What is going on in and around Somerset County
Bingo Bonanza
Bingo Bonanza is May 21 at the Confluence fire building, Barlow Street, Confluence. Doors open at 11 a.m. Games start at 1 p.m. All proceeds benefit Confluence Volunteer Fire Company. Must have ticket to enter. Extra cards, instant tickets plus much more will be available for purchase. For tickets call 814-483-9006, 724-323-2019 or contact a member of the Confluence fire department.
5K Color Fun Run/Walk/Crawl
The 5K Color Fun Run/Walk/Crawl, 275 Grant St., Meyersdale, is hosted by the teams of the Relay For Life of Meyersdale. Friday evening pickup of T-shirts will be available from 5-7 p.m. May 20, at the Paul Fuller Playground Pavilion for those who have preregistered. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Run/Walk begins at 10 a.m. Registration forms available at Salisbury Builders and FB Thomas Drug Store.
VOMA presents
Venue of Merging Arts, 305 Chestnut St., in the Cambria City Cultural District, 814-410-2245. In recognition of Autism Awareness month, VOMA is teaming up with Band Together Pittsburgh (bandtogetherpgh.org) to kick off a series of four Music For All/Autism Open Mic events geared to inspire those on the autism spectrum to express themselves through music. Band together Pittsburgh (BTP) will provide an emcee and four of their performers, each who have a spectrum diagnosis, to encourage participation. VOMA’s Music For All/Autism Open Mic program is free to attend/participate. Funding is provided by the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance from the 1889 Foundation Creative Health Impact Grant. VOMA Blues Gathering, monthly celebration of blues music at 7:30 p.m. April 30. Doors at 7 p.m. Music at 7:30 p.m. BYOB is welcome with proper I.D.
Vendor Show
Vendor Show at Wellersburg Firehall 12-6 p.m. May 7. Vendors include soap, crafts, baked goods, candles, jewelry and more.
Mental Health Awareness Day
Somerset County Mental Health Awareness Day at Stairs Pizza May 18. Wear green or a mental health shirt to show your support. See Cornerstone Community Services staff at Stairs from 12-3 p.m. to learn more about services, gather mental health resources or to chat. May 1-31: Soco 9-12th grade art showcase at Laurel Arts: Chalk Mural; May 1-7: Children Mental Health week school spirit week. May 14: Touch a Truck at the Georgian Place. May 18: SOCO Mental Health Awareness Day. May 21: Mental Health at Music on the Lawn: Laurel Arts.
Baubles, Bangles and Beads, and more
Pre-owned and new jewelry, scarves and purses at Baubles, Bangles and Beads and more, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 22-23, at the Meyersdale Masonic Temple, 226 Beachley St., Meyersdale. Complimentary tea and cookies. Chinese auction. Community benefit sale to raise funds for Meyersdale Public Library, Caring Hands for Cancer, Shriners Hospital for Children, service dogs and other charities. They are looking for donations of pre-owned and new jewelry, scarves and purses, baskets or items for a basket auction. For more information, call 814-634-8416.
Traditional High Tea returns to The Grand Halle
After a four-year hiatus, The Grand Halle, 306 Broad St., (the corner of Broad and Third Avenue), Cambria City Cultural District, Johnstown, annual high tea tradition at 4 p.m. May 7. The high tea, “A Steep in Time — A Grand Afternoon of High Tea,” will feature sweets and savories, live music and entertainment, raffles and prizes.
The menu for the afternoon will have several courses of light fares, including a cold soup course, a savories course, and a dessert/cookie course. Numerous teas will be available for guests to choose from. All courses will be served in between selections of entertainment. The entertainment for the afternoon will be provided by Johnstown BrassWorks. BrassWorks is a brass quintet comprised of music teachers local to the Johnstown area.
Tickets are limited and are now available for purchase at GrandHalle.com/cultural-events or by calling 814-254-4033. Anybody who wants to purchase a ticket must do so by noon May 4. Seating for the event is reserved. Guests will be able to choose their seats upon reserving their tickets for the afternoon.
2022 Coffee House Series
The Community Arts Center of Cambria County presents its seventh season of the Coffee House Series, hosting five indoor/outdoor musical events in this year’s series. They will be taking place outdoors on the Center’s Amphitheatre. During inclement weather, the Coffee House will move from the Amphitheatre to indoors in the main space gallery of the Goldhaber-Fend Fine Arts Center building. Coffee Houses are offered with free admission although donations are encouraged. The Coffee House Series will be providing coffees, teas, and delicious baked goods for purchase during the event. All Coffee Houses start at 7 p.m. and run roughly until 8:30 p.m. April 29: Rosie & The Jammers. May 13: The Sharptones.
75th annual Pennsylvania Maple Festival
Marking 75 years of maple sweetness, the Pennsylvania Maple Festival is April 27-May 1 in Meyersdale. Maple demonstrations, entertainment, craft and food vendors, Sit & Sip Garden, fair exhibits, activities in Festival Park on Meyers Avenue, pancakes and sausage meals, auto shows, parade, quilt show, "Legend of the Magic Water" dinner theater, Maple Race 8K/5K Run/Walk, horse pull, antique tractor and farm machinery show, queen's ball. Community night 5-7 p.m. April 28 for Meyersdale Lions pancake and sausage dinners in the Pancake Shack, Community Building on Main Street. Check out www.pamaplefestival.com for the schedule of events.
Car cruise
The Pennsylvania Maple Festival Car Cruise on Monument Square in Meyersdale is 6-8 p.m. April 28. Classics, customs, rods, muscle cars, antiques. Food and drinks include local diner, food vendor, Glades Pike Winery and White Horse Brewery. Live music with 3rd Ave. For more information call 814-634-0213 or email pamaple@verizon.net.
Pancake and Sausage Dinners
Salisbury Lions Club 70th annual Pancake and Sausage Dinners will be April 30 and May 1. Eat in or take out from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Salisbury Municipal Building, 171 Smith Ave., Salisbury. Serving pancakes, old fashion buckwheat cakes, smoked and fresh sausage, and Somerset County pure maple syrup.
Native Plants
Discover the important connection between native plants, people and wildlife at the seventh annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 14, at New Germany State Park. A large variety of native plants and nature-themed artisan items will be available from Appalachian Wax Works, Evergreen Heritage Center, Friends of New Germany State Park, Keen and Bright, Marta Fiscus Photography, Peggy Nixon Designs, Tree Talk Natives, and Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery.
In addition to family-friendly activities and nature walks, there will be presentations that highlight the importance of biodiversity. Guest speakers will discuss the following topics: Ian Caton, owner/operator, Wood Thrush Native Plant Nursery — “The Meadow at Home;” Clara Thiel, lecturer, Frostburg State University — “Rare Plants & Ecosystems of Mountain Maryland;” and Rebekah Taylor, associate professor of biology, Frostburg State University — “Lyme Disease & Tick Safety.” Throughout the day experts from local organizations will also be available to answer questions on native plants and other conservation topics. These groups include: Evergreen Heritage Center, Friends of New Germany State Park, Garrett Trails, Maryland Conservation Corps, Maryland Native Plant Society, Trout Unlimited, and University of Maryland Extension — Garrett County Master Gardeners.
Visitors may pack a picnic lunch or buy snacks and drinks at the lake house. For more information visit mdflora.org or phone the park office at 301-895-5453.
Somerset County Farmers Market
Somerset County Farmers Market will be opening at Georgian Place, Somerset Township, at 9 a.m. May 21. Shop the fresh, local products produced by our vendors. Baked goods, produce, wine, meat, dog treats, and more.
Chocolate Stroll
The Salvation Army Somerset Service Center and Somerset Inc. featuring a delicious day in the neighborhood Chocolate Stroll from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7. Visit local participating businesses in gathering chocolate goodies and potentially winning some fantastic prizes. At the end of the Chocolate Stroll, pick from a "garden" of 200 chocolate lollipops and find out if you're a winner. Proceeds support The Salvation Army Somerset Service Center. Registration at 10 a.m. at the Daily American, 334 W. Main St., Somerset, salvationarmywpa.org/chocolate.
Georgian Place Touch-A-Truck
Touch-A-Truck benefiting the Boys & Girls Club is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 14. Trucks, vendors, food trucks, kiddie korner, entertainment and carriage rides.
Addison VFD Chicken Barbecue
The chicken barbecue at Addison Fire Hall is from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until sold out, May 15. Meals or half chickens may be reserved by contacting Kristen Hanft-Beitzel at 724-557-4266 or any AVFD firefighter.
Father Daughter Dance
The Laurel Arts annual Father Daughter Dance "An Enchanted Forest" is from 4-7 p.m. May 15, at the Somerset Event Center, 1012 S. Edgewood Ave., Somerset. Includes a meal, entertainment by DJ Breckenridge, crafts and a 5x7 photo.
Veterans Food Drive
Laurel Highlands Historical Village continues to collect food, paper goods, hygiene products and kitchen items for area veterans who need help. Take donations to the Galleria Mall Lottery booth, Hoss’s in Ebensburg or Johnstown, Kimmies restaurant in Mundys Corner, Stagers in Portage and Randy’s BiLo in Windber. Supplies are extremely low at this time. For any questions, please call office at 814-241-6123. For veterans in need of food, blankets, heaters, contact the office at 814-241-6123.
Healthy Steps for Older Adults Workshop
Somerset County Area Agency on Agency is once again offering Healthy Steps for Older Adults Workshop (HSOA) in May 2022. Healthy Steps is a fall–prevention program for older adults ages 50 and up. Falls are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalization among adults ages 60 and older. More than one third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year. Healthy Steps addresses the most common cause of falls such as environmental safety, balance, strength, flexibility, nutrition, foot health, sensory deficits (vision/hearing), side effects of medication and many others. HSOA is a fun, sociable series of workshops to raise your awareness of the cause of falls.
Seniors will be assisted in identifying the most common cause of falls and giving easy economical problem solving solutions. The free class will be offered at the following Senior Centers: Boswell 814-629-9926 or 814-479-2216, Conemaugh Township 814-479-2216 and Confluence 814-443-2681. Contact the nearest Senior Center for more information.
Cambria Pet Fair
Cambria Bet Fair is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 21, at 515 Beagle Club Road, South Fork. Dozens of pet related vendors, pet show, rescue meet and greets, rabies clinic, food and refreshments. Pets welcomed and encouraged. Visit on Facebook Cambria Pet Fair 2022 or email at CambriaPetFair@gmail.com. Vendors are wanted.
Pius Spring Woman’s Club
The Pius Spring Woman’s Club met April 4 for the monthly meeting at Trinity United Church of Christ, Berlin. Various fundraising ideas were discussed for this year. The annual Spring Banquet will be held on May 2 at the Berlin Community Building and the Spring Girl of the Semester will be honored.
Hostesses for the evening were Dorothy Smith, Marci Miller and Margaret Novak. The BBHS Forensics Team, led by Debra Orendorf was the program for the evening. Presenters included Morgan Twombly and Sara Stoltfus.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County events at the end of April 2022
