Monroeville area: Concert and speaker series, backpack giveaway, 5K run/walk, more

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

Monroeville Arts Council concerts

Monroeville Arts Council will host a series of concerts at the Community College of Allegheny County’s Boyce Auditorium. Concerts will be from 4-6 p.m. They include:

• Aug. 4 – East Winds Symphonic Band

• Aug. 25 – Pittsburgh Belairs

• Sept. 15 – Etta Cox

• Oct. 13 – Darryl & Kim

• Dec. 15 – Judi Figel

Concerts are free and open to the public. The Boyce campus is at 595 Beatty Road in Monroeville.

Rotary speaker series

Monroeville Rotary will host “town hall” meetings the first Thursday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the program room at Monroeville Public Library.

• Sept. 5 – Melissa Richards, chief people officer at National Forest Foundation, an organization that supports the forests for future generations.

• Oct. 3 – State Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville. Markosek will discuss legislation to require insurers to cover speech therapy for children.

• Nov. 7 – Jay Mitlo, pastor of Faith Community Church and author of “Stand,” a book on leading family through a child’s life-threatening illness.

• Dec. 5 – Fred Carlson, illustrator of “America and the Holocaust,” a nationally acclaimed educational resource for students focusing on issues of ethics and prejudice.

• Jan. 9 (second Tuesday) – Dr. Abimbola Fapohunda, developer of an e-learning training program on cancer awareness, diagnosis and treatment for Nigerian health care practitioners.

Meetings are open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Advance registration is not required. The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Boulevard.

For more, email dianemilo@hotmail.com.

Backpack giveaway, more

Christian Life Church, in conjunction with The Well Corporation of PA, will hold its fourth annual backpack giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Trafford church, 900 7th Street.

This event is free and open to the public. Students in grades K-12 will receive a backpack with general school supplies on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The event will include a clothing drive with gently used clothes for children and adults; barbers will be on hand to provide free haircuts to children.

Free dental cleanings for children will be provided by Golden Onsite Dental. Parents need to register in advance by texting “Trafford” to 412-361-9265. No walk-ins will be accepted.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the patio.

Westmoreland County Community Action will be present to register children for HeadStart and PreK Counts preschool programs.

Children’s bibles also will be distributed while supplies last. Various resources, such as Western PA Diaper Bank, Veterans Helping Veterans and AIU Family Services Center, will be available.

For questions or additional information, contact Lindsey Parks at Lparks292@gmail.com or call the church office at 412-856-4420.

Rotary 5K Run Walk for Peace

Monroeville Rotary will hold a 5K Run Walk for Peace at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Monroeville Community Park West, 2399 Tilbrook Road.

Participants who register by Sept. 14 will receive a commemorative T-shirt. Anyone who registers after that date will get a shirt while supplies last.

The top three male and female runners will receive a medal, as will the top three racers in each age group.

A program will be held immediately following the race - at approximately 10:45 a.m. - in the Peace Garden to commemorate International Day of Peace.

The event will include special guests, cultural music, food trucks and family activities, as well as a peace dove release.

Proceeds will support Rotary’s scholarship program and other youth services, and local organizations that work to reduce food insecurities in the community.

Sponsors and donations are needed for the event. In addition to monetary sponsorship, donations of water, fruit, healthy snacks, sports drinks and swag bags are welcome

For more information, visit https://monroevillerotary.org. To register, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Monroeville/MonroevilleRotary5kRunWalkforPeace.

Monroeville Public Library Fun Fest

The sixth annual library Fun Fest will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

Last year, approximately 2,500 people participated in the event, which included community and exhibitor booths, food, activities, games and music.

This year, Bluey, from the popular animated series of the same name, will be making appearances between 1-3 p.m.

Fun fest will include a petting zoo, balloon artists, hair tinsel, inflatable rides, a magician, ceramic animal painting and the Gateway High School Robotics Club.

Monroeville Chorus seeks new voices

Monroeville Chorus, formed in 1953, is seeking new adult members who love to sing, spread joy and happiness. No audition is necessary, and all voice ranges are welcome. The group performs for community events and groups, hospitals and more.

For more, call 412-357-6079.

Summer worship picnic in the park

Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church will be hosting a summer worship picnic in the park at 10 a.m. Aug. 18 at Pioneer Park, 245 Young Drive in Monroeville.

The morning will begin with a casual service. Various picnic games, such as horseshoes and volleyball, are planned.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, cheesy potatoes and nachos, as well as other picnic fare, will be provided. Beverages and plastic-ware will be provided. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite dessert to share.

This all-ages event is free and open to the public; members and nonmembers are invited.

Gateway Musical alumni showcase

Gateway Musical will host an alumni showcase at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31 at the Robert A. Read Performing Arts Center at Gateway High School, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

This evening will be filled with songs from past musicals performed by Gateway alumni. Former featured dancers will be performing and current cast members will sing. The night will conclude with the announcement of Gateway’s spring 2025 musical.

Any Gateway musical alum is invited to sing a song of their choosing, preferably from a Gateway musical, or sing a medley with others. Interested performers should complete the form at Forms.gle/zw3T1ZKtVrw1LWgo8 no later than Aug. 12.

For questions or additional information, contact musical producer Mary Chase at mchase@gatewayk12.org.

Online giving event for food pantry

The Garden City Food Pantry will host a “One Day of Giving” online event from 8 a.m. to midnight Aug. 6. Participants can go to PittsburghGives.org and search “Garden City Food Pantry.”

All donations of $25 and up will help bring in additional incentive-based funding from the Pittsburgh Foundation.

Concerts at Tall Trees Amphitheater

Monroeville Recreation and Parks and UPMC East will host a series of summer concerts at the Tall Trees Amphitheater. Performances will be at 6:30 p.m. except where noted:

• Aug. 2-4, 9-10: “As You Like It” by Poor Yorick’s Players. Showtime is 7 p.m. all days except Aug. 10 (2 p.m.)

• Aug. 11: Buffalo Rose (folk)

• Aug. 18: East Winds Symphonic Band, 3 p.m.

• Aug. 25: 8th Street Rox (classic rock and blues)

Concerts are free and open to the public. The amphitheater is at 2447 Tilbrook Road in Monroeville.

History speaker series

Lifelong amateur historian Henry Bowden will present “In Defense of Aaron Burr” at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

Born and raised in Turtle Creek, Bowden is a 1970 graduate of Turtle Creek High School. He is a reenactor, public speaker and member of many local historical societies. It is the next in a six-part series of talks led by Bowden. All talks will take place the third Monday every month through November in the library’s gallery. Upcoming talks include:

• Sept. 16: Information event on William Penn

• Oct. 21: Bowden as a William Penn impersonator

• Nov. 18: Presentation on Sam Adams

The all-ages events are open to the public. Advance registration is not required. For questions, contact Cory Little, the library’s head of adult programming, at 412-372-0500, ext. 122, or by emailing littlec2@einetwork.net.

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Host families sought for upcoming school year

Expand your horizons and learn about a new culture by bringing an exchange student into your family this fall.

AFSUSA, one of the oldest exchange programs in the country, is looking for host families for the coming school year.

Students can stay for a half year or full year, or sponsors can be a “welcome” family for six weeks.

Students from Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, Thailand and Ghana are hoping to find homes in Western Pennsylvania.

More than 130 countries participate in the program and AFS matches students to families according to their interests and lifestyle.

Students participating in the program come from 140 countries and can be placed with families with children, empty-nesters or single adults.

For details, call Carol Huff at 412-848-8095.