We know fall seems far away, but September and October are always  busy months, and this year will be busier than ever.  If you want to plan ahead, here’s a preview of things to come:

CENTENNIAL PARADE  On Saturday, September 8,  a huge parade marking Mt. Lebanon’s 100th anniversary will begin mid-afternoon near the high school and wind up Uptown with a family street party.  Fire Chief Nick Sohyda, who is coordinating the parade, is hoping many organizations will create Centennial-themed floats for the event. Renting a trailer for a float is surprisingly inexpensive, and there is a wealth of information on the web available about making floats, so if your company or nonprofit group is  interested, contact Sohyda at 412-343-3402.  Antique cars are also needed to “chauffeur” dignitaries.

BREW FEST to benefit the Veterans Memorial is on again for the third consecutive year, scheduled for Saturday, September 22, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Clearview Common.  Sponsored  by Mt. Lebanon Municipality and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the event is being organized by Veterans Memorial Chair Dan Gigler, Municipal Public Information Officer Susan Morgans and District Magistrate Blaise Larotonda, representing the Sunrise Rotary.  Many of the last year’s popular microbrews will return for the 2012 event, along with Uptown Rhythm and Brass, which played to rave reviews last year. There will be food, a raffle and room for about 600 ticketholders.  Ticket prices will stay at $25 in advance, $30 at the gate and will be available online, at the customer service center in the municipal building, at Howard Hanna and at various retail outlets beginning in July. Veterans Memorial co-chair Rocky Bleier, who was out of town for last year’s Brew Fest, is planning to attend this year.  The additional funds raised through Brew Fest 2012 will ensure that major donors’ names  can be beautifully engraved on the memorial, which is under construction on Morgan Drive at the entrance to Mt. Lebanon Park and will be dedicated Sunday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. It will also provide seed funding for a permanent maintenance fund. To donate to the memorial, go to www.mtlebanon.org

PLEIN AIR MT. LEBANON There’s a brand new event coming next fall—Plein Air Mt. Lebanon, sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon Partnership.  Plein air painting dates back to the days of the Impressionists, who painted landscapes in the fresh air, but the art form is becoming increasingly popular in today’s art world says  architectural illustrator David Csont of UDA, who also is a plein air painter.  From October 1-6, plein air painters from around the country will come to Mt. Lebanon, stay in local homes and make paintings of houses, building, landscapes—whatever appeals to them.  People will be welcome to watch the artists as they document our community on canvas.  Their work will be entered into a juried show that will take place Friday evening with a grand prize of $3,000.  All the works will be for sale. Then on Saturday from 10 to noon, there will be a “paint-off” in which anyone—kids, teens, amateurs—are  invited to paint in the Uptown business district, with those works also for sale.  Adding to the fun of Plein Air Mt. Lebanon’s weekend will be the Sunrise Rotary’s Art in the Park, which features a variety of arts and crafts.  It will move from its usual location in Mt. Lebanon Park to Uptown’s Academy lot and run both Saturday and Sunday.  Plein Air will conclude with community block party Uptown on Saturday night.  The Partnership is looking for sponsors for prizes and other activities.  For information, contact Commercial Districts Manager Eric Milliron, 412-343-3412.
—Susan Fleming Morgans
smorgans@mtlebanon.org