Monroeville area: Tall Trees upgrades, New Year's Eve ball drop, cookie walk and more

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

Grant will improve Tall Trees Amphitheater

A $75,000 grant from the state’s Gaming Economic Tourism Fund will pay for upgrades at Monroeville’s Tall Trees Amphitheater.

The project will replace 24 stage lights, the soundboard and associated audio equipment, and will improve accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

‘Longest Night’ service

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will host a “Blue Christmas/Longest Night” service at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23.

The quiet service is intended for those working through grief, depression, loss, anxiety or exhaustion during the holiday season.

The church is at 4503 Old William Penn Highway in Monroeville. For more, see GoodShepherdLife.org.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.