Monroeville area: ESCA fundraiser, 'hard-to-recycle' collection, flea market, more

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com.

Food distribution

The next Monroeville drive-up food distribution date will be 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Gateway High School, 300o Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville.

Distribution takes place the second Wednesday of every month. Patrons can drive behind the sports complex across from the high school’s main entrance. Volunteers will load vehicles. Individuals receive produce, nonperishable items and frozen meats.

For more, call 412-215-5231.

‘Hard-to-recycle’ collection

The Pennsylvania Resources Council will host an event collecting “hard-to-recycle” items from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at NexTier Connect in Monroeville.

The event will collect items not typically accepted in curbside recycling such as televisions, computers and other electronic waste, tires and small Freon appliances.

Individuals can drop off unlimited cell phones, computers towers and associated computer equipment, expanded polystyrene packaging material, microwaves, video game consoles and DVD players for a $5 per car fee.

Per-item fees apply to televisions, computer monitors, printers, fluorescent tubes, small Freon appliances and tires (with or without rims). See PRC.org for the fee structure.

Registration is required at PRC.org/CollectionEvents or by calling 412-488-7490.

NexTier is at 4350 Northern Pike.

Flea market

American Legion Post 820 in Monroeville will host a flea market from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 5.

It will take place in the parking lot at the Legion, 4339 Old William Penn Highway.

Hockey program seeks players

The Gateway Ice Hockey Club is seeking youth players in kindergarten through sixth grade to join its developmental program, which starts Oct. 20 at Palmer Imaging Arena in Salem.

No prior playing experience is necessary and the club can provide loaner starter equipment. Players do not have to reside in the Gateway School District.

For more, email gatewaydevohockey@gmail.com.

Jazz program

Join Ron Bickel for jazz performances from 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 30 at Monroeville Public Library’s Gallery Space.

Bickel will provide commentary and explanation about the jazz tunes and styles played.

An adjunct professor of piano at Duquesne University, Bickel has had a long and varied career as a professional pianist. He’s played at premier venues of Pittsburgh, including Heinz Hall, Benedum Center, Carnegie Music Hall, Syria Mosque and Stanley Theater.

Bickel has performed with Mel Torme, Rodney Dangerfield, Michel LeGrande, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Liberace, The Skyliners, Billy Eckstine, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Little Anthony and the Imperials and many more.

This in-person, all-ages event is for jazz lovers and those unfamiliar with it. No RSVP is required.

The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Boulevard in Monroeville.

Trivia Night at the library

Friends of the Monroeville Public Library will host Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the library. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Oct. 3 for this after-hours, age 21 and over event.

A cash prize of $100 will be given for the first place team and $50 for second place.

Light refreshments and beverages are included in the ticket price. There will be a bake sale. Tickets for raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing will be available for purchase.

For more information on ticket pricing, table options and to purchase tickets, visit the circulation desk or monroevillelibrary.org.

The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd. in Monroeville.

International Women’s Club meets

The International Women’s Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville.

The featured guest will be motivational speaker Rob Oliver, who will share his journey to develop a full and meaningful life after an injury in his 20s left him paralyzed from the waist down. A Q&A session will follow the meeting.

All women from the community are invited to attend. The church is at 2310 Haymaker Road.

Fall craft festival

Plum Mason Lodge 799 will host its second annual fall craft festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the lodge, 9521 Saltsburg Road.

There is no cost to attend. For information about vendor spaces, call 412-916-5835 or email mrdarts@verizon.net.

Pancake breakfast

Garden City United Methodist Church will host a pancake breakfast and bake sale from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 26.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast costs $9 for adults and $4 for children ages 4-12. Children under 3 years old are free.

The church is at 500 Laurel Drive in Monroeville.

AARP meeting scheduled

Plum AARP will hold its monthly meeting at noon on Oct. 8. at Unity Community Church, 215 Unity Trestle Road, Plum.

The guest will be Donna Groom, who sings with the Skyliners. Donations will be accepted for Christmas gifts for residents of the Veterans’ Hospital in Aspinwall. After the meeting, hot dogs and chips are available for $3. Cake, coffee and tea are free.

Plum AARP is a social organization open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and surrounding communities. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, except June, at noon at the church. Dues are $15 per year.

Two hot dog lunches are served each year, and the club hosts a Christmas Party, May Luncheon and August social. There is entertainment or a speaker at each meeting.

The club also offers one-day or longer trips via Thomas Tours or Louise Grassi’s Tours. Newcomers are welcome at the monthly meetings. For more information, call Mary Lou at 724 327-8265.

PALS to meet, collect items for shelter

The Plum Area Ladies Society (PALS) will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Plum Community Center, 499 Center New Texas Road.

The annual dues of $25 can be paid at the meeting.

The speaker will be Joe Giuffre from Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala’s office. He will address the group about fraud.

The service project will be to provide the Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center, a women’s shelter, with clothing and personal hygiene items.

Items needed include new pajamas, underwear, socks and slippers. Gently used winter clothing also will be accepted, especially coats, leggings and sweatshirts, as well as clothing for school-age children from kindergarten through third grade. Also needed are personal hygiene items, such as bath gel, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and cleaning products.

The Ladies Day Out will be an Oktoberfest observance at Old Thunder Brewing taproom in Blawnox, with pizza and food trucks nearby. This will take place at noon Oct. 5. Further details and sign-up will be available at the meeting.

PALS is a service and social club open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and the surrounding communities. Newcomers are welcome at monthly meetings, which are held at the Plum Community Center on the first Wednesday of the month, September through April.

For details, call Mary Lou at 724 327-8265.

Tips on self-publishing

Monroeville author Leslie Savisky will host a talk on self-publishing at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Monroeville Public Library.

Savisky is a freelance writer for the Times Express and Pittsburgh Parent magazine, and is the author of three self-published novels.

She will discuss her personal writing journey, an overview of Amazon Kindle’s Direct Publishing and IngramSpark, helpful website and apps, marketing your books and gaining exposure as an independent author, and the pros and cons of self-publishing.

Registration is recommended by calling 412-372-0500, ext. 122 or emailing littlec2@einetwork.net.

The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

ESCA fundraiser

East Suburban Citizen Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports people with developmental disabilities, will host an Oct. 19 fundraiser at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands in East Huntingdon.

The fundraiser will be led by artist Gabi Nastuck of Miss Gabi’s Art is Good Studio, and is open to people of all ages and abilities. Participants will learn how to create a fall painting of a pumpkin. Sessions will be at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the YMCA, 490 Bessemer Road.

The registration cost is $40 and includes all painting supplies and light refreshments. Proceeds benefits ESCA’s programs, which are free to those with disabilities in Westmoreland and eastern Allegheny counties.

To register, see EastSuburbanCitizenAdvocacy.org/events and click on the Oct. 19 event link.

Blood donors sought for fall drive

The American Red Cross is encouraging donors of all blood types and platelets, especially those who have never donated before, to consider doing so in the month of October.

According to the Red Cross, only three out of 100 Americans donate blood. Donations are critical to keep the blood supply stable during the fall months.

Donations of all blood types — particularly those with type O, the most transfused type — are needed.

Anyone who donates through Oct. 31 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email and will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Treat.

To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

Prospective donors also can enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or to seek more information.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 and older in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.