Shining Star Gala to benefit McCandless museum

The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center is hosting its first-ever Shining Star Gala on Nov. 25 at the Chadwick Banquet Center in McCandless.

The event begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails, with dinner at 6 p.m. There will be an award presentation for long-standing volunteers in the community, followed by a DJ and dancing, said Joe Wall, executive director of the heritage and cultural center.

Tickets for the event cost $75 or $750 for an entire table, 10 people at one table. The event will also have a gift basket raffle.

The gala will be an important fundraiser for the center, which serves to preserve the heritage culture of the North Allegheny area,” Wall said.

“What a better way to bring people together,” he said.

The host for the event Pam Surano, previously of KDKA-TV and now the associate director of communications for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

The volunteers who will be recognized include:

• Beverly Aufman, for the Ingomar Fire Ladies Auxiliary, the Ingomar Garden Club, and Passavant Hospital Auxiliary

• Jerry Aufman, a former president of the Ingomar Fire Company, North Allegheny Summer Recreation founder, McCandless Community Day committee member

• Irene Caliendo, a Northland Public Library board member

• Marcia Caliendo, McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance authority member

• Richard Schnupp, a Town of McCandless committee volunteer, and for the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center;

• Greg Quatchak, a Ingomar Volunteer firefighter and chief, and member of the Town of McCandless Zoning Hearing Board.

• Andrew McLaughlin is receiving the Rising Star Award for his work as a North Allegheny Student Historian when he was a senior at North Allegheny, graduating this past June. He also is a volunteer with the Depreciation Lands Museum in Hampton Township and at the heritage and cultural center.

Also being recognized is a posthumous award for Jack Cully, who passed away in 2007. He was president of the Ingomar Athletic Association, according to Wall. A family member will accept the award for Cully.

Visit the www.townofmccandless.org for tickets. Select “Heritage Center Special Event Ticket” under the Select Payment Item, and note that it is for the “Shining Star Gala” under Additional Data tab. Receipts should be printed or saved because they will serve as the ticket.