Jay and the Americans

Jay and the Americans

SHARON, Pa. — Jay and the Americans will give a benefit concert for the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation at the Columbia Theatre parking lot, 82 W. State St., at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling (724) 983-2025, and online at www.vocalgroup.org; or $15 when you eat at any restaurant in downtown Sharon.

Jay and the Americans were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002. The band was started by four teenage boys in Sandy Yaguda’s Brooklyn, N.Y., basement 40 years ago, and recently bought back its name. Today it consists of three original members: Yaguda, Howie Kirschenbaum and Marty Kupersmith, plus Jay Reincke.

From 1962 till 1971, Jay and the Americans had 12 top-10 records. Its first record was “Tonight” from the Broadway musical “West Side Story,” and others include “She Cried,” “Only In America,” “Come A Little Bit Closer,” “This Magic Moment” and “Cara Mia.”

The group is working on a new album, and a single, “Little Se ±orita,” is available for streaming at www.jayandtheamericans.net.

Children’s arts festival

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts’ annual Children’s Summer Arts Festival will be Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Activities include the Chalk on the Walk competition for ages 3-12. Mayor Anthony Mastrangelo will be the judge and will award prizes for the three age groups. Registration starts at 10 a.m.

The New Castle Playhouse Mini-Stars will perform at noon, and ventriloquist Helen Hammett will perform at 1 p.m. Magician David Lawrence will take the stage at 2:30 p.m.

Scheduled throughout the day is a petting zoo, games of chance and craft activities (bring your own T-shirt for tie-dyeing.

The Hoyt is at 124 E. Leasure Ave. For more information, call (724) 652-2882.

Family fun at Mill Creek

YOUNGSTOWN — Sunfest, a family event, will be Sunday at Mill Creek Park’s Wick Recreation Area off McCollum Road. A Closest to the Pin golf tournament will begin at 9 a.m. The fee to play in the nine-hole game is $5, and golf-related prizes will be awarded at each hole for the player who hits closest to the pin.

Other activities include a one-mile hike at 11 a.m. at the Wick Area Kiosk, and a sand sculpture contest from 1 to 4 p.m., with prizes of $100, $75 and $50 given to the top three creations. A $5 entrance fee is required. To enter, call (330) 740-7107.

The evening will conclude with performances from two bands at Morley Pavilion: That ’60s Band at 5:30 p.m. and Redline at 7 p.m. Vendors will be on site, but people can bring their own food and drink.

Youth Idol Night

CAMPBELL — Youth Idol Night will be part of the annual festival at St. Rose of Lima Church, 394 Tenney Ave. Aug. 7-10.

Contestants 18 years old or younger will perform Aug. 7. Judges will determine the top five contestants who will perform again Aug. 9. The public will vote for the grand-prize winners, who will be announced that night. Deadline to register is Aug. 4. Call (330) 629-9073 or (330) 398-9422.

The first-place winner will receive a prize of $150; second place, $100; and third place, $75.