Out & About: Twilight Wish treats seniors to a ‘Royal Nite Out’

Shirley McMarlin
Monday, Sept. 30, 2019 12:01 a.m. | Monday, Sept. 30, 2019 12:01 a.m.

Go Ad-Free Today!

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Kathryn Mannella (left) of Mt. Pleasant joins her granddaughter and entertainer, Antolena Damico, 13, of Penn Township.

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Prom-goers Bonnie and Joe Fornal of Mt. Pleasant dance.

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Prom-goer, Marie Jones, of Everson has fun with a prop.

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Kevin (from left) and Jeanie Bock of Greensburg, committee member, Deborah Salopek of Mt. Pleasant, committee member, and Julie Alakson of Mt. Pleasant, committee member

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Prom-goers, (from left, back), Phyllis Coffman of Scottdale, Kathy Warman of Scottdale, Karen Farrell of Mt. Pleasant and Jeannette Porter (front) of Scottdale, dance.

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Prom goers, (from left), George and Ruth Kuhns, of Greensburg, pose for a photo during "Royal Night Out", the first annual senior prom hosted by the Twilight Wish, Westmoreland County Chapter, held at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday evening, September 28, 2019.

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

Event committee members, (from left), Tammy Keefer, Phil Mickens and Joyce Prutz, gather for a photo during "Royal Night Out", the first annual senior prom hosted by the Twilight Wish, Westmoreland County Chapter, held at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday evening, September 28, 2019.

photos: Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

(from left), Danielle Brown, of Youngwood, volunteer, Christy Stahl, of Manor, volunteer, Michelle Van Horn, of Greensburg, committee member, and Norma Mosser, of Greensburg, volunteer, gather for a photo during "Royal Night Out", the first annual senior prom hosted by the Twilight Wish, Westmoreland County Chapter, held at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday evening, September 28, 2019.

A prom wasn’t always a 24-hour affair — with all-day primping, a limo, dinner, grand march and overnight after-party. Once upon a time, kids dressed in the best they had and danced the night away in a high school gym decorated with streamers and tissue paper flowers.

On Sept. 28, more than 100 folks relived those simpler times during A Royal Nite Out in the Regional Family YMCA of Laurel Highlands near Mt. Pleasant.

The evening was billed as the inaugural senior prom hosted by the Y and the Twilight Wish Foundation Westmoreland County chapter.

The Twilight Wish motto is, ” Celebrating seniors and making dreams come true.”

The evening was the stuff of dreams, with food and beverages, drawings and prizes, entertainment and, of course, dancing. For those not confident in their free-styling dance skills, there was impromptu instruction for both line dancing and the macarena.

Antolena Damico, a 13-year-old songstress from Penn Township, wowed the crowd with her big voice, luring dozens onto the dance floor with her rendition of ABBA’s (what else?) “Dancing Queen.”

Damico said she’s been singing since age 3, and has performed the national anthem at PNC Park and Heinz Field; for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Pitt and Duquesne sporting events; and at festivals around the area.

She was accompanied by her parents, Juliann and Brian Damico, and grandmother, Kathryn Mannella.

Prom committee members included Julie Alakson, Kevin and Jeanie Bock, Tammy Keefer, Phil Mickens, Joyce Prutz, Deborah Salopek and Michelle Van Horn, along with Twilight Wish volunteers Christy Stahl, Norma Mosser and Danielle Brown.

Seen: Lenore Rollinson, Allen Geska, Glenn and Catherine Cavanaugh, Charles and Diane Dumbauld, Rose Bierer, Joanne Ritenour, Bill and France Kute, Judy Gross and Vern Kalp.