We have always been a people who pick ourselves up, help each other shoulder our loads, and keep on going! Such is the group of men who gather at the Country Kitchen restaurant in Mercer. They are there each morning from 8 to 9, rain or shine, summer or winter.

I tried to find out how long this has gone on, and the answers varied. One man said he was a newcomer in only his eighth year of attendance; another admitted to at least 30 years. The group had met in the old Mercer Diner until that was sold and elsewhere and now call the Country Kitchen their regular spot. They solve as many of the world's problems as they can before 9.

They have been referred to, they said, as the ROMEOs of Mercer, which translates to Retired Older Men Eating Out.

The Food and School Supplies Drive will be on from now until 7 p.m. Oct. 31, when the drawing will be held. Participating businesses are: Mercer Chamber of Commerce, Courthouse Square Dry Goods, The Gallery, Mercer Mercantile and Soda Shoppe, Otter Creek Store, Pizza Joe's, Shannon's Kandy Kitchen and Walt's.

People can drop off nonperishable food and school supplies such as pencils, pens, notebooks, colored markers, glue, book bags, etc., at any of the above businesses. Each item donated entitles the giver to fill out a coupon for a drawing.

Prizes are a hams donated by Howard and Sons and by Walt's and a $20 child's gift certificate donated by Otter Creek Store. Winners will be notified by phone. An adult should accompany any child who wishes to donate. The items collected will be used by the Loaves and Fishes, the Sharing Shed and the lunch program at the Methodist church.

The Fall Scavenger Hunt begins Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Participants will be searching for items in each of the businesses taking part and will have a flyer stamped. When the search is completed, the flyer is to be placed in a drawing. Four lucky "hunters" will receive a $25 gift certificate to be used in the participating business of their choice.

The meeting to be held in Mercer United Methodist Church Oct. 15 will be an evening of exchanges. Members are to take their seeds (package and label), plants (label with name, size, growing conditions), gardening magazines, ideas, slides or photos of their special plants and, of course, their questions.

What a great way to learn about new plants and get some seeds to try out!

Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce Mystery Dinner Theatre is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 18-19. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling the chamber at (724) 662-4185. The evening begins at John Orr Guest House with appetizers, continues to Magoffin Inn for dinner, and then to Helen Black Miller Chapel for dessert. This year's event is a prewar 1940s mystery.

The Mercer County Conservation District and Woodland Place held their Fourth Annual Community Harvest Festival Sunday at Munnell Run Farm along state Route 58, north of Mercer. Activities included a farmer's market, crafts, food booths, open-pit cooking, a Chinese auction, farm tours, face-painting, music, antique tractors, square dancing and more.

Welcome to The Ruby Lampshade on Venango Street, near the post office. Their hours are Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Welcome to the Salvation Army at their new building on U.S. Route 19 near the Greyhound bus station.

Benefit the American Cancer Society by buying a cookbook from the Mercer school employees for $8. These make nice gifts or additions to your own collection.

I have had a few "hazy days," several "crazy days" but I seem to be short on the "lazy days" of summer. It seems like there should be an equal allotment for everyone. The last few days have been beautiful and I see more people outside again now that it is less humid.

Keep that Mercer area news coming.