To have your news or event listed in our briefs section, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.
Fox Chapel police offer peace of mind for vacationers
Planning a summer getaway?
Before leaving, the Fox Chapel Police Department advises everyone to secure their home. Borough residents also are encouraged to take advantage of the department’s free Vacation Watch Program.
By signing up, officers will periodically check the perimeter of your property while you are away to ensure there are no signs of suspicious activity. The timing and frequency of the checks will depend on the department’s call volume and other assignments.
Requests should be submitted at least one week in advance. To sign up, visit frontlinepss.com/foxchapelpa.
Officers also shared the following home security reminders:
• Ask a trusted neighbor to collect your mail and packages or put a hold on your mail at your local post office.
• Put a few indoor and outdoor lights on timers.
• Double check that all doors and windows are locked.
• Wait to share your vacation photos on social media until you return home.
Seeking neighbor nods
The Fox Chapel Herald welcomes reader nominations for its weekly Neighbor Spotlight profile, which features residents of communities within the Fox Chapel Area School District.
To nominate a neighbor, email reporter Joyce Hanz at jhanz@triblive.com. Neighbors can be any age but not an elected official.
Please include your name and contact number, as well as the name of the person you are nominating.
Citizen scientists sought for study of spotted lanternflies
The community is invited a Spotted Lanternfly Invasive Archive from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Sharpsburg Community Library.
Adults and children in third grade and above are welcome to participate in this citizen science opportunity, where ordinary people collect data, share their observations and make a difference in the world. Elementary-age participants must be accompanied by an adult.
The invasive spotted lanternfly has taken over. Join certified Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Melanie Linn Gutowski to learn about citizen science, the history of the spotted lanternfly in our area and the specifics of the Spotted Lanternfly Invasion Archive. The archive is a project designed to combine community engagement with the creation of a historical record of an invasive species. Participants collect samples of Spotted Lanternflies from various locations in the United States. Samples are then studied to further understand genetic, morphological, and metabolic traits of this species as they change in our environments.
After a brief presentation, everyone will go outside near the library to collect specimens, examine them and prepare submissions to the project.
Registration is required. To register, call Sharpsburg Community Library at 412-781-0783 or go online at coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com/event/spotted-lanternfly-invasion-archive-43261.
Outing for dogs coming up at Hartwood Acres
The Dog Days of Summer will return from 6 to 8 p.m. July 21 at the Hartwood Acres Dog Park off Red Loop Drive.
Staff members from the Veterinary Emergency Group will be doing CPR demonstrations, and Camp Bow Wow will have giveaways and pet information available.
Free Dog Days of Summer events are hosted at several Allegheny County parks throughout the summer. The next outings, both from 6 to 8 p.m., are set for July 28 at Settlers Cabin Dog Park, off Te Pee Drive in Collier Township, and Aug. 4 in White Oak Dog Park, off Sylvan Drive in White Oak.
The events are weather-permitting; in case of inclement weather, check for updates on the Allegheny County Parks Facebook page.
Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals and adhering to all policies and regulations of the off-leash dog areas.
Type O blood donors needed
Nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant is facing a critical shortage of type O blood.
Since May, the type O blood supply has decreased and recently dropped to a two-year low. The July 4 travel week impacted donor turnout, with Vitalant collecting several thousand fewer blood donations during that time.
Every two seconds, a patient in the U.S. needs a transfusion, and O blood is the most transfused blood type. It is especially lifesaving in emergencies, when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type. O-negative can help any patient. O-positive can help anyone with a positive blood type.
Blood donors of all types, especially those with type O, as well as platelet donors, are urged to make an appointment at one of Vitalant’s eight donation centers in the Pittsburgh area or at community-hosted blood drives by visiting vitalant.org, downloading and using the Vitalant app or calling 877-258-4825.
Through Aug. 8, all Vitalant donors will automatically be entered to win a car, valued up to $30,000. For details, visit vitalant.org/cargiveaway.
Quilt show celebrates 250 years of America
The North Pittsburgh Quilters Guild will present “Stitching Together Our History,” a quilt show celebrating 250 years of America, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11 and 12 and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Ross Community Center, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive.
The theme of the show is not patriotic, but historic. It will feature more than 100 quilts, vendors and a raffle quilt.
Admission is $10.
For details, visit npqg.org.
Protect yourself against phone and email scams
The O’Hara Township Police Department is reminding residents to stay vigilant against phone, email, text and social media scams.
Protect yourself with these tips:
• Be cautious of unexpected calls, emails, texts or messages.
• Never share personal, banking or credit card information with unsolicited contacts.
• Don’t click suspicious links or open attachments from unknown senders.
• Verify callers by contacting the organization directly using a trusted phone number, not one they provide.
• Be wary of anyone demanding immediate payment or threatening consequences.
• Never send gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or money to someone you haven’t independently verified.
• Talk with older family members about common scams because they often are targeted by fraudsters.
If something feels suspicious, pause and verify before you act.
If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam, call the O’Hara police immediately at 412-782-1403.
Farm to Fork dining experience winding down for season
Two summer dining experiences remain in the Farm to Fork Series at the large barn on Chatham University’s Eden Hall Campus, 6035 Ridge Road, in Richland.
The meals will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. July 23 and Aug. 13.
Reservations are recommended to help eliminate food waste.
The seasonal menus will be posted at farmtofork.chatham.edu as they become available.
The local farms and vendors include Eden Hall Farm, Sunny Harvest Farms in Kirkwood, Blue Goose Farm in Nicktown and Yarnick’s Farm in Indiana.
For details, call 412-365-1506.
Mural artist sought for project at Sharpsburg library
Sharpsburg Community Library is seeking a mural artist to design an create an approximately 64-square-foot outdoor work in the exterior courtyard of the library, 1212 Main St., by October.
The theme is “What can you grow with your imagination?” The mural should connect to the importance of a library in the community.
The library is partnering with the local nonprofit Artspiration, which will assist in the application process, selection and project management.
The pay is $3,000 for the mural, supplies and installation.
Applications are open from July 1-15, and applicants must reside in Allegheny County.
To view the request for qualifications, a project overview and to apply, visit artspirationpgh.org.
Sharpsburg survey to assess emergency preparedness
The Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization in collaboration with the Sharpsburg Emergency Management Team is asking all residents to complete an Emergency Preparedness Resident Survey to ensure everyone is accounted for in case of a wide-spread emergency.
The goal is to ensure the borough’s residents, especially its older population and those living with disabilities, are able to quickly be connected with resources and information if an emergency arises.
Everyone who completes the survey is eligible to receive an emergency readiness kit from the Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization.
All information shared is kept strictly confidential.
To participate in the survey, visit bit.ly/SBG-ReadinessSurvey.
Free concerts lined up along river
Allegheny RiverTrail Park is hosting its sixth annual Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Short family.
• Aug. 14: Fruition with opener Donora. For nearly two decades, Fruition has built its genre-bending version of American roots music around harmony — not just the vocal interplay of the band’s three songwriters, but the deeper harmony created between five friends who’ve spent years on the road together. The band melds rock, folk, pop, soul and Americana.
• Sept. 11: The Clarks. The four original members Scott Blasey (vocals, acoustic guitar), Rob James (six- and 12-string electric guitars, vocals), Greg Joseph (bass, vocals) and Dave Minarik (drums, vocals) first met while students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the late 1980s. With a highlight reel that includes “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Simpsons” and most recently “The Pitt” among others, The Clarks are enjoying their time together as a band now more than ever. Singing and playing new songs and celebrating 40 years together has rekindled a fire in the band’s sometimes broken, sometimes mended hearts.
The free series features nationally rising artists, some of Pittsburgh’s favorite bands, a waterfront stage, expanded food and drink options and unbeatable views.
The concerts take place on the second Friday of each month from through September.
Attendees are welcome to arrive as early as 5 p.m. to grab a spot on the lawn, a beer from Trace Brewing and food from various alternating food truck options. All shows start at 7 p.m.
Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket. Boaters are welcome to float on the Allegheny River and enjoy the music from the water.
This year’s media partner is 91.3 WYEP-FM.
For details, visit alleghenyrivertrailpark.org/summer-concert-series.
Blawnox Food Pantry will be open July 31
The Blawnox Food Pantry will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 31 at the borough building, 376 Freeport Road.
No registration, proof of residency or income is required.
The pantry serves about 40 households on the last Friday of each month.
Those wanting to donate to the pantry can do so during normal business hours.
Items in need include canned goods, cereals, baby products, toiletries and laundry detergents.
For details, call the borough office at 412-828-4141.
Cake Walk Bingo set for July 26
The Sharpsburg Veterans of Wars Post 709 is hosting a Cake Walk Bingo on July 26.
Doors will open at 2 p.m. The cake walk is set for 3 p.m. followed by bingo at 4.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25.
Everyone brings a cake or dessert. It can be homemade or store-bought.
Participants who do not bring a cake or dessert do not get in.
The cake walk contest involves taking one slice or piece from each.
Everyone gets two votes, one for presentation and one for taste.
Bingo tickets include 10 regular games; specials and jackpot are sold separately. One card is $2 and three cards are $5.
Other activities include a basket auction, 50-50 raffle. A cash bar will be available, and the kitchen will be open.
For details, call 412-781-7771.
Health survey open to county residents
What health issues matter most in your community? Access to care? Mental health? Clean air and water? Safe neighborhoods?
The Allegheny County Health Department is inviting residents to share their perspectives through its Community Health Assessment, a countywide survey to better understand the health concerns, challenges and opportunities facing its 130 communities.
The anonymous survey is open to all residents 18 and older and takes about 20 minutes to complete. The feedback gathered will help guide future health initiatives, investments and community partnerships designed to improve the health and well-being of everyone.
The survey also will help shape the next Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, the county’s roadmap for addressing community health priorities.
To participate, visit tinyurl.com/4zdd7629.
Paper copies are available by emailing healthcommunityengagement@alleghenycounty.us.
Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of 80 $100 gift cards.
Ten winners will be randomly selected each month through December. Winners will be notified via the email address they provide at the end of the survey.
Summer programs, family exercise, game night set at center
The Lauri Ann West Community Center at 1220 Powers Run Road in O’Hara is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It is an independent, nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer-based board of directors. Open seven days a week, 360 days per year, the center is a welcoming gathering place for all. The Lauri Ann West Community Center builds connections, expands horizons and impacts lives by providing a safe place for all to learn, play and grow. Community events are free and open to all neighbors; a fitness membership not required.
Here are some upcoming events:
• Mah Jongg Open Play: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays in July. Individuals looking for a group are welcome to come and make new friends. Bring your own cards; we also have some here. Registration opens on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. for the following week. To register, visit lauriannwestcc.org/programs/speakerseries-events.
• Wine Wednesdays — Summer Music on the Scott Family Patio Series: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 29. Michael Berkey will bring his guitar and fresh sounds to the community center. In the event of inclement weather or extreme heat, the performance will move indoors. Bring your own chairs, beverages (wine not mandatory) and snacks. Food also will be available for purchase through Aspinwall Everyday Gourmet. This event is sponsored by Mary Margaret and Lloyd Stamy. Mark your calendars: Aug. 26 is Devin Russian.
• Specialty Summer Camps: The center partners with local organizations to offer a variety of sports-themed camps, including Tennis and Basketball. These one-hour, one-week camps provide participants with the opportunity to develop their skills, stay active and learn from experienced instructors in a fun and supportive environment. To learn more, visit lauriannwestcc.org/summer-camps-2026.
Already attending one of the Pre-K Summer Camps and interested in extending the day? Add Lunch Camp and/or Afternoon Sports for even more fun and activities.
PreK Lunch Camp: Offered from noon to 1 p.m. the weeks of Aug. 3 and 10 as a way to extend the morning camp, connect the morning and Specialty Camps, or make a longer afternoon for the Specialty Camp.
School-age programming includes:
Week of Aug. 3: School-Age Basketball Camp — 2 to 3 p.m.
Week of Aug. 10: School-Age Tennis Camp — 2 to 3 p.m.
To register, visit lauriannwestcc.org/summer-camps-2026.
Aspinwall officers to host ‘Polar Express’ showing
The Aspinwall police will host a movie in the park July 24, featuring “The Polar Express” for a Christmas in July celebration.
Bring your bicycles to the Aspinwall Recreational Area for a ride at 7 p.m., followed by a pizza party and the movie starting at 8:30.
Don’t forget to bring your family, friends, blankets and holiday spirit.
It’s a fun night out for the entire community.
Music festival coming to Sharpsburg in September
The Sharpsburg Summer Jam music festival will kick off at 1 p.m. Sept. 19 in Kennedy park, North Canal St.
There will be bands and acoustic music throughout the day. Performers will include The Turpentiners, Laurel Lowlifes, The 9th Ward, Americana, Band Together PGH, Devin Russian, Michael Berkey, Paul Rouse, Wild Bill Cox, Ukulele Mollie and more.
There also will be food trucks, local brewers, ice cream and funnel cakes.
For details, email parksandrec@sharpsburgborough.com.
Fire department seeks members
Volunteering with the Fox Chapel Volunteer Fire Department is a great way to give back to your community.
The department is welcomes new volunteer firefighters and members to assist with administrative tasks. Members come from diverse backgrounds and vary in age.
While it is demanding work that requires extensive training, the camaraderie and sense of achievement from helping others during a crisis are unmatched.
To explore how your skills can benefit the community, visit foxchapelvfd.com or email the department at info@foxchapelvfd.com.
CityHope Center offering free breakfast, lunch for kids
CityHope Center/Sharpsburg Family Worship Center is serving free breakfast and lunch for children 18 and younger during the summer months through Aug. 7.
Breakfast will be provided from 9 to 10 a.m., and lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. at the center, 610 Clay St. in Sharpsburg.
No registration is necessary.
For details, visit cityhopepgh.org.
Free summer day camp available this summer
The CityHope Center/Sharpsburg Family Worship Center also is offering a free summer day camp for children entering kindergarten through eighth grade from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through July 30.
Breakfast and lunch is included.
To register, visit tinyurl.com/87w6vt44.
For details, visit cityhopepgh.org or email info@cityhopepgh.org.
Garden help sought
Volunteers are needed to help with the Blawnox Community Garden.
Garden work nights are held every Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. at Blawnox Community Park along Center Avenue. Everyone is welcome.
For details, call 412-828-4141.
Helpers sought to tend to Sharpsburg’s vegetable garden
The Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization is in need of volunteers to help with the Sharpsburg Market Garden at 124 13th St.
The goal is to raise more than 800 pounds of produce again this year to help feed our community.
Seasoned gardeners, beginners and anyone curious and willing to get their hands dirty are welcome.
Benefits include learning new skills, meeting new people, sharing food and community, enjoying nature, eating your vegetables and helping us exceed our goal.
To sign up, visit bit.ly/4shWL73.
Walking tours to highlight Aspinwall history
An Aspinwall History Walking Tour is planned from 2 to 3 p.m. July 19, Aug. 9 and 13 and Sept. 13 and 20.
Participants will meet at Aspinwall Beans & Cream, 16 Brilliant Ave. They’ll learn about the historic architecture, founding families and history of how the borough developed.
The leisurely one-hour walk is open to all ages and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Light refreshments will conclude the tour.
The cost is $25 for adults in advance or $30 the day of the tour, $10 for children 4 to 12 and free for 3 and younger.
For details and make a reservation, email terryntaylor@verizon.net.
For additional information, visit aspinwallpa.gov/event-details/aspinwall-history-walking-tour-2026-06-07-14-00.
Proceeds benefit Aspinwall community organizations.
Summer concert series in full swing at Hartwood Acres
Allegheny County’s 2026 summer concert series starts soon at Hartwood Acres Amphitheater in Hampton.
The free concerts are open to all ages.
Offerings from local food trucks will be available starting at 6 p.m. The bands take the stage at 7:30 p.m.
For details, visit alleghenycounty.us/Parks-and-Events/Special-Events/Summer-Concerts-Series.
Here’s the remaining lineup at Hartwood Acres:
July 19: Cyril Neville (New Orleans jazz/funk); opener: Norside
July 26: Arrested Development (Atlanta-based early ’90s hip-hop); opener: Cam Chambers
Aug. 2: The Wood Brothers (Americana/folk/acoustic); presented by 91.3 WYEP-FM with opener Ric Robertson
Aug. 9: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (big band/swing)
Aug. 16: The Lemon Twigs (alternative/power pop/glam rock)
Aug. 23: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Aug. 30: Blasey Does the Beatles (British invasion)
Sept. 6: Buzz Poets (’90s Pittsburgh rock); opener: New Invisible Joy
School items sought to help students in need
North Hills Community Outreach is collecting school items through Aug. 10 to stock its pantries.
Donations can be dropped off at any of its three offices from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon April 5 at its main office, 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton.
Other locations are NHCO Millvale on the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., and at NHCO North Boroughs at Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.
Items needed include new backpacks, colored pencils, 24-pack crayons, erasers, glue sticks, highlighters and markers, loose-leaf paper, notebooks, binders, pens, pencils/mechanical pencils, pencil boxes and sharpeners, pocket folders, rulers, scissors and Texas Instruments graphing calculators for advanced high school science and math. The TI calculators can be gently used as long as they work.
Donations also can be ordered from NHCO’s Amazon wishlist and sent directly to its office.
The organization’s next drive is themed Back to School. School supplies will be collected from June 8-Aug. 10. Last year, nearly 890 students received supplies.
Suicide prevention training aims to save lives
Penn State Extension is offering free webinars on evidence-based training aimed at saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.
Participants can choose from one of the following two-hour training sessions, each held from 1 to 3 p.m. July 21, Aug. 25, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20.
Penn State Extension educators will lead the QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention training. “Question, Persuade and Refer,” which was developed by the QPR Institute, teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to offer hope to someone in need and how to get help.
Designed for all people, regardless of profession, who are concerned about helping others, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention intended to interrupt a crisis and direct someone to proper care. Attendees will discuss potential scenarios and engage in active listening and persuasion techniques.
Penn State Extension offers the seminar free of charge, but participants must register by 11:59 p.m. the day before the event to receive the link to access the webinar. The recording link will not be available after the webinar.
Continuing education credits are available.
For details and to register, visit the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu/qpr-gatekeeper-suicide-prevention-training-webinar or call 1-877-345-0691.
Veterans Place seeks volunteer mentors
Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard is seeking mentors for its Mentorship Program, which connects veterans with supportive volunteers who can provide guidance, encouragement and practical support as they work toward personal and professional goals.
The program helps veterans strengthen their support systems, stay connected to available resources and work toward self-sufficiency.
Veterans Place, serving veterans since 1996, offers a wide range of support in the Pittsburgh area, including housing assistance, employment programs and access to community-based resources.
Veteran status is not required to be a mentor. Veterans Place said shared military experience can help mentors connect with participants, but the most important qualities are dependability, strong communication, patience, consistency and a supportive, nonjudgmental approach.
Mentors provide regular check-ins, help with goal-setting and connect mentees with resources. The program is open to people who are willing to listen, share knowledge and commit to helping veterans grow.
Community members interested in becoming mentors or learning more should contact James Smith, Mentorship Program liaison, at 412-844-0716 or jsmith@veteransplaceusa.org to schedule a meeting and review next steps.
Grant covers free spay, neuter surgeries for Sharpsburg residents, veterans
Animal Friends provides free spay and neuter surgeries for owned dogs and cats within its partner communities of McKees Rocks, Millvale, Mt. Oliver and Sharpsburg.
The program is made possible by a grant from the McS Charitable Foundation. In addition, the program will be available to veterans regardless of their location.
Any dog or cat owner who resides in one of these communities or is a veteran and wishes to be considered for the service should complete an application at tinyurl.com/29z4vev so a member of the clinic team can reach out.
Spaying and neutering are among the most impactful choices one can make to protect their pet’s health and help reduce pet overpopulation. These safe, routine procedures prevent unwanted litters, reducing the number of animals entering shelters each year. In addition to easing overcrowding, spaying and neutering can lower the risk of certain cancers, decrease roaming and behavioral challenges, and often lead to longer, healthier lives.
The grant covers the cost of the spay or neuter surgery, including pain medication, a complimentary nail trim and e-collar. All other services, such as vaccines, will be at the expense of the owner.
For assistance with scheduling a feral cat, call Animal Friends directly at 412-847-7004.