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Noon ball drop planned at Monroeville Mall

Monroeville Public Library is hosting its ball drop celebration at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 31 inside Monroeville Mall for anyone who wants to ring in the new year a little early.

The ball will drop at noon in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Attendees are welcome to support Monroeville Gives Back by bringing a canned or nonperishable food item to the stage area.

Party hats and horns will be distributed while supplies last. There also will be a raffle.

A special thanks goes toward members of Gateway High School’s robotics club, Quasics, for designing, building and handling the new ball drop machine.

Church’s cookie sale to benefit various missions

Cross Roads Presbyterian Church will have its annual holiday cookie sale from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 13 at the church, 2310 Haymaker Road.

Purchase a box for $15 and fill it with your favorite homemade cookies. Chocolate-covered pretzels and bark also will be available.

All proceeds will support local, national and world missions.

Youth group selling homemade cookies

Monroeville United Methodist Church, 219 Center Road, is having a Cookie Walk hosted by the MUM Youth Group.

The Cookie Walk, filled with hundreds of delicious homemade holiday cookies, will be from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 20. The cost is $10 a pound.

Cross cookie baking off your list and support the youth group at the same time.

For details or directions, call 412-372-7474.

All ages welcome at Hanukkah celebration

A Light Up the Night Hanukkah event will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 15 in Monroeville Community Park.

The free, all-ages Hanukkah celebration will include a customary chocolate Gelt Drop, where chocolate coins are dropped from a height for children to collect.

There also will be an outdoor carnival, crafts, doughnuts and latkes, prizes and light-up gifts, as well as a special performance by the Gateway Chorus.

Free holiday meals open to surrounding areas

Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish in Monroeville is hosting free holiday meals in December.

Don’t eat alone. The meals are open to anyone in the surrounding areas looking for company and a hot meal.

The meals will be served from 12:30 to 3 p.m. — or until it runs out — on Dec. 11 and 18 in the parish’s Lourdes Center, 245 Azalea Drive.

Hillcrest church events

Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church has a variety of community events, programs and gatherings in November and December. All are invited to attend the following activities at the church, 1622 James St., Monroeville.

• Craft group: The craft group meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. All ages and abilities are welcome for crafts and conversation.

• Bible study: Bible study is held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evenings in the parlor.

• Pizza, Popcorn and PJs Christmas party: Planned from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12, this event is for children up to age 12 (younger than 4 requires parental supervision) and will feature a movie, crafts and bingo. RSVP by Dec. 10 by calling 412-824-5600.

• Free showing of “The Nativity Story”: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 20 in the church parlor. “The Nativity Story” depicts the events surrounding Christmas and the recounts the birth of Jesus. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is not required but appreciated; call the church at 412-824-5600 to RSVP.

• Christmas Cantata Musical: 11 a.m. Dec. 28 at the church. “Sing and Shout for Joy” is a musical based on a portion of Psalm 98 and includes favorite Christmas carols, popular praise choruses as well as some new songs. This event is open to the public, and all ages are welcome to attend.

Public welcome to East End Kids’ pancake breakfast

East End Kids, a nonprofit professional teen song and dance ensemble, invites the public to its annual pancake breakfast Dec. 13 at Mother of Sorrows School, 3264 Evergreen Drive, Monroeville.

Three seating times are available: 8:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and noon. The breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, potatoes, hot chocolate, coffee, hot tea and lemonade. Each seating features a performance of “Sparkle Jolly Christmas,” a traveling craft station, a basket raffle, a 50-50 drawing and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, complete with a free cookie and photos.

The cost is $15 for 11 and older, $10 for ages 2 to 10; children 2 and younger are free.

East End Kids, now in its 71st season, is seeking sponsors for its holiday season and its fundraiser, “Christmas With the East End Kids.”

For sponsorship details, email eastendkids.fundraiser@gmail.com. To view the upcoming holiday schedule, visit cervi-eastendkids.org.

Holiday spirits crawl to benefit people with autism

SpectroDolce, Pickle Parlor and Coast & Main restaurant are hosting a one-night pop-up holiday spirits crawl from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 11 at The District at Monroeville Mall.

The event is for those 21 and older. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. The ticket price includes three drinks, snacks, a chocolate dipping station, live entertainment and pickleball (equipment provided). Patrons are encouraged to wear festive attire.

A portion of the proceeds will support autism employment initiatives at SpectroDolce and Achieving True Self, a local organization dedicated to creating an inclusive workforce for neurodivergent individuals.

For details, email Debbie Iszauk at diszauk@gmail.com.

Auditions planned for East End Kids

Auditions for East End Kids will take place at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at DeStella Dance Centre, 5800 Kennedy Ave., Export.

Students in grades 6 to 12 are welcome to try out for the teen song and dance ensemble.

Candidates should prepare 32 bars of a ballad and 32 bars of an up-tempo selection (Broadway-style preferred) and wear comfortable clothing and shoes for a short movement routine. They will need to bring accompaniment on their phones for their vocal auditions or be prepared to sing a cappella.

For details, visit cervi-eastendkids.org or email EastEndKids.Business @gmail.com.

Exhibit to feature couple’s artwork

The Friends of the Monroeville Public Library welcome the public to an exhibit of artwork from Susan and Dan Yaklich from Jan. 3-26 during regular library hours in the Gallery Space.

The couple’s artwork includes Dan’s watercolors and Susan’s photography. Some pieces will be available for purchase. There is no public reception for this event.

For questions or additional information, contact Linda Reese at monroevillegallerylreese@gmail.com.

Artists sought for library’s gallery space

The Elaine Biondi Gallery Space is holding a screening for artists from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

Submissions are for any artist who is interested in having an exhibition. The Friends of the MPL currently are scheduling shows between 2026 and 2028.

Applicants will be asked to supply three pieces of artwork along with their contact information and a brief description of their work and availability.

Artists must be able to pick up their art sample between 3 and 4 p.m. the same day of the submission.

For questions or to submit work, email monroevillegallerylreese@gmail.com.

AARP seeks tax-prep aides

The AARP Foundation is seeking volunteers to be trained for its tax aide program, the nation’s largest free volunteer-based tax preparation program.

Volunteers can be trained as tax return preparers or as client facilitators. Anyone interested in volunteering can call 724-374-3780.

For details, visit AARPfoundation.org/taxaide.

Pantry open Dec. 11

The Garden City Food Pantry will host a food distribution day from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at 500 Laurel Drive in Monroeville.

Distributions take place on the second Thursday of each month.

For details, see GardenCity FoodPantry.org or call 412-373-0391.

Monthly food distribution set at high school

A free food distribution day will take place each month at Gateway High School.

Distribution will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the high school, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd. in Monroeville. Attendees can line up through the school parking lot.

Identification is not required.

The distributions provide food aid to nearly 800 families each month, according to organizer and school board member Valerie Warning.

Association of University People seeks members

The Association of University People invites potential new members to join them at an event.

The association invites singles 50 and older who are four-year college graduates to join them for activities and to meet new people. Activities include picnics, monthly dinners, a book group and meetups at local concerts and wineries.

For details, call 412-353-9088 or email AUPsingles@gmail.com.

Journalism scholarship open to W.Pa. students

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is accepting applications for its 20th annual Bob Fryer Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) along with the club’s annual $2,500 for aspiring journalists.

The awards are designed to encourage outstanding undergraduate journalism students in print, broadcasting and multimedia. Candidates must be sophomores or juniors enrolled in an accredited college or university in one of Western Pennsylvania’s 29 counties, which include Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Butler.

Applications are available at WesternPApressclub.org or by calling 412-281-7778. Winners will be awarded at the club’s annual Golden Quills awards dinner.

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