The nearly 20 artists that make up Lincoln Avenue Arts in McDonald seem to have come up with a fun way to raise money for the town library, currently celebrating its centennial. To rally round both the 100th anniversary and National Library Week, celebrated across the United States today through Saturday, all the organization's artists will sell a selection of their work, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to the library.

"In addition to paintings, knitted items, photography, woodwork, jewelry, books of local interest, even CDs recorded by a McDonald musician, we'll have complimentary wine and cheese," said Mary Lou Karas, one of four co-founders of Lincoln Avenue Arts. "And keep in mind that admission is free of charge."

From 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, the Community Room of the library at 52 Fourth St. in McDonald, will be filled with art items, on display and ready to sell. They include books titled "Memories of McDonald," a three-part series by Alice Thomassy, another of the Lincoln Avenue Arts co-founders.

Born and raised in McDonald, Mrs. Thomassy became a military wife and taught school wherever her husband was stationed in the United States and in Japan. Five years ago, she returned to McDonald and began writing books focusing on people, places and events related to McDonald.

"After she completed the first book, she got numerous requests to write more," Mrs. Karas said.

Founded in June, Lincoln Avenue Arts is housed in a rented section of the former G.C. Murphy store on West Lincoln Avenue.

To attract artists, an ad was placed in newspapers inviting people to join. Membership is $40 plus a monthly fee of $10 to help cover the cost of utilities. The store takes 25 percent of all sales unless the artist volunteers to man the store at least two days a month. All of the current roster of nearly 20 artists live within 15 miles of McDonald.

"So far, we've had good months and bad months," Mrs. Karas said. "It was great before Christmas, but not so great in cold February. Things are getting better now with the warmer weather."

Another of the co-founders, Peggy Hughey, started to paint when her husband, a physician, retired and the couple moved to Florida.

When she saw the colorful birds in the area, she decided to start painting them. When the Hugheys moved back to southwestern Pennsylvania a few years ago, she continued to specialize in bird art.

Mrs. Karas, a retired nurse, is a bit more eclectic. She started knitting in 1970 after the birth of the first of her two daughters and hasn't stopped. After enrolling in a knitting class at the Chartiers-Houston Library, she increased her inventory to knitted dresses, play outfits and baby sweaters and blankets. She's also an avid photographer.

"Five years ago, I picked up a digital camera and started snapping photos on my travels," she said.

"Now I take it everywhere I go, specializing in close-ups of things like flowers, mushrooms, grasshoppers and stones on the beach, but I also capture larger images such as fish in a tank, hot air balloons and McDonald's fireworks displays. I sell the best images either as greeting cards or matted and framed 8 by 10s."

Another artist member, Emma Johnston, designs copies of Vera Bradley purses, which she sells for half the retail price, and singer Sue Totin purveys CDs of her religious music titled "Your Love Goes On."

Ginger Carhart makes large doll houses in addition to being a painter and tole painter, while four members specialize in woodworking or slate painting.

The last of the four co-founders, Anne Slates, is a substitute teacher who paints in oil, mostly landscapes and Impressionist works with some portraiture.

A self-taught artist who's been active as a painter for the past 25 years, Ms. Slates is a native of Newfoundland who moved to the area when she married a McDonald native.

For more information on Thursday's fund-raiser, phone 724-926-8400.