Deer Lakes students help take Tarentum audience back to the 1940s at USO-themed event

Melissa Makofske, board member of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society, hands out candy and cigarettes — actually, candy cigarettes — before the start of a 1940s USO-themed show at the society’s Heritage Museum in Tarentum on Saturday.

Matt Derby, a drama and choir teacher at Deer Lakes, plays as Josie Farster sings “I’m Old Fashioned” to open a 1940s USO-themed event hosted by the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society and Tarentum Elks Lodge 644 in Tarentum on Saturday.

From left, Matt Derby, a drama and choir teacher at Deer Lakes, with students Josie Farster, Carlee Majernik, Marianna Vergerio, Jake Toth and Shayne Parks, who volunteered to perform a selection of 1940s music for a USO-themed show hosted by the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society and Tarentum Elks Lodge 644 in Tarentum on Saturday.

Steve Kubicko, secretary of the board of directors of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society, welcomes people to the start of a 1940s USO-themed show at the society’s Heritage Museum in Tarentum on Saturday. Following performances of 1940s music by Deer Lakes students, the evening continued with dancing to the 56 East Band at the Tarentum Elks lodge.

Matt Derby, Deer Lakes drama and choir teacher, plays as Shayne Parks belts out Frank Sinatra’s “You Make Me Feel So Young” at the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society’s Heritage Museum in Tarentum on Saturday.