Tai Chi classes, International Women group meeting and more in Monroeville

Beginner Tai Chi classes offered at senior center

Instructor Steve Bodnar teaches beginner Sun Tai Chi classes at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and advance classes at 9 a.m. Thursdays at the Monroeville Senior Citizens Center, 6000 Gateway Campus Blvd. Cost is $5 per class. For details, call 412-856-7825.

International Women schedules meetings

The International Women group will meet March 6 and April 3 at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, 2310 Haymaker Road in Monroe­ville.

The March 6 program will feature speaker Carol Chernega discussing “How to Create an English Garden.” Chernega worked in Jane Austen’s garden in Chawton, England, and will show how to add “a touch of English” to American gardens.

The April 3 meeting will feature singer and trombonist Gene Horner, entertaining with sounds from the big band era.

Meetings are at 9:30 a.m. in the church. Babysitting is available through the church’s “Mother’s Day Out” program. Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance by calling 412-373-1181.

April 13 is Pa. deadline to change voter status

The state’s primary election will be held April 28.

Voters who have moved, changed their name or wish to change their political party affiliation must register with the Allegheny County Elections Division at least 15 days prior. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. April 13.

For details, call 412-350-4500 or visit alleghenycounty.us/elections/voter-registration.

Learn how to make a terrarium

Join Jayme Visnesky, owner of Penn Hills Lawn and Garden, as she demonstrates how to create a terrarium.

Indoor gardening with terrariums is a fun and attractive way to incorporate plants into any home decor. Traditionally made of curved glass with a tight lid, a terrarium has a base of gravel, charcoal, moss and soil. Visnesky will discuss types of terrarium plants, care and maintenance, and explain why terrariums are so popular and fun.

The class will be held at 1 p.m. March 25 at Our Lady of Joy Parish Social Hall, 2000 O’Block Road in Plum. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by SOS Serving our Seniors Ministry. For details, call Kathy at 412-310-1490 or email kakb5101@gmail.com.

Purim celebration set at Temple David

Temple David will perform an original “shpiel” for Purim.

“Something religious / Something prodigious / Something for every Jew / A Purim shpiel tonight!”

“Shushan Confidential,” an original musical comedy (shpiel) celebrating the spirit of the Jewish holiday of Purim, is based on the biblical story (megillah) of Esther and authored by Monroeville’s Temple David’s song-parodist extraordinaire, Fred Bortz.

A lively group of shpielers will enthrall the congregation and guests with their performance immediately following the Megillah Reading on March 9.

The shpiel invites the audience to discover the backstories that answer questions they never knew they had:

• Who was exiled Queen Vashti’s divorce attorney?

• Was villainous Prime Minister Haman’s twin sister cheated out of a win in King Ahasuerus’s beauty pageant?

• Why were eunuchs Bigthan and Teresh so angry that they plotted to kill the King?

Set as a television talk show hosted by Eubie the Eunuch and including an Elvis impersonator plus commercials with jingles from the Royal city of Shushan’s finest businesses, the shpiel’s six familiar melodies with repurposed lyrics will introduce the everyday “Persian-alities” behind the Purim story.

For details, call 412-856-9312.

Methodist church plans weekly lenten events

Monroeville United Methodist will host weekly Lent-related events starting March 4 through April 1 at 219 Center Road in Monroeville. Each program will be held on Wednesday.

• There will be a book study, “The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life” by Adam Hamilton, led by the Rev. Ed Schoeneck from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Copies of the book are available at the church.

• There will be a program with a lesson and worship music starting at 6:45 p.m. each Wednesday. The program will include activities for children and child care for those younger than 3.

• Monoreville United Methodist also will host different Christian churches that are members of the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium each Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. through April 1. Leaders will belong to various Christian denominations.

For details, call 412-372-7474 or visit MonroevilleUMC.org.