In brief: Happenings across the North Hills Journal area

North Hills kicking off holiday season

The North Hills School District will host its annual Hilltop Holiday Town and A Night Around the World from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21.

Lighted and decorated displays from parent and community groups, sports teams and clubs will be outside on the hilltop campus of North Hills Middle School and North Hills High School.

Inside the high school, there will be holiday games and crafts in the cafeteria, and fun and photo opportunities with Santa and his friends in the gym.

Families will be able to “travel around the world” and visit high school classrooms that have been transformed into different countries, each with activities, games, crafts and food native to the country’s culture.

North Hills spirit wear and other gifts will be for sale.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit North Hills Cares to help district families in need during the holiday season. A suggested donation of $10 will be accepted at the door.

Ross seeks to fill vacancies on boards, commissions

Ross is seeking residents interested in serving on various township boards and commissions.

There are openings for terms expiring on Dec. 31 and outstanding vacancies.

Openings available are: athletic advisory board, one vacancy; building code appeals board, one vacancy and one alternate seat vacancy; civil service commission, one vacancy and one alternate seat vacancy; environmental advisory council, three vacancies; equal opportunity board, one vacancy; Girty’s Run Joint Sewar Authority board, one vacancy; planning commission, four vacancies; vacancy board, one vacancy; and zoning hearing board, one vacancy and one alternate seat vacancy.

All vacancies require that applicants be residents of Ross and 18 or older. Details can be found online at ross.pa.us/jobs.

Chorale to present music composed by women

The North Hills Chorale will present its Winter Concert, “Winter’s Alleluia,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at Vincentian’s St. Vincent Hall, 8150 McKnight Road, McCandless.

Celebrate the season with a moving selection of spiritual music composed by women, including works by our member Leslie Ward. We hope this inspiring music brings our community closer together during the holidays.

Free-will offerings are welcome to support the continued success of NHC. Please consider bringing a nonperishable food donation for the North Hills Community Outreach Food Pantry.

For details, visit nhchorale.com.

North Hills Chorale began as a CCAC noncredit class in 1993. The first concert presented by the group was in December 2003. It gained nonprofit status in 2011.

Speaker to share strategies for parents of disabled children

Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road, McCandless, is hosting a session on “Parenting for Different Needs: Supporting Children With Physical or Intellectual Disabilities” from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4.

Raising a family member with special medical needs can require extra work and care, especially if they will never be independent and need housing, medical and transportation assistance.

Michael Wholihan will discuss his family’s experience and address strategies and preparations that primary caregivers can provide for their loved ones as they transition into adulthood.

Staff from the children’s and teen departments will be available to provide care and activities for those who have a loved one who can’t stay home alone.

Registration is required.

To register, visit northlandlibrary.org, stop by the Ask a Librarian desk or call 412-366-8100, ext. 113.

La Roche invites public to annual Festival of Lights

La Roche University will present its annual Festival of Lights, a free, family-friendly celebration from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 5 at campus in McCandless.

The annual event is made possible with the support of UPMC Health Plan, UPMC Passavant, Fairfield by Marriott and the Sisters of Divine Providence.

Event highlights include:

• Craft show: 3 to 9 p.m. in the Zappala Campus Center; vendors will offer a variety of handmade gifts and seasonal decor.

• Children’s activities: 5 to 8 p.m. in the Kerr Fitness and Sports Center; there will be arts and crafts, games, a moon bounce, glitter tattoos, a balloon artist, a visit from Anna and Elsa, and s’mores by an outdoor fire.

• Visit from Santa: 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kerr Fitness and Sports Center; Santa will be on hand for photo opportunities and to listen to children’s holiday wishes.

• Cans for cocoa: 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Kerr Fitness and Sports Center; visitors are welcome to bring a canned good or donate $1 to receive a cup of hot cocoa. All donations benefit the Providence Food Pantry.

• Carriage rides: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; pick up takes place at Wright Library and the horse-drawn ride passes through the university’s decorated campus.

• A musical celebration of Baby Jesus: 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the Magdalen Chapel; members of the La Roche community will perform music honoring the birth of Jesus.

• Alumni reception: 7 to 8 p.m. in Cantellops Dining Hall; alumni are invited to reconnect with former classmates and faculty at a special reception with light refreshments. Preregistration is required.

• Fireworks: 8:15 p.m.

For details and to RSVP for the alumni reception, visit laroche.edu/lights.

McCandless Crossing to kick off holidays

McCandless Crossing is ringing in the holiday season Nov. 15 with a new event.

During Home for the Holidays, more than 20 McCandless Crossing businesses will showcase hand-painted themed wreaths on their front doors. The wreaths, painted and personalized for each business by local graphic designer and mural artist Carin Silvester, will be on display through the end of the year.

From 2 to 4 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children at the pocket park on Providence Boulevard, between Style Encore and European Wax Center. Shoppers also are welcome to take their best selfies at the holiday photo background on display there throughout the day.

To put everyone in the holiday spirit, old-fashioned Christmas carolers will stroll the sidewalks from 4 to 6 p.m. as the Christmas tree lights begin to shine on the Town Green.

Dozens of businesses will offer Home for the Holidays hospitality during the day in their stores — from festive treats to special discounts and giveaways.

Later in the season, a Menorah lighting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 on the McCandless Crossing Town Green, near the fountain and flags, between Bonefish Grill and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. Members of the Temple Ohav Shalom congregation will lead the event to celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.

For details and event updates, visit mccandlesscrossing.com or follow McCandless Crossing on Facebook.

Outreach looking to restock cereal, safety items

North Hills Community Outreach is seeking help to restock items for its Safety for Seniors program and its supply of cereal.

The Safety for Seniors program helps people 60 and older remain safe in the home of their choosing. Items needed include nonslip mats for bathtubs, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, night lights, flashlights, aerosol fire-extinguishing sprays and emergency fire blankets. To donate items via NHCO’s Amazon Wish List, visit tinyurl.com/ua6hy5nt.

Cereal can be dropped out at any of the organization’s offices during business hours or purchased via its Amazon Wish List at tinyurl.com/5yw7mu6h.

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any of NHCO’s three offices — its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

NHCO collecting toys for children in need

North Hills Community Outreach once again is collecting toys to ensure children in need have a memorable holiday.

The collection runs from Nov. 9 through Dec. 8.

Last year, 821 children received new toys, games and other gifts.

Here are a few toy and gift ideas: gift cards for clothing stores such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc. (teens love these); board games; puzzles and books; plush blankets; bath and body items; craft kits and art supplies; sports equipment; ear buds, phone chargers and other phone accessories; popular toys; and makeup kits.

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any of NHCO’s three offices — its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

Donors also can order from NHCO’s Amazon Wish List and have the gifts delivered directly to its offices.

American Legion scholarships open to high-schoolers

The Pennsylvania American Legion is taking entries for its annual essay contest. Winners will receive $3,500, $3,000 or $2,500 scholarships.

The contest is open to students in grades 9-12. Students can be from public, private, parochial, cyber/charter or home-schooled.

Students must submit their essay by mail or hand delivery to their local American Legion post by Jan. 7 for those in grades 9-12. Complete rules and regulations are available at PA-legion.com/programs/student-and-youth/essay-program, by calling 412-389-2626 or by emailing wareagles79@hotmail.com.

The Legion also hosts an oratorical contest with scholarships offering $7,500, $5,000 and $4,000. That contest also is open to those in grades 9-12. The deadline to enter is Nov. 30. More information is available at Legion.org/oratorical, by calling 724-681-4995 or emailing jgdrnjevich@aol.com.

Comic Book Show coming up in November

The Pittsburgh Comic Book Show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at Crowne Plaza Hotel, 164 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park.

Special guests include Bob McCloud, co-creator of “The New Mutants”; Mike DeCarlo, legendary inker for “Batman” and DC Comics; and Tom DeFalco, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics from 1987-1994.

There will be more than 85 vendor tables, tens of thousands of comic back issues and the opportunity to trade paperbacks, slabs and rare and key issues.

General admission is $10, plus a 25-cent ticket service fee when purchased online. Tickets also will be sold at the door or can be purchased at Pop Culture Comics’ two locations — 1105 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Shaler and 3029 Sussex Ave. in Baldwin Township.

The show is free for children 12 and younger, first responders and military members (show military ID at the door).

For details and to purchase tickets, visit pittsburghcomicbookshow.com.

To have your news or event listed, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.