The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, located on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, provides community members of all ages and beliefs a spacious facility to relax, enhance their spirituality, exercise their bodies, and feel a part of something greater. Not only does the center provide a home-away-from-home for members, but events are held frequently throughout the year for the whole community. This weekend, the JCC will be celebrating Purim, with a carnival event complete with a DJ, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, a magic show, and so much more. Visit here for more information and to purchase tickets. The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh President and CEO Jason Kunzman described the impact of the JCC and why it's important to the Squirrel Hill community and beyond. "The JCC serves as a vital hub for our community, fostering connection, identity, and a sense of belonging. It's not just a facility; it's a place where people come together to celebrate traditions, engage in cultural and educational activities, and support one another. Inspired by Jewish values, we want all our neighbors to feel like they can come to the JCC and find a place where they belong. Whether it's a weekly workout class, or just catching up with a friend after a swim, we take great pride in the connects made in our buildings." You don't have to identify with Judaism to become a member of the JCC and take advantage of all the community center has to offer. Membership packages and rates are decided upon in conjuction with the JCC staff so that the potential member finds a monthly package that suits them, while their age, goals, and more are considered. With two locations, one in Squirrel Hill and the other in the South Hills, the JCC provides to the entire Pittsburgh community. Annie Shroeder, the marketing and communications coordinator with the JCC, described the community center, with all of its various facets included. "For more than 128 years, the JCC has enriched our community by creating an environment rooted in Jewish values that strengthens the physical, intellectual and spiritual well-being of individuals and families. Comprehensive programming includes child care and preschool, after-school and school's-out programs, day and overnight camping, senior adult activities, fitness and wellness programs, special needs services, arts and cultural activities including a nationally-accredited Jewish museum and scores of programs for all ages and interests. The JCC houses state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facilities, heated indoor swimming pools and an Olympic-size outdoor pool for summer use, gymnasiums, outdoor playgrounds, auditoriums, dance studios, classrooms and meeting areas. Last year we were able to provide $2.3 Million dollars in financial assistance toward scholarships, serve more than 30,000 meals to seniors across two locations, and had 10,000 participants in classes across both JCC locations." If you're interested in becoming a member of the JCC and taking advantage of all the organization has to offer, please visit its website and schedule a tour to find a membership package that works for you.

A sensory friendly screening of the new John Krasinski film IF is set for Saturday, May 25, at 10:30 a.m. at The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center. All tickets will be discounted to $8.75 for this special event. IF relates the funny and touching story of a girl who can see people's imaginary friends, and sets out to reunite the "pretend" playmates with the kids who loved them. "Imaginary friends are not just these adorable creations, they are time capsules for our hopes, dreams, ambitions," says Krasinski. "I wanted people to leave this movie believing in something bigger and believing in something beautiful." IF features Ryan Reynolds, Cailey Fleming and a star-studded cast of faces and voices including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Matt Damon, Maya Rudolph, Awkwafina, Bradley Cooper and Blake Lively. The Lindsay's sensory friendly screenings are geared to families and individuals who are impacted by autism or other special needs, and enables the entire family to participate in the cinematic experience. No trailers are shown to reduce "sit time," dim house lights remain on throughout the screening and volume is lowered. Doors exiting the screening room remain open, allowing guests to easily walk into the lobby if they wish. The Lindsay, which pioneered sensory friendly screenings northwest of Pittsburgh in 2017, schedules these showings to be the only events in the Theater and provides adequate staffing to create an enjoyable, low stress atmosphere for all attending. Tickets are available online and at the door. [Please email the Theater if you are unable to attend because of ticket costs.] The Theater, a nonprofit organization at 418 Walnut St., Sewickley, has attracted guests from across the tri-state area with sensory friendly screening event options to people living in suburban and rural areas. Parking in a metered municipal lot adjacent to the Theater is the easiest drop-off point for those with mobility challenges. A ramp also provides accessibility from Walnut Street.

High schools

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A 45th anniversary screening of George Romero's classic zombie film Dawn of the Dead, along with the Double Feature: Trailer Bash and Raging Pages trailer and screenplay competitions, will highlight the Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival, set for Sunday, May 19, at The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center. A celebration of the art of cinema and the region's rich motion picture tradition, the event also includes a Q&A with actors from Dawn of the Dead, filmed at the Monroeville Mall and considered one of the most influential horror films of all time. The afternoon begins at 12:30 p.m. with the Double Feature trailer and screenplay competitions, a curated program of Official Selections of coming attractions, all of which are eligible to earn one of the premiere trailer trophies on the festival circuit"the "Tabby""for Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Score, overall Best Trailer and the Audience Favorite award! This event is free to the public but reservations are requested to ensure seating for all. At 1:30 p.m., in collaboration with the George A. Romero Foundation's "Romero Lives!" series, the festival continues with a 30-minute Q&A with Dawn of the Dead actors Melissa Dunlap ("Airport Zombie Kid"), Bob Michelucci ("Scope Zombie") and"in a very rare public appearance"Jeannie Jeffries ("Blond Zombie"). The one-of-a-kind panel is hosted by fellow "zombie talent" veteran and director/producer Mike Ancas (Day of the Dead, Chasing Zombies). Following the Q&A, at 2 p.m., watch Dawn of the Dead as it was intended to be seen: on the big screen. Romero's gut-chomping, genre-defining sequel to Night of the Living Dead premiered April 12,1979 at the Gateway Theater in downtown Pittsburgh yet is rarely seen on movie screens. The plot follows two Philadelphia S.W.A.T. team members, a traffic reporter and his television executive girlfriend who seek refuge from a zombie epidemic in a secluded shopping mall. The late critic Roger Ebert gave the movie four out of four stars and proclaimed it one of the best horror films ever made. Empire named it one of the 500 Greatest Movies of all Time in a 2008 survey. The film also launched the career of makeup and special effects artist Tom Savini, a Pittsburgh native who went on to work on classic horror films such as Friday the 13th parts 1 and 4, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Tickets are on sale now! The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center, formerly The Tull Family Theater, is an independent, film-driven arts nonprofit located at 418 Walnut St. in Sewickley.

At age 9, Jesse Thompson heard a violin for the first time and was mesmerized by it during a student assembly as a public school student in Williamsport, Pa. There was one problem. There were not enough violins in school for him to study it in class. "I was bawling

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A Pittsburgh Regional Transit operator hurt when the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed under his bus more than two years ago filed a detailed lawsuit Thursday against the City of Pittsburgh and three engineering firms, accusing them of negligence in failing to correct longstanding problems with the heavily corroded span. Daryl

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