Homepage
Related Photos
-
Pat Cooley/Herald
Discussion
A holiday helping
Church, restaurant team up for Christmas feast
SHARON — More than 100 people crowded into the banquet hall of the Elks Lodge in Sharon on Christmas morning, as the Rev. Dominic Verdell, associate pastor of the Grace Chapel Community Church, Hermitage, said a few words.
“When we got together and thought about what Christmas really means,” he said, “we thought it was a special time to get together.”
The church organized a free Christmas dinner with the help of the Elks Lodge and The Wave restaurant in Sharon, and Verdell explained that in addition to providing a meal for the less fortunate, they wanted to give people who might not have family in the area a place where they could come for a sense of community on the holiday.
The Salvation Army has traditionally held a dinner on Thanksgiving, but this is believed to be the first community Christmas dinner in the Shenango Valley.
Money for the dinner was raised by the church’s community foundation.
“We both had family at one time,” said Sara Dmochowski, who was sitting with her brother, Mike Messina, at a table in the middle of the banquet hall. “My husband is deceased and his wife is deceased, and our children are far away in Colorado and Connecticut.”
She said the Christmas meal gave them both a chance to spend some time with people they don’t get to see very often.
Ann Shaffer, a nurse from West Middlesex, said she would have to go to work later in the day.
“But I wanted to be with my friends for a little while first,” she said, crediting the volunteers who put the meal together. “It’s very nice of them to give part of their Christmas to do this.”
About 120 people signed up for the dinner ahead of time, according to church officials, and there were a few dozen walk-ins. Many people took carry-out meals, but about half the people who came ate their meals in the banquet room.
At the south end of the room were buckets filled with toys and household items such as cleaning supplies.
“We thought that people can get food and toys this time of year,” Verdell said. “But sometimes it’s hard to find household items.”
He said they gave church members buckets and asked them to fill them with things families might need around the house.
“And we put a few toys in there for the kids,” Verdell said.
More than 50 volunteers gave up their Christmas morning to work at the dinner.
Samantha Gutshall of Sharon isn’t a member of Grace Chapel Community Church, but she said she has a friend who attends services there, and when she heard this was happening, she decided to volunteer her time.
“It’s a good thing to do,” she said.
Many of the volunteers came from Grace Chapel’s Helping Hands group.
“When the pastors came up with the idea, we wanted to serve,” said Mary Lee Campbell, a member of the group.
“We are the hands and the feet of God this morning.”
- Local News
-
-
Commissioners formally move to raise sewer fees
Hermitage commissioners introduced an ordinance Wednesday to increase sanitary user fees.
Continued ...
Residents tapped into the Hermitage Municipal Authority lines now pay $95 a quarter. That rate will bump up to $105 a quarter on Jan. 1, under the proposed rate hike.
Two more hikes on Jan. 1, 2012, and Jan. 1, 2013, will result in the rates increasing 50 percent from the current fee. -
Water is on at Forrest Brooke: Managers: Well pump shorted out
Continued ...
Water service has been restored at Forrest Brooke Manufactured Home Community after well problems left the 165-unit complex dry Tuesday.
A boil and conserve water advisory has been issued by the DEP and will remain in place until tests confirm the water is safe to drink, Forrest Brooke’s manager Pete Havens said.
-
Storm damages trees, wires
Thunderstorms ripped through parts of Mercer and neighboring counties Wednesday night, downing trees and wires and keeping rescue workers on their toes.
Continued ...
A Mercer County 911 dispatcher shortly after 8 p.m. said they were busy with calls across the northern part of the county. He said there had been a few reports of trees falling on homes.
-
City leaders open to talks
Sharon officials aren’t opposed to sitting down with their counterparts in Farrell to revisit the idea of combining the two struggling cities.
Continued ...
“It never costs a penny to talk and there’s no (idea) that’s not worth looking at,” Sharon councilman Ed Palanski said. “I think it would be foolish to oppose looking at the idea.”
-
Murphy’s Law doesn’t faze regional planners
A complicated, two-day public meeting blitz in 32 counties ran headlong into Murphy’s Law in Mercer County on Tuesday.
Continued ...
The group Power of 32 are looking to re-write the regional map and create a grand, 15-year strategic economic plan for the 32 counties in four states that make up the Ohio River basin and greater Pittsburgh area.
-
Commissioners formally move to raise sewer fees
- Sports
-
-
COLLEGIATE NOTEBOOK: Woods has banner year throwing shot
Former Grove City star Kristy Woods winds up to throw the shot at the U.S. Track & Field Championships where she placed 9th in the Junior Division.
KRISTY WOODS of the University of Buffalo boasted a banner 2010 season for the Bulls’ track & field team.
Continued ...
The former Grove City High standout and multiple PIAA placewinner and gold-medalist improved as the season progressed in Mid-American Conference, NCAA and ultimately, national-caliber competition.
- Landino, Gramley qualify for Kings finals
- AUTO RACING NOTEBOOK: Mike Lutz is chip off the old (engine) block
- Grove City Senior LL All-Stars earn berth in state tourney
- Outdoors: Paddling into the Allegheny River headwind
-
- Death Listing
-
-
Deaths from July 29, 2010
Wayne E. Kennedy, 87, North Beaver Township, New Galilee.
Earicka T. Moore, 34, Farrell.
Jean L. Mowry, 93, Sandy Lake.
Amelia L. Phipps, 94, formerly of Grove City and Harrisville.
Elmer E. Reiter, 77, Masury.
Minister Gerald L. Williams, 64, Youngstown.
-
Deaths from July 29, 2010
