Norwin area: Christmas tree sale, toy drive, book sale, more

Scouts to sell Christmas trees

Boy Scout Troop 284 of Irwin will be selling live Christmas trees at the Busy Beaver store parking lot at the Norwin Hills Shopping Center.

The tree sale will be from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13; and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14.

Library to hold book sale

The Friends of the Norwin Public Library will hold its annual Holiday Book Bundle sale throughout December at the library at 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin.

A wide variety of gently used books and gifts will be available. The sale will continue in December until all the books are sold.

Church to sell pierogi

St. Stephen’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 90 Bethel Rd., North Huntingdon, will have its Christmas pierogi sale beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 12.

Potato and cheese and sweet cabbage pierogi are both $14 a dozen. Sauerkraut pierogi are $15 a dozen, and lekvar pierogi are $16 a dozen. Cottage cheese pierogi are $17 a dozen.

For more information or to preorder, contact the church at 412-627-1678.

Sage’s Army holds toy drive

Sage’s Army and Dream Life Recovery are holding a holiday toy drive for children and teens, with a party planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at its Hempfield office, 6044 Route 30, Suite 400.

Donations can be dropped off during normal business hours. Santa will be at the party and light food will be available.

For more information, contact Sage’s Army at 724-863-5433.

Irwin note card scenes for sale

Irwin Borough is selling blank note cards depicting scenes of the community for $10 a pack.

The cards are available at the borough office, 424 Main St. The scenes are drawn by local artist Bob Weaver, a retired Yough High School art teacher.

The proceeds will benefit the Irwin Business and Professional Association, and will help the organization with the events it hosts in the borough.

The borough office is open from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Buyers can pay cash or write checks payable to “Irwin Business and Professional Association.”

Wreaths Across America

The North Huntingdon chapter of Wreaths Across America will hold a vendor and craft show from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Circleville Fire Hall, Robbins Station Road, North Huntingdon.

Handmade crafts, baked goods, treats and auction baskets will be available. There will be opportunities to sponsor a wreath.

The organization is seeking to raise enough money to place wreaths on the graves of about 3,000 veterans buried at the Union Cemetery in Irwin and at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery and Long Run Cemetery, both in North Huntingdon.

Area artist Bob Weaver is donating 11-inch-by-17-inch military prints for sale. The cost is $25 for one, $40 for two, and $50 for three. T-shirts will be sold for $25.

The wreaths will be laid on the graves on Dec. 13.

For additional information, contact Barbara Komondor by email at waanorthhuntingdon@gmail.com.

Donations for wreaths are being accepted online at wreathsacrossamerica.org/pauncnh or by mail at 11110 Bluebird Drive, North Huntingdon, PA 15642.

St. John’s plans events

St. John’s Lutheran Church, 715 Lincoln Way in North Versailles, will host two holiday events:

• Jewelry, scarf and bag sale: This event will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 6. It will include a hot cocoa bar, a bake sale, free Christmas craft activities, caroling and a visit from Buddy the Elf.

• Holiday showcase and local book show: This event will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 13. Patrons are welcome to meet and support local artists and authors, get books signed and enjoy a day of stories and holiday shopping. Local authors scheduled to attend include Don Ammon, Trudy Finney, Linda Guest-Peters, Leslie Savisky, Ed Smith and Ciersten Smith.

Both events are for all ages and open to the public. Questions can be directed to Ed Smith at esmith@pen2paper.pro

Agency holds toy drive

Express Employment in Penn Township is conducting a Christmas toy drive through Dec. 5.

The agency is collecting donations of new, unwrapped toys at its office at 4012 Route 130 in Harrison City, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Express Employment also is accepting monetary donations at www.toysforpittsburghtikes.com.

The toys are distributed throughout the region, according to Cassie Armstrong, a spokeswoman for Express Employment.

Virtual holiday paint & sip

The Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western PA is hosting its Sixth Annual Virtual Holiday Paint & Sip Celebration to benefit MGA’s free patient support services.

This year’s event will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 11. For a $50 donation to MGA, participants will receive a link to participate in the virtual holiday paint and sip event, the supplies needed to create their own snowflake-inspired art, and two bottles of wine from Kavic Winery in Carnegie. The creation of the art will be led by art therapist Kristy Walter and the wine tasting will be led by Michael and Patricia Kavic.

For more information or to register for the event, email mgaoffice@mgawpa.org or call 412-566-1545.

Journalism scholarship

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

Applications are available at WesternPApressclub.org, by calling 412-281-7778 or emailing 412-600-0606.

Deadline for entries is Feb. 9. Winners will be awarded at the club’s annual Golden Quills Awards Dinner.

American Legion scholarships

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

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, 2026. 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 of $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.

AARP seeking 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 more, see AARPfoundation.org/taxaide.

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.