Bus trips

• Retirees of Penn Power, Clark, and First Energy are planning several bus trips for 2010.

A trip is set for Feb. 22-24 to Atlantic City, N.J., for a three-day, two-night getaway to Trump Taj Mahal hotel. A deposit and/or trip insurance are needed. Take identification or casino card with you.

Call Diane Maselli at 724-981-9457 for fliers and information on the trips.

• A Christmas extravaganza bus trip to support the George Junior Republic Scholarship Fund departs at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 16. Tickets, which include lunch at LaMont Restaurant on Mount Washington, Pittsburgh, and a 3 p.m. concert by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra are $95 a person. Seating is limited. Partial costs have been underwritten by Anna and Ed Dunlap of LeMont Restaurant.

For reservations and information, call 724-458-9330, ext. 2170, or e-mail lryland@georgejuniorrepublic.org by Nov. 12.

• Hermitage Parks & Recreation sponsors a bus trip to Rivers Casino or shopping and Hartwood Acres Festival of Lights on Nov. 22. Depart from Hermitage City Building, 800 N. Hermitage Road, at 8:15 a.m.

For those who do not wish to go to the Casino, the motor coach will make a second stop at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall for free time for shopping. Dinner at Bob Evans is included. There will be a guided tour of Hartwood Acres Festival of Lights.

Cost is $50 a person and includes a $10 coin and $5 food coupon for the casino

Details: 724-981-0800.



Fundraisers

• A dinner, Chinese auction and raffle to benefit Joshua’s Haven City Mission, runs 4 to 7 p.m. SaturdayNov. 14 at Billy’s Black & Gold, Sharon.

Dinner cost is $7 for adults; $5 for children ages 6 to 12; and free for children ages 5 and younger.

There will be a raffle to win two tickets to the Steelers/Browns game in Cleveland on Dec. 10.

Tickets: Bill Novosel, 724-981-2030, or Sherry Swetz, 724-983-0304.

• Mercer Free Methodist Church, 519 Grant St., holds a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 5. Cost is $5.

• A marketplace and a soup, salad and dessert dinner at the Presbyterian Church of West Middlesex will be 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the church gym.

A wide variety of unique craft and food items prepared by the congregation will be available for sale.

At the same time the dinner will be available in the all-purpose room. The dinner includes soups, salads and desserts. The cost of the dinner is $5 for adults; $3 for children and free for children younger than 2.

This event is sponsored by the Mission Team as part of the Multiply the Gifts Campaign to raise funds for local mission work and the Volunteers in Mission Work Team.

• Hermitage Kiwanis Club is holding these December fundraisers: dining cards for area restaurants (many “free” meals) are $25, large fruit baskets and 2 pounds of deluxe mixed nut tins for $20 each.

To order, call any member or 724-981-9292.

• The Hubbard Pool Boosters will host an autumn winery tour on Nov. 21 with departure at 11:30 a.m. from Hubbard. Fab Limousine is providing the transportation. The wineries are Mastropietro Winery in Berlin Center, Luva Bella in Lowellville, Candlelight of Garrettsville, Laleure Vineyards of Parkman and Cortland Wine Cellar.

The cost is $35 and lunch is not included.

There will be a 50/50 raffle and games during the trip and tickets will be sold for basket raffles.

To reserve a seat or information, call Steve at 330-980-8527 or Bonnie, 330-534-5358.

• St. John’s Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church holds a Chinese auction Nov. 22 at St. John’s Educational Center, Cedar Avenue and Morrison Street in Sharon. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and drawings begin at 3 p.m.

Admission is $3. Ticket reservations, call 724-346-4457.

• The Kaine Kulka benefit will be 1 to 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Reynolds Veterans of Foreign Wars, 115 Edgewood Drive. A dinner buffet of roast chicken cooked on spits, side dishes and beverages is from 2 to 6 p.m.; the giant Chinese auction is from 2 to 6; and the 50/50 raffle is at 6. Participants will have a chance to win an autographed custom shop guitar, compliments of Tonetronix in Hubbard.

The Hern Brothers Band will provide entertainment from 3 to 6 p.m.

Cost is $12 for adults; $6 for children ages 4 to 12; and free for children younger than age 4. Tickets, call 330-507-0381.

• Church of the Beloved Disciple, 1310 S. Center St. Ext., Pine Township, holds a soup fest from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17.

Cost is $6 a person or $5 if you bring your own spoon and bowl. Cost includes a beverage and dessert.

All surplus soup will be sold for a donation beginning at 6:30 p.m. Take your own containers.

There will also be a basket raffle.

• St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 65 S. Keel Ridge Road, Hermitage, is taking orders for: pogacha, $3.50; nut rolls, $10; apple strudel, $7; sugar doughnuts, $7 a dozen or $3.50 for a half dozen.

Orders are to be picked up at noon Nov. 22 at the church.

To order, call Francine, 724-346-0108, or Angie, 724-946-3311.



Meetings

• Mercer County Christian Coalition meets at 7 tonight11/10/09 at the Shenango Valley Senior Center, North Buhl Farm Drive, Hermitage.

Speaker is Dave Dayton, director of the fair tax movement for northwestern Pennsylvania. He will present the pros and cons of a different tax system.



• Lynda Moss McDougall will speak at the Wilmington Township Mercer County Civic League meeting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the township building, 35 Auction Road.

Ms. Moss-McDougall is the founder and executive director of the Sankofa House in Sharon, which provides counseling and support services to women released from prison. The goal of the program is to provide a safe and structured environment where women can get the support and resources to assist them in becoming self sufficient and contributing members of society.

Cancellation

• The Sharon Westinghouse Retirees Association meeting scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled for Veterans Day.

The meeting has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 18 in the Buhl Farm Activity Center. Speaker will be the president of the Brookfield Historical Society.



Support groups

• Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Self-Help Group meets from 5:30 to 6:45 Thursdays in the Founders room of Notre Dame Church, 2325 Highland Road, Hermitage.

Info: Renee Zamary, 724-981-5435.

• Grove City Area Caregiver Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 18 at Orchard Manor Inc., 20 Orchard Drive, Grove City.

The group will continue to view and discuss a video series on coping skills for the caregiver.

Info: Mary Jo Palmer, 724-458-4456.



Health

• Minority Health Center holds an important meeting about The Witness Project and The Mammogram Voucher Program at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Avenue Church of God, 1045 Cedar Ave., Sharon.

Early detection is the single most important element in surviving cancer.

Info: Minority Health, 724-981-3856.



Reunion

• Farrell High School class of 1974 holds its 35th class reunion beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 28 at Farrell American Legion, 613 Martin Luther King Blvd.

Invitations have been mailed.

Info: Jana Guerino, 724-981-7389, or e-mail jguerino@roadrunner.com