Monroeville area: AARP meeting, art league exhibit, holiday events, more

Plum AARP meeting, luncheon on tap

Plum AARP will celebrate Christmas with a luncheon buffet at Palmieri’s Restaurant, 951 Old Frankstown Road, Plum, at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 10. The entertainment will be Kathy Zang, who will perform holiday songs.

Plum AARP is a social organization open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and surrounding communities.

Newcomers are welcome at regular monthly meetings, always held at Unity Community Church, 215 Unity Trestle Road, Plum, at noon on the second Tuesday of each month, except June.

For more information, call Mary Lou Spohn-Meyers at 724 327-8265.

East Suburban Artists League exhibit

The East Suburban Artists League invites the public to a Dec. 14 reception for its exhibit at Gallery Space in the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Boulevard.

It will be from 6-8 p.m. and will showcase pieces from a variety of ESAL artists. Some works will be for sale.

For more, see ESALart.org.

American Legion scholarships

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

The contest is open to students in multiple categories: grades 6 - 12. Students can be from public, private, parochial, cyber/charter or homeschooled.

Students must submit their essay by mail or hand delivery to their local American Legion post by Jan. 8 for those in grades 9-12, and by Feb. 5 for those in grades 6-8. Complete rules and regulations are available at PA-legion.com/programs/student-and-youth/essay-program or by emailing wareagles79@hotmail.com.

The Legion also hosts an oratorical contest with scholarships offering $7,500, $5,000 and $4,000. That contest is open to those in grades 9-12. More information is available at Legion.org/oratorical or by emailing jgdrnjevich@aol.com.

School board hires elementary principal

The Gateway school board last week hired interim Principal Robert Hall as the new principal for Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary in Monroeville.

With the unanimous vote, Hall’s hiring date was effective Nov. 25 and he will be paid an annual salary of $111,925. Hall previously served as an assistant principal at the district’s Moss Side Elementary.

The board also voted unanimously to accept the resignation of human resources Director Andrea Jessell, effective Nov. 8. Former head of human services Patricia Crump will serve in an interim role until a replacement is hired.

The board also voted to accept a Public School Facility Improvement Program Grant of $305,175. Superintendent Guy Rossi said that part of funds will go toward building a secure vestibule at University Park Elementary. Board member Cheryl Boise indicated that an architect has inspected the building.

The board approved also approved bids for work at Dr. Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary, including $14,250 for sewer line work by Insight Pipe Contracting and $13,083 for chimney repairs and repointing by Allegheny Restoration Inc.

Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church events

The following events will take place at Hillcrest United Presbyterian Church, 1622 James St., Monroeville.

• Pizza, Popcorn & PJs Christmas Party, 6-9 p.m. Dec. 13 for children ages 4-12 (under 4 with a parent). Participants will watch “Angela’s Christmas” and are invited to bring a blanket and pillow and wear holiday pajamas. Pizza and crafts will be available.

• Christmas Cantata, 11 a.m. Dec. 22. This year’s is titled “Christmas Forever Amen,” and will be followed by a holiday reception.

For more, call 412-824-5600 or see HillcrestUPC.org.

International women meeting

The International Women of Monroeville will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 6 at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, 2310 Haymaker Road, Monroeville.

The December meeting is a holiday celebration, with members bringing their favorite Christmas dishes along with music and carol singing. It is the club’s final meeting until March 2025.

All women in the community are invited to attend.

Symphony East holiday luncheon

The public is invited to the annual Symphony East “Sounds of Joy” holiday luncheon, set for 11:45 a.m. Dec. 2 at the Lamplighter Restaurant on Route 22.

A buffet luncheon will be served at 11:45 a.m. with live entertainment by dance band Dr. Zoot at 1 p.m. The event also will include a holiday basket raffle. The cost of the meal is $35 per person. No reservations are required if only attending the 1 p.m. performance. Performance-only tickets are $15.

The Lamplighter is at 6566 Route 22 in Salem, just outside Delmont.

For more, or to request a reservation form, call 724-327-4864 or go to SymphonyEast.org/events.

Heating assistance available

Thousands of eligible customers miss out on bill assistance by not applying for federal grants. With the winter season approaching, many income-eligible customers remain unaware of programs that can significantly reduce their energy bill.

Peoples Natural Gas, an essential utilities company, encourages its customers to take advantage of available resources to help offset winter heating costs.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is now open for the 2024-25 heating season. LIHEAP is a federally funded assistance program that provides grants to eligible low-income households to help pay for heating costs. Grants start at $200 and may be higher based on income and the number of people living in the home.

To qualify for a LIHEAP grant, customers must have a total gross household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Customers do not have to be on public assistance or have an unpaid heating bill. LIHEAP is open to renters and homeowners. To learn more about the income limits and to apply, visit https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs.html, click on Services in the menu and search for LIHEAP.

In addition to LIHEAP, Peoples offers programs to help make energy-saving home improvements that reduce long-term costs. If you or someone you know needs assistance, call 1-800-400-WARM (9276) or visit peoples-gas.com/help to learn more.