Hear heavenly music at county courthouse

The public is invited to attend the annual Christmas Concert Series at Mercer County Courthouse throughout December, performed by area middle school and high school students. Performances begin at 12:30 p.m. in the courthouse rotunda, and last about 25 minutes. Seating is available.

Performances continue: Dec. 14, Sharpsville High School; Dec. 15, Reynolds High School; Dec. 16, Lakeview High School; Dec. 17, West Middlesex Oakview Middle School; Dec. 18, Mercer High School; and Dec. 22, Kennedy Catholic High School.

Christmas party planned at counseling center

The Mercer County Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill will hold a Christmas party at 6 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Community Counseling Center 2201 E. State St., Hermitage. There will be games with small prizes and a pot luck supper. NAMI will provide soft drinks and ham. Please bring your favorite side dish. RSVP to 724-981-6193 ext. 167.

Go for a walk and pick out your holiday cookies

The Lakeview High School Students for Charity and the Lakeview Educational Foundation are sponsoring a Christmas Cookie Walk from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 18 in the cafeteria of Lakeview High School. Cost is $4 per dozen, or $9 per box (containers will be provided). Funds raised will provide scholarships to Lakeview students and assist community members and organizations in need. The Students for Charity profits are matched by the Shenango Valley Foundation.

Info: Andrea Hoovler, 724-376-7911.

Historical Society sets candlelight Christmas concert

MERCER -- The Mercer County Historical Society will present a free candlelight Christmas concert from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, December 18th at the Helen Black Miller Memorial Chapel, 119 South Pitt St., Mercer. This concert will feature a variety of seasonal selections and traditional carols performed by the Mercer County Historical Society Chamber Players. Details: 724-662-3490.

Join in community Christmas dinner

The deacons of Tower Presbyterian Church, 248 S. Broad St., Grove City, are planning their annual free Christmas Day dinner, to be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 25 in Williamson Hall at the church.

Social time begins at 12:30, and carol singing will follow at 1:45. Anyone from Grove City and surrounding areas is welcome to attend. Reservations are needed by Dec. 18; call the church office at 724-458-7260.

Flu clinic set

UPMC Horizon will host a public seasonal flu vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon, 875 N. Hermitage Road, Hermitage. Cost of the vaccine is $25 and only cash and checks will be accepted. Appointments are required. Info: 724-347-7700 or 1-866-347-7700.

Railroad display returns to Harmony Museum

The annual Christmas season display of the Yobp-Eckstein log house village and toy railroad will be on view until early January in the Harmony Museum’s Wagner House annex during regular guided museum tours from 1 to 4 p.m. daily except Mondays and holidays. The late William Yobp of New Kensington began crafting the display’s buildings, sleighs, wagons and boats in the mid-1930s as a Christmas display in his family’s New Kensington living room. Yobp gave the eight buildings to his son-in-law, Ronald Eckstein of Forward Township, for the platform Eckstein built for a Western & Atlantic Railroad train. Harmony is at I-79 exits 87 and 88, about 10 miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and 30 miles south of I-80.

Remember children at annual candle lighting

SHARPSVILLE — Members of the Mercer County chapter of The Compassionate Friends will join hundreds of organized memorial services around the world, to light candles in remembrance of all the children who have died at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sharpsville First United Methodist Church, 148 E. Shenango St.

The event will feature music, readings, a slide presentation of our children, candle lighting and refreshments.

The Compassionate Friends is a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child.

Info: Donna Holter, 724-342-0035, or Chris Bell, 724-347-2015.

Church celebrates 62nd anniversary Sunday

FARRELL — Greater Mt. Zion Church of God in Christ, 1825 Roemer Blvd., will celebrate the church’s 62nd church anniversary during morning services at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Guest speaker Elder Leroy Eddington will be accompanied by the choir and congregation of Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ, Niles. Ohio. The local church was founded by the late Bishop Odis Alexander and his wife, the late Mother Virginia Alexander in 1947. At 5 p.m. a service entitled “Fruit of the Spirit” will be held. The public is welcome to attend both services.

Mercer church offering free gift wrapping

MERCER — Mercer's Trinity Presbyterian Church is offering free gift wrapping to anyone in the community from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the Horace Mann Insurance Agency, 109 North Diamond St.

Church members will provide wrapping paper and gift tags, along with refreshments. The community is also invited to join the church’s choir for a carol sing from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Agency. Info: 724-662-2680.

Historical society taking toy donations for holidays

MERCER — Mercer County Historical Society will be a drop-off point this holiday season for toys for the annual Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Campaign. A box will be available in the society’s lobby until Tuesday for new, unwrapped toys. The Marines will distribute these toys to needy children in Mercer County. To complement this project, the Historical Society will use the theme “Timeless Toys” in the Christmas display in its lobby. Those dropping off donations will enjoy seeing the society’s collection of vintage toys.

The society is located at 119 S. Pitt St., Mercer.

‘Adopt’ a care facility resident for the holidays

MERCER — The “Presents for Patients” program will help 399 residents in care facilities in Mercer County experience a merrier holiday this year.

Community members are asked to consider “adopting” a resident by agreeing to personally deliver a small gift to the individual over the holidays. Businesses, families, individuals and groups are welcome to participate.

Locally, Countryside Convalescent Home, Mercer, and Grove Manor, Grove City, are participating.

Info: 724-443-0011, or www.PresentsForPatients.com