Dec 6, 2017 16 min read

CLUBS

AUP

The Association of University People is looking for single, four-year college graduates age 50+ to join them for monthly dinners and social gatherings. On Dec. 13, a dinner will be held at Denunzio’s Italian Restaurant, Mosside Blvd., Monroeville. RSVP to Bill at 412-657-7485. For more information, call 412-734-8445.

FLEA MARKETS/CRAFT FAIRS

Vendor/craft show

A Prime Time fundraiser vendor/craft show will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 9, in the Christian Life Center and South Lobby at Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park. Free admission. For more information, visit www.christumc.net.

Avant-Garde show

Avant-Garde Art and Craft Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 9, at Teamsters Local 249 Banquet Hall, 4701 Butler Street, Pittsburgh. This 100 percent handmade show will feature nearly 70 indie artisans and crafters. Admission is $3, with children age 12 and under admitted free. A portion of this year’s event proceeds will be donated to the local charity, Girls on the Run, which seeks to help and empower young women to realize their limitless potential using a fun experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running. For more information, visit www.avantgardeshows.com.

FUNDRAISERS

Be a Santa to a Senior

Home Instead Senior Care offices serving Allegheny and Washington counties announce its Be a Santa to a Senior program. Through Dec. 9, holiday shoppers can support the program by choosing a paper ornament, purchasing the requested gift and returning it unwrapped with the ornament attached. Gifts will be delivered to local seniors. Trees can be found at the following locations: Moonlight Cafe, 530 Brookline Blvd., Brookline; Washington Crown Center Mall, 1500 Chestnut Street, Washington; Classics by Rene, 23A Clairton Road, Pleasant Hills; LaBella Bean, 609 Washington Ave., # 2, Bridgeville; Home Instead Senior Care office, 1500 Oxford Drive, Suite 150, Bethel Park. For more information, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 412-595-7554.

Cookie sale

Hamilton Presbyterian Church, Bethel Park, will hold its annual Christmas Cookie Sale beginning at 9 a.m. Dec. 9. Homemade cookies will be sold as well as knitted hats and scarves. Come early – items sell out quickly. The church is located at 4500 Hamilton Road.

Cookie/gift bazaar

United Methodist Women at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church, 3319 West Liberty Ave., will hold a Christmas Cookie & Gift Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9. A variety of homemade Christmas cookies will be available for purchase, as well as jewelry, handmade cards and soaps, handcrafted wooden toys and more. Enjoy a cup of tea and scones, soup and bread in the British tearoom. All proceeds benefit women, children and youth.

Cookie sale

Baldwin Community United Methodist Women will hold its annual homemade cookie sale from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 9. Cookies will be sold for $9 per pound. The church is located at 5001 Baptist Road, across from Caste Village Shopping Center. Proceeds benefit missions.

Cookie Walk

Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 450 Maxwell Drive, Whitehall, will hold a Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Fifty different varieties of cookies will be sold, plus nut, apricot and poppy seed rolls; nut horns and more. Cookies will be sold at $10 per pound. Rolls will be $14 each and nut horns will be $10 per dozen. In addition, pre-orders will be taken for the rolls and nut horns, and orders can be picked up the day of the sale. To place a pre-order, email htcnutroll@gmail.com. Include your name, phone number and items you wish to order. Quantities are limited for pre-ordering. Monies raised will be used to replace the cathedral roof and parking lot at the church.

Cookie sale

Sunset Hills United Presbyterian Church, Mt. Lebanon, will hold its annual Deacon’s Cookie Sale from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 9, featuring homemade cookies and treats sold by the pound. For more information, visit www.shupchurch.org.

Christmas Bake Sale

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, 601 Boone Avenue, Canonsburg, will hold its Christmas Bake Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16.

Mega Bash

The Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department and the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce will begin giving away $500 a day beginning Dec. 1, leading up to a major giveaway of $25,000 on Dec. 25. This is a major fundraiser for both organizations. Each ticket provides two chances to win based off of the PA Lottery’s Pick 4 each day in December. Mega Bash Tickets are available for purchase at the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce Building, the Bridgeville VFD Station 117, Visionary FCU, Single Source Benefits and the Barber Shop at Great Southern, and are $20 per ticket. The Mega Bash will help the station buy new fire equipment as well as help provide maintenance to Bridgeville VFD vehicles. The Chamber’s fundraiser proceeds will go towards the development of better business programming and opportunities for business owners in the area.

HAPPENINGS

Family fun night

Spencer Family YMCA, Bethel Park, will hold a Family Fun Night from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8, featuring a dive-in movie double feature: “Frosty” and “Frosty Returns,” in the Aquatics Center. There will also be ornament crafts, cookie decorating, sports court games and family group exercise classes. Non-members under 18 must be accompanied by and adult. For more information, visit www.ymcaofpittsburgh.org/spencer or call 412-347-6565.

Live theater

Carnegie Stage presents “The Carols” Dec. 7-17. A trio of singing sisters, an out-of-work Catskills comic, a limping piano player and their grumpy Scrooge-like landlady gather at the VFW to make the most of what they have. It’s Christmastime in 1944. War is raging on foreign battlefields and the women are left behind. While the community waits for loved ones to return, the annual performance of “A Christmas Carol” must go on, despite the lack of men to fill important roles. At the heart of this story we honor family bonds, friendship, love, and the men and women who so courageously have given their time, talents and often their lives throughout history. Performances are at 8 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16, and at 3 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17. Tickets are $5-$30 at www.carnegiestage.com or by calling 724-873-3576.

Holiday concert

South Hills Children’s Choir will present its annual winter concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, at Suthminster Presbyterian Church, Mt. Lebanon. “We Merry Minstrels” will include a variety of songs, from traditional carols to pieces from France, Canada, Polynesia and Israel. Tickets are $5, with children age 10 and under admitted for free.

‘The Nutcracker’

The Carnegie Performing Arts Center will present “The Nutcracker” for two weekends, beginning Dec. 8 and ending on Dec. 17, at the Andrew Carnegie Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets, available at the door, are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and children. Melina Kennelly of Dormont will dance the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy while Danielle Buttlar of Mt. Lebanon will dance the Queen of the Snow. Madisen Albert of Carnegie will portray the part of Clara while Gavin Helbig, also of Carnegie, will be the Nutcracker Prince. Cori Sheppard of Mt. Lebanon will dance the role of Dew Drop Fairy. There will be a raffle and Chinese auction during the intermissions of the three acts of the Nutcracker. For more information, call 412-279-8887 or visit www.carnegieperformingartscenter.com.

Holiday Market

The McMurray Art League (MAL) will host a Holiday Market from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at its gallery in The McDowell Shops, 4069 Washington Road, McMurray. A reception with light refreshments will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Carmen DiGiacomo at 412-606-8539 or Linda Van NewKirk at 724-941-5784.

Comedy Night/Dinner

The Women’s Guild/Christian Mothers of St. Valentine’s Church, Bethel Park, presents Slapstick Comedy Night Out/Dinner, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9, in Frawley Hall. Doors open at 6. Tickets are $25 per person. BYOB. For tickets or more information, call 412-608-2939, or visit the church office from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday. Reservations of eight or more must pay in full at time of purchase and provide names of those in the party.

Musical

Little Lake Theatre Company announces the last play of their 2017 Fall Family Matinee Series, “Yes, Virginia: The Musical.” Eight-year-old Virgina has always loved Christmas. When a classmate asks “Is there a Santa Claus?” Virginia sets out to prove he is real. She writes a letter to Francis Church, editor of the New York Sun. The answer she receives is one that will become the most famous newspaper editorial of all time and proves once and for all, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!” Performances are at 2 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17. Tickets are $15.75 for adults and $13.75 for children 15 and under. All groups of 20 or more are only $13 per ticket. For tickets, visit www.littlelake.org or call 724-745-6300.

Pet remembrance

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, will hold a Pet Remembrance Service at 2 p.m. Dec. 10 in the WROC, for those who have recently lost a pet. All family members, including pets that are still with you, are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.westminster-church.org or call 412-835-6630.

Chamber music

As part of its Friends of Music Guild Concerts, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mt. Lebanon, will present cellist Alexandra Thompson in concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 10. Suggested donation is $10. For more information, or to inquire about free student tickets, email emorey@stpaulspgh.org, call 412-531-7153 or visit www.stpaulspgh.org.

Christmas concert

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, will hold its Annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 10, in the sanctuary. The concert will include performances by the Upper St. Clair High School Chanteclairs, the Westminster Ringers, and the Cherub and Junior choirs. The Westminster Chancel Choir and Academy Chamber Orchestra will perform Bach’s Magnificat. For more information, visit www.westminster-church.org or call 412-835-6630.

Jewish Kids Club

Jewish Kids Club for boys and girls ages 4-11 meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays at Chabad of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon. Explore Jewish themes with crafts, cooking and games. Hebrew reading. Cooking with Color, a six-week session, continues Dec. 11 and 18. Session 2 will be held Jan. 9, 16, 22 and 29, Feb. 5 an 19. For more information, visit chabadsh.com/JKC or call 412-344-2424.

Phipps Christmas event

Due to popular demand, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has added new “Holiday Dinner at Phipps” events. Reservations are now being accepted for Dec. 14, with 6 and 8 p.m. seatings. Enjoy a holiday meal and new exhibits. The festive dinner will be served in Phipps’ Special Events Hall with the backdrop of the Tropical Forest. The Holiday Dinner at Phipps event also includes admission to Phipps’ Winter Flower Show and Light Garden: Holiday Magic! and Garden Railroad. To make reservations for the Holiday Dinner at Phipps, call 412-651-5281. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. Admission is $58 for adults and $35 for children under 12. For a complete calendar of events, visit phipps.conservatory.org.

Holiday concert

Mt. Lebanon Percussion will present its annual Holiday Bells, Mallets and Drums concert series Dec. 15 and 16 in the Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theater. Concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday (dessert silent auction at intermission) and Saturday (free cookie reception after the concert), and at 1 p.m. Saturday (one-hour family concert with Santa). Tickets are available online at www.mtlperc.com/tickets beginning Dec. 1. For more information, go to www.mtlperc.com or Facebook MTLPerc, or email fmlpercussion@gmail.com.

Chanukah Pop Up Shop

Chabad of South Hills, Mt. Lebanon, presents its Chanukah Pop Up Shop at the Galleria Mall (Lower Level, Center Court near Starbucks), through Dec. 20. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays.

Chanukah event

The 5th Annual South Hills Lights Community Wide Chanukah Event will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 13, at the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon, Upper Level (near the fountain). The event, sponsored by Chabad of the South Hills and South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh, will include a grand menorah lighting, live music by “Chillent Band,” latkes with all the trimmings, Chanukah wood craft with Home Depot, giant chocolate menorah and raffle prizes. Admission is free. RSVP appreciated but not required. Those preregistering will receive a free entry into the Grand Chanukah Raffle. For more information, visit www.chabadsh.com, call 412-344-2424 or email mussie@chabadsh.com.

Elks lodge

The Pittsburgh South Hills Elks Lodge 2213 is now open at its new location at 2789 South Park Road, Bethel Park. The Matt Barranti Band will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 15. Tickets are $5. For more information, call 412-831-0616.

Bat Mitzvah Club

A Bat Mitzvah Club meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoons at Chabad of the South Hills, Mt. Lebanon. The club is geared toward Jewish girls of all backgrounds who are entering grades 6 and 7. Each session will include meaningful discussions, interactive activities and a craft or activity. They include: Session Two, Session Three, Dec. 17, Chanukah Bash; Session Four, Jan. 21, For Heaven’s Sake!; Session Five, Feb. 25, Reading Between the Lines; Session Six, March 18, Rising to the Occasion; Session Seven, April 22, The Heroine In You; Session Eight, May 27, Spread Your Wings. To register, email raizel@chabadsh.com, call 412-344-2424 or visit chabadsh.com.

LIBRARIES

Andrew Carnegie

• “The Nutcracker,” presented by Carnegie Performing Arts Center, ACFL&MH’s resident children’s dance company, Dec. 8-17. Visit www.carnegieperformingartcenter.com for more information. Tickets available at the door.

• S.T.E.A.M. and Snack, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Dec. 11 and 27.

For more, visit www.carnegiecarnegie.org.

Bethel Park

Storytime with Auntie Claus, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14, featuring a story, craft and refreshments. Registration appreciated.

For more, visit www.bethelparklibrary.org. Register at 412-835-2207.

Bridgeville

A Christmas Tree Festival sponsored by Friends of the Library will be held Dec. 8 and 9 at the library. Festivities will include Light Up Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and a Holiday Celebration on Saturday. Activities include a Chinese auction, bake sale, musical performance, Santa’s Magic Show, Crafting Corner and a visit from Santa. Bring a camera. Christmas trees, decorated by local groups, individuals and/or businesses, will be on display Dec. 4-16 during regular library hours. Admission is $2 per person, with children under 3 admitted for free. Additional votes can be purchased at the front desk for $1 throughout the festival. All proceeds benefit the library. There is no fee to enter a tree. Contact the library for an entry form. Christmas tree winners and Chinese auction tickets will be drawn at 11 a.m. Dec. 16.

For more, visit bridgevillelibrary.org.

Castle Shannon

• Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, 10 a.m. Dec. 9. Tickets are on sale now.

• Monthly Book Discussion Group, 7 p.m. Dec. 11. Discuss “A Redbird Christmas” by Fannie Flagg.

For more, visit castleshannonlibrary.org.

Frank Sarris

• Popcorn & a Movie, noon on Dec. 9, in the Teen Lounge. Watch “Home Alone.” Free.

• Lego Club, 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 11, for anyone old enough to play with regular-sized Lego. Experienced builders will have opportunities to experiment with robotics using Lego Mindstorms and other building sets.

• Spanish Story Time, 11:15 a.m. Dec. 12, for preschool-aged children. Email questions to Ms. Noreen at npoploski@franksarrislibrary.org.

• Family Night, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12, all ages. Theme: Gingerbread House Day.

• Fiction Book Club, noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 13. Discuss “The Christmas Train” by David Baldacci.

For more, visit www.franksarrislibrary.org. Register at 724-745-1308.

Mt. Lebanon

• Humanity, Struggle, Triumph: A Morning with Howard Chandler, 10 a.m. Dec. 9. Classrooms Without Borders presents the Holocaust survivor from Poland. Registration required by phone or online at www.eventkeeper.com/code/rocketsearch/rs_event.cfm?curOrg=MTLEB&tfem=true&eID=5376183. Chandler also will speak at Rodef Shalom at 1 p.m. Dec. 10. For information, visit http://classroomswithoutborders.org/events.

• Hanukkah Celebration, 4 p.m. Dec. 7, featuring stories, card making and more.

• Kaufmann’s Department Store, 1 p.m. Dec. 9. Author Melanie Linn Gutowski will talk about her new book, “Images of America: Kaufmann’s Department Store.” Gutowski will sign and sell books.

• The Steel City in World War II, 7 p.m. Dec. 13, presented by the Historical Society of Mount Lebanon.

For more, visit www.mtlebanonlibrary.org. Register at 412-531-1912.

Peters

• 3R’s Book Club,7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6

• Edible Holiday Treats,6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Dec. 7

• Curious About Coding?, 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7

• Songs from a Civil War Christmas, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 10

• Family Ornament Night,6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Dec. 11

For more, visit ptlibrary.org.

Scott

• Friends of the Library Book Sort, 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 8. Help sort books and materials for the 2018 Used Book Sale. Book sorts are held the second Friday of each month.

• Adult Color Tim, 2 p.m. Dec. 8 and 22. Supplies provided.

• Decorate a Gingerbread House, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 10, for children of all ages. Register.

• Conversation Salon, 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 11.

• Family Movie Monday, 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11, for families. Watch “Elf” while enjoying popcorn and hot chocolate. Register.

• Cooking Club: Cookie Swap, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Swap recipes, talk food and taste and make a dish together. Bring a batch of cookies and the recipe to share.

• Snowflake Festival, 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14, for families. Snow-related snacks, crafts, games and prizes.

For more, visit www.scottlibrary.org. Register online or call 412-429-5380.

South Fayette

• Kids in Motion, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 11, for ages 2-6 and their caregivers. Wear shoes and clothing appropriate for running, jumping and stretching.

• Artful Stories: Pablo Picasso, 6 p.m. Dec. 13, for grades 5 and up. Learn about the life, history and influences of this painter, then make art in his signature style of Cubism. Registration required.

For more, visit southfayettelibrary.org. Register online or call 412-257-8660.

South Park

• A Christmas Tea, 7 p.m. Dec. 8, in the Community Center. Music, food, Chinese auction and 50/50 giveaways. Cost is $10 per person. Bring your favorite tea cup. Registration required.

• Kaufmann’s Department Store, 7 p.m. Dec. 13. Local author Melanie Linn Gutowski will discuss her new “Images of America” book. Copies will be available for sale for $24. Register.

• Yoga Flow 2.0, 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13, in the Community Center, for teens age 14 and up. Cost is $5 per class. Registration is not required, but new participants are required to sign a liability waiver.

• Edible Ornaments & Gift Tags Craft for Adults, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Supplies provided. Space is limited. Registration required.

For more, visit www.southparklibrary.org. Register at 412-833-5585.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Suicide Bereavement Support Group meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11, in Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center. This four-month program, which meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month, is led by a licensed psychologist and is free and open to all those touched by suicide. Registration is required by calling 724-268-1144.

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

Essential Oils

Classes are held for those new to essential oils and interested in learning about doTERRA CPTG Essential Oils. Upcoming classes include: Dec. 6, Handling Depression, Anxiety and Emotions with Essential Oils; Dec. 13, Holiday Cheering Up with Essential Oils and Uplifting Diffuser Blends for the Holidays. There will also be an “Essential OIls in the Classroom” held in January. Classes are held on Wednesdays at The Physical Therapy Center, 1699 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon. RSVP required by contacting Deb Bosco at 724-713-6217 or bosco.deb@gmail.com.