'Celebrating a Legacy' Community Arts Center of Cambria County will honor four for service

Oct. 15—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — For their contributions to the arts community, four people will be honored by the Community Arts Center of Cambria County.

"Celebrating a Legacy" will recognize Tony Arcuri, Sherry Lynn Harshberger, George Milkie and the late Dennis Ivory at an awards dinner on Oct. 27 at Sunnehanna Country Club, 1000 Sunnehanna Drive, Westmont.

The event will begin with a cash bar and silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m.

The menu will feature a tossed salad, chicken paprikash with rice, green beans and chocolate lava cake.

"Celebrating a Legacy" was established in 2015 with the retirement of the arts center's executive director, the late Rose Mary Hagadus. It acknowledges people who have made an impact in the history of the Community Arts Center of Cambria County and the surrounding community.

Angela R. Godin, executive director of the arts center, said she has had the honor and privilege of working with and growing relationships with each of the 2023 honorees.

'Dynamic group'

"This is a dynamic group of individuals that have not only impacted the Community Arts Center of Cambria County with their talents and gifts, but have made a lasting impact on the city of Johnstown and Cambria County as a whole," she said. "These four unique individuals have shared their incredible talents and gifts willingly with the community for decades. As an organization, the arts center is blessed beyond words to have such dedicated artists and philanthropists involved with our mission."

Godin said the organization has reached its 55th anniversary because of people like the four the arts center will honor.

"These four individuals have worked in different ways with the Community Arts Center over the last 50-plus years to aid in our motto of 'Keeping the Arts Alive,' " she said. "We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their selflessness, and we look forward to their future with the organization."

'Astounding musician'

Arcuri, of Johnstown, is known for playing his five-string banjo at West Hills Community Church and with two bands — South Penn Crossing, a gospel music band, and Meat and Potatoes, playing a variety of music and performing annually at the arts center.

He has served on the deacon board at his church and the music ministry, as well as the sound and technical ministry.

"Arcuri has been an astounding musician, giving of himself to the arts center for many decades, supporting its programs and initiatives, along with playing at coffee houses and the Log House Arts Festival," Godin said. "He continues to share a beautiful light of positive goodness with everyone around him."

'Artistic figure'

Harshberger, a Johnstown resident, operated Sherry Lynn's Ballroom Dance Center with her husband, Brian, in downtown Johnstown from 1999 through August 2022.

During that time, not only did she and her husband teach lessons, they also danced monthly at more than 20 different personal care facilities as entertainment.

Harsbherger currently offers a variety of dance classes at the arts center through its Log Art Dance initiative.

Prior to moving to Johnstown, she taught dance for 10 years in Altoona.

"Harshberger has been an artistic figure within the community for decades, recently becoming more active with the arts center," Godin said. "Her passion for sharing the performing art of dance is infectious and has provided such joy to individuals and couples, marking many special occasions and milestones in their lives."

'Beloved creator'

Ivory, of Altoona, was a founding member of The SharpTones, performing oldies tunes from the '50s and '60s.

In the summer of 2005, he started booking shows, and the popularity of The SharpTones grew all over central Pennsylvania and the surrounding counties.

The band continues to entertain at class reunions, weddings, car shows, church festivals and private parties.

"Ivory was the beloved creator of The SharpTones, who we still relish in listening to each year at the Log House Arts Festival," Godin said. "His spirit of making people happy through music is as contagious as ever, even while he watches all of us from heaven."

Milkie, a Johnstown resident, established Milkie's Lawn and Garden Center in Johnstown in 1970.

In addition to being the lead designer and president at Milkie's, he has served on his church council for many years and helped lead the building committee.

Milkie has served on committees at several nonprofits, including the Community Arts Center of Cambria County, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, YWCA Greater Johnstown, Greater Johnstown Community YMCA, Veterans Memorial Monuments Group, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Johnstown Area Heritage Association and Antiochian Village.

"Milkie has been filling the hearts of our community with horticulture art for over 50 years," Godin said. "From the simple to the lavish, he has impacted many individual homes and businesses with beautiful aesthetics while constantly giving back to his community."

Proceeds from the awards dinner will benefit the arts center's programming.

The corporate sponsor is AmeriServ Financial.

Tickets are $45 for members and $50 for nonmembers.

Table sponsorships are also available.

Reservations and payments are required by Friday by calling 814-255-6515 or online at www.caccc.org.