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Follansbee chamber plans fall events

BLOOD DRIVE SET — The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Follansbee Community House with the help of Follansbee Council and the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce. Among those involved are, from left, Mayor David Velegol Jr.; Eric Fithyan, event chair; Phyllis Riccadonna, American Red Cross blood drive account manager; and chamber President Debbie Puskarich. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can be scheduled by calling (800) 733-2767 or visiting redcrossblood.org. Donors will receive a free, long-sleeve Red Cross T-shirt.

FOLLANSBEE — Fall will be a busy season for the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce as members prepare for a 5K run-walk to be held Saturday at Highland Hills, a Halloween-themed sidewalk sale event for families and a special year-end dinner meeting for members.

Chamber President Debbie Puskarich noted the 5K run-walk, a collaboration with Mayor David Velegol Jr., will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the basketball courts at 128 Highland Hills Drive.

Velegol said the course will loop through the neighborhood and back to the basketball courts. Computer timers will be used to determine the top three male and female runners and walkers in several age groups.

The registration fee is $20. Bananas and water will be available to participants after the race.

In other business, chamber member LuAnn Radcliffe reported on the Spooktacular Sidewalk Sale she is chairing. She said nearly a dozen vendors have been booked to participate in the event, with owners of Main Street businesses encouraged to hold sales outside their storefronts from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 27.

Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, and will be entered into drawings for various prizes

There also will be music at the Ray Stoaks Plaza near the Follansbee City Building and an apple pie baking contest.

Entries for the latter should be brought to the chamber table between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., with judging to begin at 3:35 p.m.

The pies can include a premade crust and canned ingredients, should not include nuts and will be judged on crust, filling and appearance, with first-, second- and third-place prizes going to winners for taste and appearance.

Entrants should pre-register by Thursday by submitting a form, available at the chamber’s Facebook page or Puskarich Accounting. The registration fee is $10.

Winners must be present that day, and the pies and their containers won’t be returned.

Phyllis Riccadonna, American Red Cross blood drive account manager, announced a blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Follansbee Community House in cooperation with Follansbee Council, which has made the hall available at no cost.

The event is being chaired by Eric Fithyan, who asked chamber members to join him in volunteering there.

Noting it will be held the day before Thanksgiving, Riccadonna said, “What better way to say thanks than to give blood?”

Riccadonna said one donation can help three people.

She added walk-ins are welcome but appointments can be made for those taking time from work or other responsibilities by calling (800) 733-2767 or visiting www.redcrossblood.org.

Long-sleeve Red Cross T-shirts will be provided to donors.

Puskarich said the chamber’s last meeting for the year, on Nov. 14, will include a turkey dinner and the annual presentation of grants to local schools for special projects.

Chamber members were encouraged to make reservations for the meeting by calling (304) 527-3657.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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