In brief: Rotary scholarships, holiday events and more in Penn Hills, Verona

Rotary scholarships

The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program has scholarships available for the 2022-2023 academic year. In recent years, at least eight scholarships at $5,000 each have been awarded. High school seniors in Allegheny and Beaver Counties are eligible to apply. Vocational students, G.E.D students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools are also eligible.

Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade point average and also must complete an essay, which highlights their community/school service, as part of the application submission.

Complete application and criteria materials, including application deadline, are available on the Rotary District 7305 website, Scholarship Link, or from area high school counselors. For more information, contact Dr. Robert Arbuckle at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.

Kerr Presbyterian Church

Kerr Presbyterian Church, located at 157 Bridge Street in Verona, will be hosting a Christmas Concert by Suzy and Bryon Chertik on Dec. 17. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the Christmas music will start at 7 p.m. Call 412-793-5508 to make your reservation.

Christmas brunch

Holy Family Parish will be hosting a Christmas Brunch on Christmas Day. The free brunch will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Joseph Church Hall, 825 Second St. in Verona, and Our Lady of Joy Church Hall at 2000 O’Block Road in Plum. Make reservations by Dec. 19 by calling Noreen Saville at 412-296-1709 or Dave Saville at 412-932-5532.

Letters to Santa

Children can drop off letters to Santa through Dec. 16 at Penn Hills Library. They can also be mailed to 1-2 Duff Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235 or emailed to santa@pennhills.org. Please include a return address in the letters.

Christmas lights display contest

It’s time to get festive! Enter the contest by calling 412-798-2147 or emailing jscaglione@pennhills.org. Judging takes place Dec. 19-21. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated houses.

AARP

Plum AARP will hold its Christmas Party Dec. 13 at Pugliano’s, starting at 11:30 a.m. Admission by ticket only. The entertainment will be a string quartet from Plum High School Music Department.

Plum AARP is a social/service club open to residents of Penn Hills, Monroeville and surrounding communities. Newcomers are welcome at regular meetings, held on the second Tuesday of the month at Unity Community Church, 215 Unity Trestle Road in Plum. For more information, call Mary Lou at 724 327-8265.

Adopt a senior

Concordia Lutheran Ministries has again opened its Adopt-A-Resident Program to the community.

Individuals, businesses or congregations may call the facility of their choice to “adopt” a resident and give him or her Christmas gifts. Gift suggestions include a sweatshirt, sweatpants, door wreath, stamps and stationery, digital clocks with large numbers, hair salon gift certificates, slippers and slipper socks and throws or blankets.

Participating locations and contacts are:

• Concordia at Cabot, Carolyn Piskor, 724-352-1571 ext. 8241 (skilled nursing residents); gift deadline is Dec. 12; or Jaime White, ext. 8302 (personal care residents), deadline is Dec. 19.

• Concordia of Fox Chapel, Sharon Scott, 412-767-5808, deadline for gifts, Dec. 10.

• Concordia at Rebecca Residence, West Deer, Rebecca Dombroski, 724-444-0600, ext. 4352, gift deadline is Dec. 10.

• Concordia at Ridgewood Place, Plum, Christina Tiffany, 412-798-1855, deadline for gifts, Dec. 9.

Women’s Business Network

Women’s Business Network offers numerous opportunities to network and partner with like-minded business, ongoing professional education on topics ranging from building confidence to marketing, and leadership development opportunities. Find out more at www.wbninc.com.

Allegheny Valley Chapter’s next meeting is 8 a.m. Dec. 20 at 817 Main St. in Sharpsburg. For more information, contact Kelly Motter at 717-659-0323.

Monroeville Chapter’s next meetings are 8-9:30 a.m. Dec. 14 and 28 at Panera Bread, 400 Penn Center Blvd., Wilkins Township. For more information, contact Debie Remaley at 412-374-0900.

East Chapter’s next meeting is 8 a.m. Dec. 20 at Drew’s Family Restaurant, 2060 Ardmore Blvd, Forest Hills. For more information, contact Denise Murrin-Coburn at 412-260-7780.

Virtual Chapter’s next meeting via Zoom is 7 p.m. Dec. 21. For more information, contact Jennifer Pasquale at 412-908-1663.