Published Sunday, October 27, 2002
By Larissa Theodore
Herald Staff Writer
A musically talented brother and sister duo from Hermitage chose to spend their Saturday afternoon playing classical music for the sick and shut in.
Jennifer, 13, and Stephen D'Auria, 16, each took turns playing piano for patients at hospital Sharon Regional Health System as their parents Dr. Charles and Mary D'Auria of Hermitage looked on.
The siblings were motivated to do something for Make A Difference Day, said D'Auria, and came up with the idea of holding a music and ice cream social for hospital patients.
"They know there are lots here who are shut in," D'Auria said.
Saturday was Make A Difference Day, when millions of people across the country participate in their communities by volunteering, helping others or taking on projects. Activities can be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative.
The D'Auria's said they were "extremely proud" of their two children. Mrs. D'Auria said the two practice playing piano everyday, adding that Jennifer, an eighth grader at Notre Dame has played for eight years and Stephen, a junior at Kennedy Catholic, has played for five years.
The D'Auria siblings joined many others Saturday who rallied to make a difference in Mercer County.
Over in Coolspring Township, the Women of Steel, a division of the United Steelworkers, hosted a spaghetti dinner for residents at Woodland Place Personal Care Home.
Women of Steel from Werner Co., Sugar Grove, and Sharon Tube have donated time and effort at Woodland Place since April. They painted several rooms and bathrooms, put in a new ceiling in the dining room, cleaned and revarnished 13 windows and put up new curtains and a new ceiling in the dining room.
Sharon Tube employee Carmen Wiley called Saturday's dinner inspiring.
"This is very encouraging to the senior citizens and the facility. More people need to get involved like this and help out," she said.
During the dinner, the union presented a plaque to Sharon Tube and Werner Co. for their help with work at the home.
Charlotte Wagner, unit president of Local 135503 Women of Steel and a Woodland Place employee, was honored by local Girl Scouts and Keystone Adolescent Center, West Salem Township, for coordinating volunteer activities at the home.
Other local efforts included:
» Quota Club International of Sharon visited with seniors at the Wade D. Mertz Towers in Sharpsville. The visit featured a clown, bingo, heritage sing-a-longs and snacks for about 40 residents.
» At the Shenango Valley Library, Sharon, Winner Advertising sponsored an hour of "Spooktacular Tales." More than 30 children and parents showed up dressed in their Halloween best. Maria Ackley, a local entertainer, and her sidekick Steven Johnston sang and told stories to children.
» Two brothers collected canned goods, hats, coats and other items from people on their paper routes. Preston, 11, and Justin Rosales, 13, of Sharon wrote letters to subscribers asking them to leave donations out on their porches, which the boys picked up Saturday morning as they delivered papers. They donated the goods to the Prince of Peace in Sharon.
» The Shenango Valley Jaycees were at John XIII Home in Hermitage washing wheelchairs early Saturday. They began washing at 9 a.m. and worked until every chair was clean.