Mon Valley youth programs benefit from Barbero auction

Organizers of the ninth annual Mon Valley John Barbero Memorial Auction and Vendor Event are hoping this year is an even bigger success than years past.

Set for 12:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 21 in the YMCA gymnasium in Carroll Township, funds raised during the event each benefit youth programs at the YMCA, one of which kicked off this week.

Plants and Pillars

The newest teen program at the YMCA, Plants and Pillars, kicked off Tuesday as a handful of teens from the area got a lesson in mechanics 101.

Plants and Pillars is a free mentoring program that offers kids ages 15 to 18, lessons on necessary life skills and educational opportunities through community mentors.

The program is held at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month

Davies Ford owner Jim Davies and shop foreman Mike Thieret brought a car to the YMCA and gave lessons on how to check oil, apply jumper cables, add air to tires and the steps to changing a tire.

Vic Vitale, owner of Vic Vitale State Farm Insurance, taught them about the ins and outs of car insurance.

Students involved in the program will attend each month and “graduate” in May.

Future topics include banking, resume building, job interviews, dressing for every occasion, basic first aid and safety, cooking, etiquette and basic sewing, higher education, time management, goal setting, personal safety and self defense.

The Y serves children of all ages from all over the Mon Valley region through programs such as child care, teen leaders, youth swimming lessons, summer camp and academic support groups.

John Barbero

John Barbero, a Roscoe native, was the Pittsburgh Penguins public address announcer for 36 years until his death from cancer in 2010. Barbero graduated from California High School in 1963 and went on to Grove City College. He worked for WESA radio in Charleroi and later transferred to California University of Pennsylvania to continue his radio career.

He served as play-by-play announcer for Cal U Vulcans football and sports director for WESA.

Barbero was an English teacher in the Monongahela School District, an assistant principal at Carroll Junior High and principal at Waynesburg Central High School.

If you’re going

Admission to the event is $5 and tickets are available in advance at the YMCA but will also be available at the door.

Free pizza will be provided by the River House Cafe in Charleroi and cookies donated by Keystone Bakery.

Several vendors will also be selling goods and snacks during the event and 10 percent of all profits will be donated back to the YMCA.

Vitale, who is event committee chairman, said there are more than 70 baskets made for the gift auction and more than 60 items for the silent auction that range from Steelers and Penguin tickets to hotel and casino stays and signed sports memorabilia.

The live auction will feature items such as a 60-inch TV and a wine cooler/ refrigerator.

Giveaways will be drawn every half hour – $250 in cash will be given away four times, and a YMCA family membership will be a prize.

Vitale said the event, which typically raises $15,000 for youth programs each year, would not be possible without support from the business community and local residents.

“The Y serves the community so well,” Vitale said. “We like to involve the community as much as we can and hopefully they can come out support them.”

YMCA director Jeff Vi-tale said he is looking forward to another year.

“We are very excited this has become so successful and look forward as it continues to grow, it is a great way of memorializing John’s memory as an educator because like us, he had a real soft spot in his heart for kids and that’s what this goes towards.”

For more information call 724-483-0877.

To learn more about the YMCA go to monvalleyymca.org .