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Arts & Entertainment

Weekend Picks - Feb. 25 to 27

It's almost spring, and it's a good weekend to get out of the house. Help out your neighbors while you groove to the music all weekend long.

Our vote for pick of the week is anything that directly benefits the families affected by the Allentown gas explosion on Feb. 9.

The first of six planned benefit concerts, Hope for Allentown, organized by the Lehigh Valley Music Awards and Women in Art in Pennsylvania, kicks off 2 to 8 p.m., Sunday Feb. 27 at Fairview Fire Company, 927 S. Seventh St., Allentown.

Performing will be Allie Santos, Gina G-Child Morganello, Beyond Eden, the from the in Easton, BURN, Sharon Elaine Band, Sinister Realm and James Supra Blues Band. Tickets are $10; children 12 and over are $7; children under 12 get in free.

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Donations of clothes and household items are encouraged. Items most needed are clothes, cleaning supplies, beds, towels, linens, toys, non-perishable food Items, blankets, coats and shoes. New and gently used home furnishings and household items also will be accepted. A box truck will be on site from 9 a.m. until the end of the show to accept donations.

Volunteers are also needed to work future gas explosion benefit events, and sponsors to provide gift baskets and items to raffle. Contact Mary Pierce at 267-574-5334 or mabpierce (at) hotmail dot com, or Gloria Domina at 215-421-5644 or gloria11355 (at) rcn dot com.

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Hope for Allentown has been so popular an idea that others have planned more benefit events around it:

On Friday, Feb. 25, Rum Runnerz will perform as a benefit at Jack Callaghan's Ale House, 2027 Tilghman St., Allentown, from 6 to 9 p.m. 610-432-5797

On Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m., "Family: A Gospel Benefit Concert" with The Holmes Family, also known as OnTime and featuring former "American Idol" contestant Ian Holmes, Dana Monteiro, He Who Has An Ear Sign Language Ministry, Karar Jr. of in Easton, and the Family of God will be at Union Baptist Church, 302 N.Sixth St., Allentown. 610-434-3161

A rehearsal will be at 5 p.m. for any singers and band members from area churches who would like to participate in the worship team that will open the show. Area pastors will offer words of comfort and prayers for the community, and there will be a freewill offering for  the families affected by the explosion.

The Pig Pen Sports Bar, 702 Union Blvd., Allentown, is hosting live entertainment, bowling and bull riding noon to midnight on Sunday, Feb. 27 to benefit the victims. Admission is $5.

And if your weekend grocery shopping takes you to Wegman's, you'll have a chance to donate there as well. The Greater United Way of the Lehigh Valley has partnered with the grocery chain to raise money for victims of the explosion. Shoppers will have the chance to donate $1, $3 or $5 at the checkout lines of the stores Saturday and Sunday.

If you go on Saturday between to the Lower Nazareth Wegman's between 1 and 3 p.m., you'll get the chance to see Easton Mayor Sal Panto, one of the "celebrity" baggers the United Way has recruited.

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