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Grand update for Mingo club

Contributed MEETING HIGHLIGHTS — The GFWC Woman’s Club of Mingo Junction welcomed Scott Dressel as its guest speaker at the April meeting. The president of the board of directors of the Grand Theater for the Performing Arts Restoration Project discussed the ongoing restoration of the Grand Theater. Capitalizing on that -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — The GFWC Woman’s Club of Mingo Junction held their April meeting at the Mingo Senior Citizens Center with Vice President Stephanie Rouse extending the welcome and Roetta Lewis giving the invocation.

Recording Secretary Clara Sue Milewsky and Treasurer Kathy Maguschak gave reports, and correspondence read by Bernie Carpico included the Clubwoman Magazine and a thank-you note from Barbara Jackson.

Rouse introduced guest speaker Scott Dressel, the owner of Bayberry Properties, which includes Bayberry House Bed and Breakfast, and president of the board of directors of the Grand Theater for the Performing Arts Restoration Project.

The theater was built in 1925 and is the last of five larger theaters that were once in Steubenville. The restoration of the 1000-seat performing arts center started in 2010 and continues today. Dressel said the stage will allow performances and movies. There also is a museum of performing arts history of Steubenville as well as other items of interest.

The two-floor ballroom will be available for events along with the lobby and museum, according to Dressel, who said the official name of the restoration is the Steubenville Historic Landmarks Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit operated entirely by volunteers.

Major milestones completed include the roofs; lobby, office and museum; asbestos and mold abatement; new electrical service and heat in the main theater; front facade; the second-floor ballroom is 50 percent complete; and restoration of the Wurlitzer pipe organ is under way.

For a donation of $80 or more, a person “can become immortalized in Steubenville history by helping restore one of the musical pipes on the original Grand Theater Wurlitzer pipe organ.” Donations can be mailed to the Grand Theater at 121 S. Forth St., Steubenville, Ohio, 43952. Checks should be made payable to the Steubenville Historic Landmarks Foundation with “Wurlitzer Restoration” noted in the check memo line. There also are other ways to sponsor various parts of the restoration. For information, visit www.historicsteubenville.org.

Dressel brought a display and distributed brochures. A question-and-answer period followed.

The club voted to make a donation to the Wurlitzer restoration.

Pam Pietro, chairman, gave a report on the Southeast Legislation Day that the club hosted on March 17.

Plans were finalized for the mystery theater and dinner fundraiser.

The club plans to plant pinwheels at the north and south entrance of town to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect.

The banquet will be held May 10 at Froehlich’s Classic Corner in Steubenville. OFWC Ohio Junior Director Deidra Devore will install the new officers. Entertainment will be provided by Rose Angelica.

Hostesses were Arts Committee Chairmen Diana Taylor and Pam Pietro. Stella Finnegan also is on the committee. Because Dressel was speaking on the Grand Theater, a cake was made with “Grand” on it like the marquee, and popcorn in red striped boxes and theater candy were used for decorations.

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