The Tamaqua Community Art Center will host Toolshed Jack Saturday night in its newly named "The Stitch" Performing Arts Hall for an American Cancer Society telethon benefit.

"This will be their first time in our venue," said arts center Director Leona Rega."We've invited them here a few times, and this year they chose our location for their benefit," she said.According to Toolshed's bassist Steve Ulicny, "We've been involved with the ACS for over eight years. This year we wanted to keep it local by using the fantastic arts center."The proceeds raised on Saturday night will be folded into the mini-Thon held at Tamaqua Area High School before being rolled into the donations for the American Cancer Society's 38th annual telethon hosted at Penn's Peak in April by the ACS Carbon-Schuylkill Unit.The telethon was established in 1980 beginning as a student project at the Tamaqua Area Senior High School where Ulicny works as a social studies teacher and student government adviser."A lot of the bigger donations that come from Zoostock and the (East End Fire Company) chili cook off all add up for the telethon."We try to break up the fundraisers over the year," he said.In 2008, Ulicny lost his brother to brain cancer. Afterward, he became involved with the cancer society and started conducting yearly fundraising events with Toolshed Jack."Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer. I'm just lucky enough the other four members go along with the events," Ulicny said.The evening will begin at 6:30 and end at 10 p.m. The event is BYOB, but the center will sell refreshments."We are a party band so people can expect everything from the 1960s to current hits."It's all the things you can dance to, we just try to entertain the crowd," Ulicny said.The bass player promised a unique show, saying special guests will join the five-piece band on stage."We will have some extra horn players and feature a few people who have played with us in the past," he said.Tickets for the weekend event cost $15 and can be purchased at the door or on the center's website,

www.tamaquaarts.org."People can expect a fun time and they'll be raising money for a great cause," Rega said.The Tamaqua Community Art center is located at 125 Pine St., Tamaqua.