O’Hara collecting supplies through Oct. 15 for hurricane victims
O’Hara officials are partnering with Brother’s Brother to collect cleaning supplies and travel-sized items for personal hygiene kits for the victims of Hurricane Helene.
Cleaning supplies needed include bleach, mops, buckets, rubber and plastic gloves, sponges, brooms and trash bags, including kitchen and large heavy duty.
Trial and travel-sized hygiene items needed include flushable wipes, feminine products, hand sanitizer, deodorant, body wash, tissues, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner or all-in-one types, bar soap, lotion and chapstick.
Items can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in the lobby of the township building, 325 Fox Chapel Road.
Cornhole players sought for fundraiser to benefit local youths
The Pittsburgh North Optimist Foundation is organizing a cornhole tournament fundraiser from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 13 at Aspinwall Riverfront Park, 285 River Ave.
Up to 32 teams will compete for prizes and help to raise money for various local youth programs and causes.
The registration fee is $50 per person and $100 per team of two. There will be adult and nonalcoholic beverages and a food truck on-site.
To sign up your team or to donate, visit pittsburghoptimist.com/2024-cornhole-tournament.
Blood drive at high school open to community
Fox Chapel Area High School, 611 Field Club Road in O’Hara, is holding a community blood drive from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 16 in the school’s large group instruction room.
Everyone 16 and older is encouraged to donate blood.
As a special incentive, Vitalant is offering donors who give through Oct. 31 a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards.
Vitalant continues to offer scholarships to area high school students. To qualify for these scholarships, Fox Chapel Area will host several blood drives throughout the 2024-25 school year. The scholarships will be awarded for the highest percent participation and the largest number of registered donations for the year. Additionally, anyone who donates blood at a local donor center can ask for the donation to count toward Fox Chapel Area High School’s total (code UHS010025).
To schedule your lifesaving appointment, visit vitalant.org, call 1-877-25VITAL or use the Vitalant mobile app. Students can see school counselor Rachel Machen to arrange to make a donation. Donors are strongly encouraged to make an appointment, but walk-ins are welcome.
The blood drive is being coordinated by the community outreach committee of the Fox Chapel Area High School Fox Leadership Council.
Class of 2027 collecting books for children
Fox Chapel Area High School students are hosting a book drive through Oct. 31 to support Reading Ready Pittsburgh.
The drive, sponsored by the members of the Class of 2027, Community Outreach and the book club, aims to collect new and gently used children’s books as well as teen graphic novels.
The books will be donated to Reading Ready Pittsburgh to support its goal of helping families to foster a love of reading.
Everyone in the community is encouraged to donate books. Books can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in a donation bin at the main/front entrance of the high school, 611 Field Club Road.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization supporting the healthy development of young children by increasing access to books and encouraging family engagement through reading.
Make-n-Take event to celebrate Diwali
Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Road, is planning a special Make-n-Take event from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 15 to celebrate Diwali, one of the major Indian religious festivals.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
Participants will learn about the festival through activities that share the spirit of the holiday.
The event, sponsored by Anita Nischal of RE/MAX Select Realty, is designed for families and children of all ages.
Everyone is encouraged to wear colorful attire and can stop by any time.
Open house set at Aspinwall, Sharpsburg fire stations
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services is hosting its annual open house Oct. 12 at its Aspinwall and Sharpsburg fire stations.
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The goal is to provide an opportunity for everyone in the community to see the fire departments and be comfortable asking questions about fire safety.
The open house will include activities, including a scavenger hunt, a tour of the fire hall, an obstacle course and more fun surprises.
Hours are:
Station 1, 1611 Main St., Sharpsburg: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Station 2, 217 Commercial Ave., Aspinwall: 4 to 6 p.m.
The activities will be the same at both stations.
Sharpsburg VFW costume party set
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 709, 1017 Main St. in Sharpsburg, is planning a Halloween Costume Party on Oct. 12.
Attendees have a chance to win $500 in prizes. First place will receive $300, second place will get $150 and third place will receive $50.
Tickets are $20 per person.
Doors open at 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar and food, as well as live music by Dancing Queen.
To purchase a ticket or for details, stop by the post or call 412-781-7771.
Fall decor sale benefits Haitian outreach
Get your pumpkins this fall and support a meaningful cause! Join us at the Haiti H2O Pumpkin Sale, where every purchase helps support the people of rural Haiti.
Haiti H2O: Hope to Opportunity is hosting its annual pumpkin sale from Oct. 10-13 at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road.
New this year is the opportunity to preorder. In addition to pumpkins, bales of hay and fall mums will be available for purchase. The sale will continue until all items are sold. Inventory moves quickly so everyone is encouraged to stop by early.
The sale will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 10; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 11; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 12; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 13.
Prices include pie pumpkins for $5, small pumpkins for $10, medium pumpkins for $15 and large pumpkins for $20. Bales of hay are $10 each, and mums are $15.
Haiti H2O is a local nonprofit that has invested in Haitian-led solutions for rural villages since 2006, focusing on projects in construction, agriculture, health care and micro-business development.
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church has partnered with Haiti H2O for more than a decade, building a close relationship with the rural community of Plain Matin. Through their support, regular medical clinics have been established, and a new bread oven micro-business has been developed to help sustain the village.
Your pumpkin purchase makes a direct impact on the lives of those in need, empowering Haitians to transform their communities.
To preorder, visit www.haitih2o.org/pumpkin-sale-1.
Volunteers, candy sought for Trunk or Treat
The Lauri Ann West Community Center is planning a Trunk or Treat from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in its parking lot, 1220 Powers Run Road in O’Hara.
All children in the community are invited, and no registration is required to attend.
The center is looking for volunteers to bring their vehicle — decorated wheels welcome — and pass out candy. It also is accepting donations of treats.
To volunteer, email Michelle Drum at mdrum@lauriannwest.org. Volunteers also can sign up online at https://lauriannwestcc.org/event/trunk-or-treat/.
Candy donations can be dropped off at the center’s welcome desk.
Special Olympics star, others to share their stories
Loretta Claiborne, chief inspiration office for the Special Olympics,
Lauri Ann West Community Center will host a session of its Sue Golier Memorial Speaker Series from noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 26.
The featured speaker will be Loretta Claiborne, a former Special Olympics athlete who now serves as its chief inspiration officer.
Born with physical and intellectual challenges, Claiborne went on to run 26 marathons and twice placed in the top 100 women finishers. In 1996, she received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
Dan McCoy, a 2014 Paralympic gold medalist in sled hockey, also will speak, followed by a panel discussion with students and parents who are involved in the Fox Chapel Unified Sports Program.
The event will end with a game of Unified Flag Football in the center’s gymnasium.
To register, visit lauriannwestcc.org and click on the Speaker Series/Events tab.
Indiana Township police to host Fall Festival
The Indiana Township Police Department is organizing a Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at Emmerling Community Park.
Free parking and a shuttle will be available at the Municipal Field Complex parking lot and the Department of Public Works garage along Route 910.
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Three will be pumpkin decorating, photo opportunities, fall beverages, hayrides, facepainting and more.
Everyone is invited.
Fox Chapel officers plan free pumpkin painting event
The Fox Chapel Police Department invites the community to a free pumpkin painting event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 19 behind the police station, 401 Fox Chapel Road.
Officers will be collecting monetary donations and nonperishable food items for the Blawnox Community Food Pantry.
There also will be treats, crafts and a costume contest.
Fox Chapel Authority to replace water meters
The Fox Chapel Authority is working to replace customer water meters.
The new Sensus iPERL water meters will be installed at no cost to the customer. The new meters have no moving parts, therefore maintaining the accuracy of the meter for its 20-year lifespan. With new technology, FCA personnel will be able to read the meters more efficiently.
FCA will be reaching out to customers to schedule appointments. The meter change-out takes about 30 minutes to complete, but the meter must be accessible for the crew to perform the work.
It is important for customers to have updated contact information, not only to schedule appointments for the meter replacement program, but also to notify customers in the event of an emergency.
To verify or update your information and to schedule an appointment, call the authority’s office at 412-963-0212 or send an email to info@foxchapelwater.com.
Free workshop to explore habits for brain health
The Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, is hosting a free workshop from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 21 with Penn State Extension on “Alzheimer’s Disease: Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body.”
Attendees will learn about lifestyle habits that can be adopted at any age to help maintain and potentially improve one’s health. These habits aim to help keep the brain healthy as one ages to possibly delay the onset of cognitive decline.
While the workshop is free, registration is required. The deadline to register is at 10 a.m. Oct. 17.
To register, visit tinyurl.com/bdcmjfvm.
Garden club’s fundraiser slated for Oct. 16-18
The Garden Club of Allegheny County is celebrating its 110th anniversary and the 28th year of Pizzazz, a boutique shopping benefit set for Oct. 16-18 at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, 426 Fox Chapel Road.
The event has raised more than $2 million to fund environmental and conservation projects throughout the Pittsburgh region.
This year’s event will feature more than 30 boutiques from across the country and Scotland. Merchandise will include men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, jewelry, leather goods, gifts, home décor, linens, personalized stationery and specialty food items.
There will be a preview party from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16. Tickets are $150.
Shopping hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 17 and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18. Admission each day is $10 or $45 for admission and lunch at the club’s Tavern Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 17-18. Advance ticket purchase for lunch is advised.
For details, visit https://www.gcacpgh.org/pizzazz or call 412-967-9081.
Sharpsburg flea market runs Sundays through October
Sharpsburg Community Flea Market is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through the end of October along North Canal and Tenth streets.
The cost is $5 per spot for vendors.
For details, call Chas Smith at 412-927-9221.
Help available for people grieving loved ones
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one or know someone who is?
Consider joining GriefShare for hope, healing and guidance.
GriefShare is a 13-week Christian faith-based support group that will be offered weekly from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays through Dec. 12, at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road.
People can join at any time.
For details or questions, contact Kim Power at 412-965-8794 or kimfpower@gmail.com.
Visit griefshare.org/findagroup to register directly.
Pantry items wanted
Sharpsburg Community Library needs items for its Little Free Pantry at 1212 Main St.
Items needed include tomato sauce, pasta, tuna, cereal, mac and cheese, fruit snacks, peanut butter, snack packs and shelf-stable milk.
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Items not needed include applesauce, pretzels, fruit cups, pudding, canned soup, canned beans and toiletry products.
Donations can be made during library hours from 1 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The pantry is stocked three times weekly and is completely supported through donations.
For details, call the library at 412-781-0783.
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.