community briefs for print
Pittsburgh holiday events announced
Pittsburgh Light Up Night, which kicks off holiday festivities downtown, will be held Friday. The 57th annual Light Up Night festivities include entertainment, activities for kids, food and fireworks. Seven different tree lighting ceremonies will take place, the first at 11:30 a.m. at the Allegheny County Courthouse Tower. At 7 p.m., the Highmark Unity tree lighting will take place.
The Holiday Market returns to Market Square and continues through Dec. 23. The European-style market features live music and 35 vendors of international, handcrafted and Pittsburgh-themed gifts.
Pittsburgh Parking Authority will offer free parking in garages on Saturdays, beginning Nov. 25 and on Black Friday.
For a list of events and more information, visit the Pittsburgh Downtown Parnership website at www.downtownpittsburgh.com/holidays.
Teen Outreach sponsors contest
Washington Health System Teen Outreach is sponsoring a contest to honor the 2017-18 theme, “Respect Online.”
Fifth through 12th-grade students in Washington County schools are eligible to design a Tshirt reflecting respect in social media.
Entries may support respect online or reject cyberbullying. All entries must be submitted as jpegs, using only two colors. Words must be clear with a white background. Entries must be labeled with name, parent or guardian name, grade, school, home address, email and phone number.
The deadline is Dec. 8 and winners will be announced at the peer educator meeting at Common Ground Teen Center at 5 p.m. Dec. 13. Prizes in two categories – fifth through eighth grade and ninth through 12th grade – will be awarded, with first place receiving a $100 gift card, second place a $50 gift card and third a $25 gift card. Entries can be submitted to podmj@healthyteens.com.
For information, call 412-877-4906.
Contestants sought for state pageant
Contestant applications are being accepted for the 2018 Miss Central Pennsylvania Scholarship and Miss Central Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teens pageants. The pageants will be held together on Jan. 13 at the Mifflin County Middle School, Lewistown.
To be eligible for the Miss pageant, woman must be unmarried, 17 to 24 years old, at least a high school senior, and reside, attend school or be employed in Pennsylvania.
To be eligible for the Outstanding Teen pageant, girls must be 12 to 17 years old, no more than high school juniors, and reside or attend school in Pennsylvania.
The entry deadline for both pageants is Dec. 27.
Information and applications can be obtained by visiting www.misscentralpa.org or calling Executive Director John R. Metzger at 717-248-5576.
Candlelight walk planned
The Washington County Gay Straight Alliance Inc., will host a Candlelight Walk through downtown Washington on Monday to recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance. All are welcome to participate, and walking after the program is optional. The program will begin at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Wheeling St., and end with refreshments and fellowship at the Center on Strawberry, 59 E. Strawberry Ave.
The Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial is an international movement and has been held on Nov. 20 each year since its creation in 1998. This is the fifth year the WCGSA has locally held the event, which honors transgender people who have died due to violence, hate and discrimination. For more information, visit www.WCGSA.org.