Nov 29, 2017 9 min read

CLUBS

USC Coterie

Upper St. Clair Coterie will hold a holiday party on Dec. 3 at Valley Brook Country Club. There will be food and music by strolling violinist Steven Vance. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Lunch follows at 12:15 p.m. Cash bar.

Genealogy Society

RSVP by Dec. 5 for Genealogy Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Annual General Membership Meeting and Holiday Luncheon set for Dec. 16 at Citizen’s Library (downstairs), 55 South College Street, Washington. Park Burroughs, chief editor of the Observer-Reporter from 1988 to 2012, will speak on the series he has written for the newspaper. Lunch will be served at noon followed by the meeting at 2 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. RSVP to C. Campbell at the above address with your name and number of people attending on the check. The meeting portion is free and open to the public. For more information, email gsswpa55@yahoo.com.

AUP

The Association of University People, open to single, four-year college graduates age 50+, will hold a holiday dinner dance on Dec. 6 at Chartiers Country Club, located on Baldwin Road. A cocktail hour with appetizers begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and dancing will follow. RSVP to Bill at 412-657-7485 for reservations, food selection and payment. For more information, call 412-734-8445.

FUNDRAISERS

Cookie/misc sale

The Heavenly Cookie Shoppe in the Christian Life Center at Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park, will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 2. Home-baked cookies will be sold for $8 per pound, as well as Rada Cutlery, pecans and Enjoy Books. Proceeds benefit United Methodist Women mission projects. For more information, visit www.christumc.net.

Cookie sale

St. Gregory’s Byzantine Catholic Church will hold its annual “Taste of Heaven Cookie Sale” from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 2. There will be a large assortment of both ethnic and traditional holiday cookies and treats. In addition, kolbassi orders will be taken. The church is located at 2005 Mohawk Road in Upper St. Clair (Brookside Farms). For more information, call 412-835-7800.

Holiday fundraiser

A holiday fundraiser, presented by Monat Grin, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Ballroom at the DoubleTree, Meadowlands. Visit with Santa and shop vendors and crafters. Enter to win a raffle basket and participate in the silent auction. Food will also be available. For more information, email girls4monat@gmail.com.

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.

HAPPENINGS

Live theatre

Little Lake Theatre Company, Canonsburg, will present “A Tuna Christmas” Nov. 30-Dec. 16. Join the folks of Tuna, Texas, and see what all the hootin’, hollerin’ and laugh-out-lout fun is all about. Tickets are $18-$20 for adults and $12 for children. To purchase, visit www.littlelake.org or call 724-745-6300.

Christmas concert

Three Rivers Ringers will perform a free family Christmas concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 1, at Bower Hill Community Church, Mt. Lebanon. A light reception will follow. Donations welcome.

Electrify Your Strings concert

Bethel Park Orchestra Musicians will be joined onstage by professional rock violinist Haydn Vitera when the Electrify Your Strings Program returns to Bethel Park High School at 7 p.m. Dec. 1, in the Bethel Park High School auditorium on Church Road. The students will be performing several rock classics with Vitera, on traditional string instruments as well as a set of electric string quartet instruments. Tickets for the show are $5 and can be purchased at the door on the evening of the performance.

Holiday concert

The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall will hold A Very Carnegie Christmas at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. The chorus from Carnegie Elementary School and the string players from the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra will join accomplished musicians and vocalists for this special holiday concert. A reception in the Lincoln Gallery will follow. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children under 12 are $5. For tickets, visit www.carnegiecarnegie.org/ticketing or call 1-800-838-3066 ext. 1. A free shuttle will run from the parking lot on East Main Street.

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. 4, 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.

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.

LIBRARIES

Andrew Carnegie

• Carnegie Celebrates the Season, 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Dec. 2, along Main Street and at the Carnegie Carnegie. Family activities, crafts, treats, caricatures and visit Santa at the library between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Free.

• A Very Carnegie Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. Performances by Richie Cole, Alto Madness and special guests. Tickets include a post-show reception with the performers.

• Father Richard Infante Book Event, 3 p.m. Dec. 3. Author of “Last Priest Standing” will read a new short story, “Blue Grass.” A reception and book sale will follow. Free.

For more, visit www.carnegiecarnegie.org.

Bethel Park

• Will You Survive? 7 p.m. Dec. 5, for grades 2-4. Read “Survivor Diaries: Overboard” by Terry Lynn Johnson to find out. Create a boat and do several experiments about floating and sinking during the class. Register.

• Beginners Guide to the Cloud, 10 a.m. Dec. 5. Services covered include Dropbox, Pandora, Evernote, iHeartRadio and Stitcher.

• Appy Hour, 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Learn about what’s new, what’s trending and what you may have missed in the world of aps. Register.

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

• Breakfast with Santa, 10:30 a.m. to noon on Dec. 2. There will be a holiday craft and a sing-a-long of holiday favorites. Bring a camera. There will be a nominal fee and reservations are required.

• Teen Advisory Board, 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4, for students in grades 7-12. Meet monthly to plan, organize and lead activities that will benefit the community. For information, call Beth Kairush, Teen Advisory Board coordinator, at 724-745-1308.

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

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

Mt. Lebanon

• Men’s Health Community Conversation Initiative, 2 p.m. Dec. 2. The Community Conversations will provide valuable data to residents that can help to them to make informed decisions and recommendations for determining, establishing and adapting services and programs to best serve Allegheny County men. Hosted by the Allegheny County Men’s Health Initiative.

• Global Beat: Klezmer with Steven Greenman Klezmer Trio Live at the Library, 4:45 p.m. Dec. 2. A cultural get-together featuring live music, food, dance and conversation for all ages.

• Seven Elements of Classical Art, 7 p.m. Dec. 5.Award-winning artist James Sulkowski will discuss the Seven Elements of Classical Art.

• Beaded Ornament & Holiday Jewelry Making, 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6, for middle school students to adults. Suggested donation is $5. Registration required.

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

Peters

• Elf on the Shelf Kick-off, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Nov. 30.

• Creative Expression for Special Children, 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 2

• Teen Christmas Cookie Making, 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 2,grades 6 and up.

For more, visit ptlibrary.org.

Scott

The Nutcracker Ballerina Visit, 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 2, for pre-K through grade 5. Learn about ballet from The Nutcracker ballerina, who will also teach some ballet positions, do a demonstration from the show, and take pictures with participants. Register.

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

South Fayette

• Sushi Making Demonstration, 11 a.m. Dec. 2. Sushi chef Ngun Sui will demonstrate how to make three types of sushi — California, shrimp and tuna rolls. Cost is $10 per person. Register and pay in person at the circulation desk.

• Puppy Tales, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2, at the South Fayette Senior Center for ages 6 and up. Read to trained therapy dogs in a supportive and fun environment, and make a dog-related craft. Free, but registration is required. Books will be provided by the library.

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

SUPPORT GROUP

Caregiver support

Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group will meet from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 30 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Upper St. Clair, for caregivers of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. For more information, visit www.westminster-church.org or call 412-835-6630.

Memorial service

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is planned for 7 p.m. Dec. 1, at Canonsburg Hospital’s McNary Center. Bring a photo of a loved one for this time of remembrance. Light refreshments will follow. To make a reservation, call 724-745-6100 ext. 4118.

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

Art classes

McMurray Art League finishes out the year with Watercolor with Ron Thurston, Dec. 6 and 13. For more information and a list of upcoming classes in 2018, visit www.mcmurrayartleague.com.