tennis anyone?

Last year’s inaugural Serve2Cure tennis tourney raised $20,000 for the American Cancer Society, and organizers hope this year’s event, planned for June 22 through June 24 at the Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center, will be even more successful.

Brainstormed by a group of Mt. Lebanon friends who are avid tennis players, Serve2Cure includes many levels of amateur tennis, featured pro matches, a basket raffle, a 50/50 raffle and refreshments. Players can take part in up to two events among men’s open doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, juniors singles and seniors doubles and mixed. Doubles levels are 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. (If you don’t know what that is, you should probably just come and watch the matches with us.)
For registration, sponsorship and details, go to  www.serve2cure.org.

Also, Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center also will host the West Penn Amateur and pro circuit PNC Men’s Futures of Pittsburgh, June 30-July 8.

The West Penn is an amateur event showcasing top college players from around the country. The Men’s Futures is a USTA pro event where world class players compete for a $10,000 purse and ATP points that allow them to gain entry to large competitions.
For more information go to www.mtlebanontennis.com or contact tournament director Dan Hackett at 412-571-5441 or danhackettcpa@yahoo.com.

puttin’ on the ritz

The Denis Theatre Foundation will host a gala benefit honoring DDI’s Bill and Carolyn Byham—Mt. Lebanon residents known for their support of the arts in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh and their community—at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, at the Reed Smith Terrace and Grand Foyer, 225 Fifth Avenue. Nadine Bognar of E.J. Bognar and Joseph Smith of Dollar Bank will host an evening of entertainment by Dana Cefalo, a silent auction of film and art items and a variety of food and beverages. Tickets are $150 per person; a $250 patron ticket gets you into a private reception between 5:30 and 6:30.

In addition to Bognar and Dollar Bank, sponsors are Bill and Vivian Benter, BNY Mellon, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Metz & Lewis and UPMC Health Plan.The Denis Theatre Foundation is a nonprofit organization working to restore and reopen the 73-year-old Washington Road theater. In 2010, the foundation purchased the theater and has hosted special events and community programs to raise funds for the estimated $4.5 million needed to restore three theaters and add multiple meeting rooms, a small stage and a lounge area. For details about the project and to donate, go to www.denistheatre.org

venus on the move

The Transit of Venus happens when the planet Venus passes between the sun and the Earth. It would be similar to a lunar eclipse, except Venus does not block the sun; instead it appears as a small dot crawling across the face of the sun.
The next Transit of Venus is Tuesday, June 5. Although the last one occurred in 2004, the next one isn’t due until 2117—so you better look now.

That said, we are not encouraging you all to wander outside and stare directly at the sun (never a good idea). Instead, we suggest you stop at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s large upper lot between 6 and 9 p.m., for a chance to see this phenomenon from telescopes and as projected images. Members of Friends of the Zeiss, an organization formed to preserve some of the Buhl Planetarium’s historic equipment and artifacts, will be on hand to help and answer questions. The event is free.