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Band reborn as Sonic Age; Psycho Cafe together again
SHENANGO VALLEY — After a decade-long break, Psycho Cafe is back together – however accidentally – under the name Sonic Age.
Sonic Age had most of the same band members, but when guitarist Dave Dimoff stepped out and was replaced by former Psycho Cafe man Mike Fonce, the circle was complete.
“We were Psycho Cafe back in ’94, and we all kind of went our separate ways, and we came back together after ’03,” said Joe Albanese, vocalist.
After Fonce returned, the musicians realized they were the same band from 10 years ago, but decided to keep the name change, “because people might expect us to play the old stuff.”
Their music has changed, and Albanese said they have also released a new compact disc, “Monster Inside.” Their CD release bash is Saturday in Drunken Jack’s in Boardman, Ohio.
“It’s basically rock ’n’ roll,” Albanese said. “I can’t really describe it as anything. It’s good rock ’n’ roll, it’s catchy hooks, and there’s some real good songs on there, I think.”
The band has two of its songs available to hear online at www.myspace.com/gotsonic, and more band information can be found at www.sonicage.net.
Albanese says the band’s music has changed and matured. In the old days, he said, they tried to fit as much as they could into every song but they’re learning to be pickier and trying to not be complicated for the sake of complicated.
The CD compiles work they did with Dave Dimoff and Mike Fonce, and Albanese said two distinct sounds come out on the album, but nothing in one particular style.
“There’s a newer rock ’n’ roll song, an older ’70s song, and at least one really fast and heavy song on there,” he said.
Expect some original songs from the CD at Drunkin’ Jacks on Saturday, but also expect to hear some cover music. “We play a lot of good ’70s or ’80s dance rock,” Albanese said.
Besides Albanese and Fonce, the band features Eric Vasbinder on drums and Steve Dunch playing bass.
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Teaching with technology
Technology in the classroom is always changing and one Greenville teacher has spent the last three summers learning new skills through a program limited to a select few.
Jan Abernethy, a fifth-grade teacher at East Elementary School, was one of 75 teachers nationwide chosen to attend the Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute, which is held at a different location each year.
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Actors visit Camelot
The magic and mysticism that abounds in the King Arthur legend has been just as prevalent in the life of a woman who has written a three-part play chronicling the history of Camelot’s famed ruler.
Youngstown native Carol Weakland said she’s been working for 12 years on the play that premiered last weekend: “The Arthurian Trilogy Part One, Arthur and Merlin: The Making of a King.” She was never able to assemble a cast to play the demanding roles or “whittle down” the lengthy script into a compact but complete show. But this year, everything came together.
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Annual senior fair is Friday in Sharon
State Rep. Mark Longietti will hold his fourth annual free Senior and Health Education Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Sharon American Legion, 1395 E. State St., Sharon.
The fair will feature farmers market coupons, free health screenings, about 50 vendors, door prizes and free information and services.
For more information, call 724-981-4655. -
Dolata carves time for local fest
Walter Dolata shows and sells his wood carvings at arts festivals — sometimes large ones — in New York, Maryland and Ohio.
But he always makes time for the arts festival in his back yard: the Hermitage Arts Festival, which runs this weekend at Rodney White Olympic Park.
“I like it,” said Dolata, who lives in Hermitage. “It’s a local festival. It’s a nice little festival.”
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Farmers market vouchers for seniors available
Mercer County Area Agency on Aging Inc. is again offering the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to eligible Mercer County Seniors.
This program is made possible through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Food Distribution.
The purpose of this program is to encourage older adults to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables produced by local growers.
Eligible seniors can pick up vouchers at locations in Greenville, Grove City, Mercer, Sandy Lake/Stoneboro and the Shenango Valley . -
Victorian Weekend begins Friday evening
Step back into a gentler era during the 22nd annual Victorian Weekend Festival, planned for Friday through Sunday on the historic Mercer County Courthouse Square.
The weekend begins with “A Victorian Concert” by the Mercer Community Band at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the bandstand on the east side of the county courthouse; the warmup concert starts at 6.
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Girl Scouting gold goes to RHS grad
Lorrie Lehman, daughter of Dave and Rosemary Lehman of Reynolds and sister of Tommy, was recently awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award from Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania.
The Gold Award recognizes leadership, hard work and service to the community and for exemplifying the ideals of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Only five percent of Girl Scouts nationwide earn this recognition annually.
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Public invited to annual Farm Safety Day
Our annual Mercer County Farm Safety Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Leslie N. Firth Learning Center, home of Mercer County Cooperative Extension, and the adjacent 4-H Park, 483 N. Perry Highway, 1 1/2 miles north of Mercer in Coolspring Township.
Our staff, along with event sponsor, the Agricultural Health and Rural Safety Advisory Committee, invite you and your family to attend and actively participate in a full day of safety demonstrations and open dialog on an issue which affects us all. Our goals are to make rural residents more conscience of common hazards, risky behaviors, and cultural traditions which often contribute to farm and rural accidents.
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Urban League offers outdoor movie series
It’s been decades since movies have been shown on a big screen in Farrell.
The Shenango Valley Urban League is changing that this summer, with its “Films in the Square” series, to be held Friday nights at Veterans Square.
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Fourth of July activities
There's no lack of Independence Day celebrations planned in the area.
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Teaching with technology
