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Local Vets Honored: The honor guard of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 "Intrepid," based in West Mifflin, marches in front of Mellon Arena during the Nov. 11 Veterans' Day parade in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The unit was awarded second-place in its category by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Post Commander Charles Krebs called cadence for the drill team over the parade route.

Uniforms worn by the team spanned 50 years and numerous conflicts, from Korea through the current Iraq conflict. Members included U.S. Army veteran Jay Jabbour, who served during the Korean War; U.S. Marine Corps vet Bernard Zurawski; and U.S. Army vets Jake Bradich and Mike Mauer.

(Photo supplied by Mike Mauer)

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Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is holding a holiday auction to raise money.

Iris Valanti, food bank spokeswoman, says donors who want to support the Duquesne-based charity can also make gifts in the names of loved ones.

The online holiday auction --- which wraps up at 11 a.m. Dec. 3 --- includes prizes from The Club at Nevillewood, local museums and other attractions.

Other gifts include souvenir items, including handcrafted plates and postcards.

Visit the Food Bank's website for more information.

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Preparations are underway for the 24th annual Festival of Trees.

The celebration --- featuring hand-decorated Christmas trees that commemorate different causes, groups or organizations --- will be held from 12 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 to 9 at Jacob Woll Pavilion in Renziehausen Park.

Admission is $2 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free if they bring a canned good to donate to local food pantries.

Parking is free and the building is wheelchair accessible.

Other activities will include sleigh rides through Renzie Park, which will be decorated with luminaria after dark. Pictures with Santa will be available daily from 12 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., and refreshments will be sold by the McKeesport Alumni and Friends Association.

The nearby McKeesport Heritage Center and McKeesport Garden Club will also be open during the Festival of Trees.

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More than 200 people gathered Nov. 1 for the fifth-annual "All That's Jazz" concert at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus in McKeesport.

A spokeswoman said $56,000 was raised for the campus' scholarship fund, which brings the total raised over the past five years to $214,000.

The concert was headlined by vocalist Lynn Roberts. Organizers included Jacob Skezas, Clifford Wise, Nancy Seifert, David Pellow, Jan Pokrifka, Brian Hohman and Campus Chancellor Curtiss E. Porter.

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Also at the local Penn State campus, the Greater Allegheny Lady Lions will offer softball clinics in January. To register, visit the campus' website or call Ryan Astor at (412) 675-9460.

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Mon Valley Initiative will host a free pre-purchase housing workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at its office, 305 East 8th Ave. in Homestead.

Spokesman Mike Mauer said that all participants who successfully complete the curriculum --- funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency --- will receive a certificate to obtain low-interest, fixed-rate community development mortgage loans from local lenders.

According to Mauer, MVI's housing counseling program offers group workshops as well as individualized face-to-face counseling. More than 200 Mon-Yough area families have become first-time homeowners using the program during the past year, he said.

Future homeowners can also get information on upcoming MVI home construction. Qualifying homes are being built in Homestead, Munhall, Braddock, North Braddock, Turtle Creek, Rankin and East Pittsburgh, Mauer said.

Potential homeowners do not have to purchase a home through MVI to participate.

Breakfast and lunch are provided. To register, call MVI at (412) 464-4000 or visit its website.