classes are being held at The Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale for those interested in performance-related topics. Some of the courses being offered include acting, vocals, songwriting, guitar and set design. The six-week courses are arranged by age from 8 to adult. The instructors include Josh Garsteck and Matt Starry. For information, call 724-887-0887 or stop by The Geyer Performing Arts Center at 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale.

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.

A cookbook with a forward by award-winning chef Joe Carei of Caileigh’s Restaurant in Uniontown is available at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. The cookbook is full of recipes and historic photographs of the Grand Old Lady of Main Street. They are available in the theater office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at all performances. Call 724-439-1360 to place a mail order. There is a cost for the cookbooks.

The Smock Historical Museum will open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday. The museum will retain open through October. It features artifacts of the coal and coke era. Also featured is a typical patch house from the early years, Cicconi’s Union Beer Garden, a barbershop and chapel and a gift shop with homemade crafts. Donations are accepted. Special tours can be arranged by calling 724-677-2415.

The Uniontown Children’s Library will gear up for a fun summer program for children, featuring the animal theme “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales.”

Registration for the incentive reading program is now underway. Family game night will be held Monday.

To register for any summer activities or to pick up a schedule of upcoming events, stop by the Uniontown Public Library at 24 Jefferson St. Those who are interested in upcoming programs can call the children’s librarian at 724-437-1165.

The Ohiopyle Volunteer Fire Department will hold its 12th annual triathlon on Sept. 9. The event includes biking, boating and running.

For more information or to receive an application, call Doug Hoene, park ranger, at 724-329-0896.

Ohiopyle Stewart Community Center will hold a Texas Hold ’em tournament at 5 p.m. Aug. 26.

For information or to reserve a space, call Doug at 724-329-0896.

The annual Labor Day spaghetti dinner will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Ohiopyle Stewart Community Center.

The menu will consist of all-you-can-eat spaghetti, tossed salad, garlic bread, dessert and beverage.

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Pittsburgh CLO’s 2006 season at the Benedum Center will feature “Monty Python’s SPAMALOT,” Sept. 19-Oct 1. Tickets and subscriptions are available online 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.”The Monongahela Railway, Its History and Operation, 1903-1993,” a 212-page book with more than 300 black and white pictures and 24 maps of the system, is available at Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, 325 Market St., Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Uniontown Library, Flatiron Building, Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville, New Salem and Fairchance pharmacies and Hobbies & Stuff in Connellsville.

The 13th annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival will take place Sept. 1-4 at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. The event will feature 500 costumed participants from 15 states in more than 200 exhibit booths. Face painting, balloon animals, Kidders & Kritters petting zoo and Wild World of Animals Show will be featured Saturday and Sunday. The event will include the 11th Pennsylvania Civil War military encampment, two Civil War string bands and homemade food. Free on-site parking will be held. The event will take place rain or shine. Both indoor and outdoor exhibits will be featured. There is an admission charge. For more information, call 724-863-4577.

The Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation of Greensboro is planning the first annual “Art Blast on the Mon” on Sept. 1-2. A Creative Communities Art Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 1. An Art Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Log Cabin on Front Street and other locations throughout the town.

An everyman’s art show will be held at the Greensboro Fire Hall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 2. Prizes will be awarded. The top prize to be awarded is $300.

The foundation is searching for artists and craftsmen, such as blacksmiths, weavers, stained-glass artists, potters, painters, jewelry crafters and others. Food vendors are welcome to apply for the event. For more information, contact Mary Shine at 724-943-4462 or e-mail her at shine62000@yahoo.com.

Flenniken Public Library, 102 E. George St., Carmichaels, will offer preschool 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 California Area Public Library will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Story hour for preschool children will be held at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Visit the library’s Web site at www.calpublib.org, and click on the “story hour” link for more information or call the library at 724-938-2907.

The summer reading program titled “Paws, Claws and Tales” will offer weekly story time and activities and encourages reading from birth to 11 years old beginning Monday and continuing through Aug. 11 at the Monessen Public Library, 326 Donner Ave., Monessen.

The Ligonier Valley Historical Society announces its final Living History Weekend of the summer season Aug. 12-20 at Compass Inn Museum. “Rebellion in the Valley” will feature a British and Rebel Solider re-enactment. Guests will have an opportunity to tour the Inn, an authentically restored 1799 stagecoach stop. The complex includes the summer cookhouse, blacksmith and carpenter’s shops and the barn, which houses a Conestoga wagon, stagecoach and 1880 Studebaker wagon.

A variety of 18th and 19th century crafts will be demonstrate.

Open hearth cooking, spinning and weaving, bobbin lace making, woodworking, quilting and mapmaking are a few of the crafts that will be demonstrated.

Compass Inn is located in Laughlintown, three miles east of Ligonier on Route 30. There is an admission charge.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 724-238-4983 or visit the Web site at www.compassinn.com.