Section of Fox Chapel Road closed during golf tourney
The Department of Public Works granted a permit to the United States Golf Association to close Fox Chapel Road between Fairway Lane and Riding Meadow Road in Fox Chapel for the 2024 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship.
The closures will occur from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 29 through Aug. 4.
Traffic is being detoured using Powers Run Road and Field Club Road. Residents living near the closure area will have access to their homes at all times.
Vacancies open on Sharpsburg commissions
Sharpsburg Council accepted the resignations of Mike White from the borough’s human rights commission and Peter Adams from the planning commission, respectively, on July 25.
White’s term was set to expire at the end of this year. Adams’ term was set to expire at the end of 2018.
Those interested in these volunteer positions can send letters of interest to the borough office, 1611 Main St.
Police step up efforts to curb speeding on Clay Street
New speed limit signs and an increased police presence is planned in the coming weeks along Clay Street in Sharpsburg.
The traffic calming moves are in response to Sharpsburg resident John Hohman’s concerns about aggressive driving on Clay and Altmeyer streets.
Hohman told council on July 25 that people have been traveling around 40 mph around the bends of the aforementioned roadways. He believes someone may get hurt if nothing is done.
Police Chief Thomas Stelitano said he is aware of the lack of signage and plans to work with public works crews to address the issue. Clay Street’s speed limit is 15 mph.
Cookbook club to meet Aug. 8 at library
Cooper-Siegel Community Library’s cookbook club will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at 403 Fox Chapel Road.
The club meets the second Thursday of the month at the library. Members read the same cookbook or choose a common ingredient or cuisine and prepare something to share.
The club is for 18 and older. Registration is required.
For details, call 412-828-9520.
Public welcome to close of artist’s show
Painter and marker artist Amelia Daffodilya will celebrate the close of her Rainbow Neon Sparkle Show from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main St.
The West Virginia artist draws inspiration from cartoons such as “Yu Yu Hakusho” and “Adventure Time.”
Deffodilya will be at the show to discuss her art. A portion of art sales will benefit the library.
For details, call 412-781-0783.
Summer Reading Party planned at Allegheny RiverTrail Park
The Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg community libraries will be closed Aug. 17 to take the fun off-site at Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall.
Families are invited to attend the joint 2024 Summer Reading Party from 3 to 5 p.m. at the park, 285 River Ave.
There will be free food, activities, performances and more for children of all ages.
Registration is required.
To register, call Cooper-Siegel at 412-828-9520 or Sharpsburg Community Library at 412-781-0783. Attendees also can register online coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org by clicking on the event under the events calendar.
Aspinwall gears up for Big Night Out
Aspinwall Neighbors is hosting Aspinwall’s Big Night Out, the town’s largest annual celebration of community, from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8 at the borough’s recreational fields on Field Avenue.
Big Night Out is a free event designed to bring together friends, families and neighbors for an evening of entertainment, education and fun for all ages.
Event highlights include:
● Live music by local band Paging Doctor Moon.
● Family-friendly activities, including a bounce houses, photobooth and foam party.
● Community engagement with fellow residents, local leaders and community organizations.
● A Neighborhood Lounge where residents 21 and older can enjoy local beer and spirit samples in a dedicated area; proof of ID will be required. The lounge also will offer kombucha samples provided by Vibrant Sunshine.
For the first time, food will be available to purchase on-site. There will be offerings from the Aspinwall Tee Ball Canteen, including pizza from Casa Del Sole. Proceeds from the canteen sale will go directly to Aspinwall Tee Ball. Other participants are include Aspinwall’s Cornerstone Restaurant, Spice Affair and Treat Down the Street.
Free food — cotton candy, popcorn and cookies — also will be provided by Aspinwall Neighbors while supplies last. Guests also are welcome to pack a picnic dinner.
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Public viewing of joint long-range plan set Aug. 1
Fox Chapel and O’Hara officials are planning a public reveal of the borough and township’s joint inplementable long-range plan from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at O’Hara Township Community Park.
Residents are encouraged to check out the drafted plan and comment before both communities consider adopting it.
Stop by for complimentary shaved ice, too.
A full draft of the “Joint Long-Range Plan for O’Hara Township and Fox Chapel Borough: Plan for Our Future” also is available online for public review and comment.
Residents are encouraged to review the plan and share their thoughts. To download and view a pdf of the document, as well as share comments, visit planforourfuture.com and click the respective links.
The Planning Commission for each community will consider all comments received by Aug. 12. Information about an upcoming public event to discuss the plan and share comments, as well as a public hearing advertised by the council for each community, will be posted once scheduled at planforourfuture.com.
Plan for Our Future aims to establish a policy framework for both communities during the next decade based on citizen priorities.
The plan is the result of a tremendous volume of input from many sources, including a community questionnaire that drew 1,345 responses, a wide range of interviews, several dedicated public events, public conversations and a series of pop-up booth appearances.
The plan’s Joint Steering Committee worked with staff and the consulting team to translate all input to well-targeted, practical action steps that will advance each of the key issues that proved most important to the community.
Free concert to feature meld of Chinese, Western music
Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Road, will present a summer concert by the Flying Strings Youth Ensemble from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 1.
The performance will take place in the Welcome Garden, weather permitting.
The group blends traditional Chinese and Western music. Highlights of the concert include “Ambush From All Sides” by Jin Yang and the Flying Strings Ensemble, “Seven Moments of Capriccio” by the Four Friends Chamber Group, “Tomorrow Wings” by Four Friends, “The Battle of Chu and Han” by Four Friends and solos on the erhu, piano, flute and pipa.
To register, click on the event under the events calendar at coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org.
Combined worship service planned at Hartwood Acres
Everyone is welcome to attend a combined outdoor worship service at 10 a.m. Aug. 4 at the amphitheater in Hartwood Acres Park.
A pre-worship concert will start at 9:30 a.m.
The service is a combined effort of the Elfinwild, Glenshaw, Glenshaw Valley, Hampton and Parkwood Presbyterian churches, which will lead the worship service. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs.
‘Migration’ to be shown in O’Hara park
O’Hara will host a Movie in the Park night at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at the O’Hara Township Community Park.
The PG-rated film “Migration” will be shown. Admission is free.
The 2023 animated movie tells the story about a family of ducks leaving the safety of a New England pond for an adventurous trip to Jamaica. However, plans go awry and the experience inspires them to expand their horizons.
Flea market set Sundays through October in Sharpsburg
The Sharpsburg Community Flea Market is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through the end of October along North Canal Street from the Guyasuta statue to Bonaventura Way.
The cost is $5 per spot for vendors.
For details, call 412-927-9221.
Don’t miss upcoming free entertainment at Hartwood Acres
The Allegheny County Summer Concert Series is in full swing at the Hartwood Acres Amphitheater, 4070 Middle Road.
The concerts are free and take place rain or shine. All performances start at 7:30 p.m. Sundays, with local food trucks set up on-site at 6 p.m.
Here is the remaining lineup at Hartwood Acres:
Aug. 4: Anees
Aug. 11: Matthew Whitaker
Aug. 18: MAGIC!
Aug. 25: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
Sept. 1: 24th annual Allegheny County Music Festival
The music festival, starting at 7:30 p.m., will feature two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris singing the songs of David Bowie backed by a Pittsburgh All-Star band with special guests Scott Blasey and Rob James of The Clarks.
For the festival, a $20-per-vehicle requested donation supports requests made through the Department of Human Services and the Juvenile Section of the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Since 2000, the music festival has raised nearly $550,000 for the Allegheny County Music Festival Fund.
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Donations, volunteers needed for Harvest Fair
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is seeking donations and volunteers for its Harvest Fair, scheduled Sept. 5-6.
Most home furnishings and clothes are accepted. Exceptions are mattresses, bed pillows, text books and encyclopedias.
Clothing and shoes should be in good condition and clean. Furniture pickup is available.
Drop-offs can be made from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
People should come to the Springhouse Lane side of the church.
The committee also is looking for volunteers to help sort donations and prepare them.
The huge affair requires lots of hands.
Proceeds benefit local charities such as the Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg, women’s and children’s health organizations and shelters and food banks.
For details, call 412-576-8898.
Sharpsburg seeks volunteers for bicentennial events
Sharpsburg will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2026.
Residents interested in planning or volunteering to help with any events are invited to sign up for the borough’s Bicentennial Committee.
To access the signup form, visit sharpsburgborough.com and scanning the QR code under the header “Want to help plan the bicentennial events?”
The borough anticipates having multiple events throughout the anniversary year and will need lots of help.
Group offers support for weight loss
All are welcome to join the men and women at Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) who are learning how to lose weight.
With in-person meetings, rewards, support and encouragement, we gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise.
You may visit with no obligation Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. in Oakmont. Weigh-in is private followed by a brief business meeting, sharing time, and educational program all ending by 7:15.
There is well-lit parking, wheelchair accessibility and security. For details, call 412-828-3854 or e-mail jmjkwj@gmail.com.
Host families sought for upcoming school year
Expand your horizons and learn about a new culture by bringing an exchange student into your family this fall.
AFSUSA, one of the oldest exchange programs in the country, is looking for host families for the coming school year.
Students can stay for a half-year or full year, or you can be a “welcome” family for six weeks.
Students from Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Brazil, Thailand and Ghana are hoping to find homes in Western Pennsylvania.
More than 130 countries participate in the program and AFS matches students to families according to their interests and lifestyle.
Students participating in the program come from 140 countries and can be placed with families with children, empty-nesters or single adults.
For details, call Carol Huff at 412-848-8095.
Library’s pantry in need of supplies
Sharpsburg Community Library’s Little Free Pantry at 1212 Main St. needs some supplies.
A wish list was posted online at coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org/sharpsburg.
Items requested include small bags of cookies and snacks, pudding cups, applesauce and fruit cups, instant oatmeal, Campbell’s chunky soups, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
The pantry is stocked three times weekly and is completely supported through donations.
For details, call the library at 412-781-0783.
Nominations open for sports hall of fame
Nominations for the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame are being accepted.
Nominations can be for any player, team or team builder such as a coach, equipment manager, broadcaster or someone who made a significant impact on a team. It is open to all sports.
Nominees must have lived in the borough at some point in time.
The Sharpsburg Historical Commission is expecting to induct three individuals and one team to the hall of fame. Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 31, and the induction ceremony will take place in the fall.
For details and nomination forms, visit the borough website at sharpsburgborough.com.