Monroeville area: Park block parties, free food distribution, more

Block parties

Monroeville’s Recreation & Parks Department will host block parties this summer where residents can relax, enjoy food and talk with their local officials.

They will take place July 17 at Overlook Park, 522 Thomas St., with Ward 1 Councilman Joe Hyzy, and Aug. 12 at Monroeville Community Park West’s Pavilion 3, 2399 Tilbrook Road, with Ward 3 Councilman Bob Stevenson.

Each event will include a craft for kids, food from the Gridiots BBQ food truck and more.

The parties will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

Food distribution

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.

School district seeks sponsorships

Gateway School District is seeking sponsors for numerous facilities throughout the district.

Individuals or businesses interested in sponsorships can email Jeremy Tepper at jtepper@gatewayk12.org.

Ginny’s Carniv-Alz

The Alzheimer’s Association will host an afternoon carnival June 29 in Murrysville as part of its “The Longest Day” initiative.

“The Longest Day” is a campaign the association undertakes annually during the summer solstice, the day of the year with the longest amount of daylight.

“Ginny’s Carniv-Alz” will take place from 12-4 p.m. June 29 at Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint, 5549 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. It will include music, food, drinks, entertainment, games and children’s activities, to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. The cost for a “play-all-day” pass is $20 and includes access to vendor carnival games, a video gaming trailer, dunk tank and more.

Parking will be at Murrysville Community Park, 4056 Wiestertown Road, with free shuttle service to the event. There will be on-site accessible parking at the event.

Hillcrest United Presbyterian events

Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church will host the following upcoming events:

• Blessing of the Pets, 10 a.m. July 6, held in a tent outside the church. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Pets must be on a leash or in a carrier, and must be properly socialized.

• Craft group, 6-8 p.m. July 8, held the second Tuesday of each month with Bible readings, prayer, crafts, cookies and fellowship. All ages and abilities are welcome.

• Summer music camp, 9 a.m. to noon July 7-11, open to children ages 6-12 and led by choir director Lynn DeFalco.

Children will learn songs and put on a performance for family and friends at noon July 11. The week will include guest musicians, choral singing, Bible lessons and more.

There is no fee to attend.

The church is at 1622 James St. in Monroeville.

Register at HillcrestUPC.com. For more, call 412-608-2097.

Scholarships available

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency is seeking entries from 2025-26 college students, graduate students and their parents to win a $2,500 scholarship sweepstakes from the PA Forward Student Loan Program.

Anyone who opts in to receive communications, which will include tips on planning for and paying for college, between June 5 and Dec. 15, 2025, will be entered into the scholarship sweepstakes. A total of 12 winners will be selected in August and in December this year, prior to each semester.

The PA Forward Scholarship Sweepstakes is open to Pennsylvania residents only.

To enter, visit PHEAA.org/ss.

Convention center events

The following events are scheduled at the Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Plaza Blvd.:

• June 27-29: Pittsburgh BBQ and Band Fest. For more, see PittsburghBBQandBandFest.com.

• July 5-6, 11-13: Dinosaur Adventure. For more, see DinosaurAdventure.com.

• July 11-13: Stamp Scrap Art Tour rubber stamp and scrap-booking show. For more, see StampScrapArtTour.com.

• July 14-15: Warrior Notes fellowship, teaching, prayer services. For more, see Eventbrite.com and enter “Warrior Notes” in the search box and “Monroeville” as the location.

For more information, see MonroevilleConventionCenter.com.

Patton Street partial closure

The Allegheny County Public Works Department closed a portion of Patton Street in Monroeville on June 9.

The closure stretches between Monroeville Boulevard and Mt. Pleasant Drive, and will last through September, while work crews build a retaining wall and make drainage improvements, replace guide rails and repave the street.

Residents in the closure area will have access to their homes at all times.

The $484,774 project is headed up by Pugliano Construction of Plum.

Revolutionary War church service

A Revolutionary War service will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on June 29 at Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church, 1622 James St., Monroeville.

The event is a recreation of worship service on the Western Pennsylvania frontier that would have been led by Presbyterian missionaries during the Revolutionary War. Themes addressed during the Revolution – natural rights to liberty, tyranny of government coercion and the role of Christians during those social conflicts – will be discussed using Bible passages used during that era.

The service will be held outside on church grounds and is open to the public. Everyone is invited to bring a lawn chair and a bagged lunch for fellowship after worship.

For more, call 412-824-5600 or visit HillcrestUPC.org.

Food pantry

The Garden City Food Pantry will host a food distribution day from 6-7 p.m. July 10 at 500 Laurel Drive in Monroeville.

Distributions will take place on the second Thursday of each month. Additional distribution days will be Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11.

For more, see GardenCityFoodPantry.org or call 412-373-0391.

Association of University People

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

The association invites singles aged 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 more, call 412-353-9088 or email AUPsingles@gmail.com.