School board reorganization retains top leadership
Penn Hills School Board members gathered Dec. 3 in the newly minted Sen. Jay Costa Media Center in Linton Middle School for their annual reorganization meeting.
With eight out of nine members present, Erin Vecchio was voted in as school board president for the 10th year. Board member Devon Goetze was absent.
“I’m born and raised here, and I’m still serving (the community),” Vecchio said.
Jackie Blakey-Tate was reelected as vice president for the third time.
The votes were unanimous for both women.
“Everything’s falling into place, and we’re moving ahead all in a positive way,” Blakey-Tate said. “There’s something new every day, and there’s always something to learn. As long as it’s about the children and moving them forward, I’ll be here.”
This is the fifth year Blakey-Tate has served on the school board.
Holy Family Parish offering free brunch on Christmas Day
Don’t be alone or let anyone be alone on Christmas this year.
Holy Family Parish in Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona again will be hosting a free Christmas Brunch on Christmas Day.
Everyone from the surrounding area is welcome to attend. Bring a friend or neighbor.
The brunch will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at two parish locations:
• St. Joseph Church Hall, 825 Second St., Verona
• Our Lady of Joy Church Hall, 2000 O’Block Road, Plum
Reservations are required by Dec. 23 by calling Noreen at 412-296-1709 or Dave at 412-932-5531 or emailing sos@holyfamilypgh.org.
Everyone also is welcome to join us for Mass on Christmas Day at any of the churches in Holy Family Parish, especially at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church and 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Joy.
For details, call Holy Family Parish at 412-793-4511 or visit online at www.holyfamilypgh.org.
Church to serve free meal on Christmas
Christ the Divine Church in Monroeville is offering a free meal for anyone in need of some food and companionship on Christmas Day.
The Dec. 25 dinner will be served in the Lourdes Center, 245 Azalea Drive, Monroeville, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. or until the food runs out.
Free ceremony to mark winter solstice, memories of loved ones
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A free Winter Solstice Celebration is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, 121 Colorado St.
Everyone is invited to honor the legacy and memories of loved ones who have passed away. Participants will be able to light a candle in memory of a loved one and walk along a path of 100 luminaries at sunset.
The ceremony is sponsored by Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, Spiritworks and Highmark Caring Place.
There will be music, an outdoor fire circle and the burning of a yule log to celebrate the longer days ahead. Hot chocolate and wassail, a traditional holiday beverage, will be available.
Please bring a canned food item to donate to the local pantry. Also, bring bells if you have them to ring in the new year.
The event is free, but please register on eventbrite or by emailing Deanna at deanna@pennforestcemetery.com.
Hebron Community Center collecting shoes
The Hebron Community Center in Penn Hills is collecting new, used and gently worn shoes until Jan. 31.
Shoes also can be dropped off at the Penn Hills High School gymnasium entrance from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 20.
The community center is asking local businesses to serve as additional drop-off spots. To participate, contact Hebron Community Center Executive Director Jennifer Balkey at jenb@hebroncc.org.
All donations will be distributed by Funds2Orgs to entrepreneurs in developing countries, who can then sell them. The community center will receive a check from Funds2Orgs for their efforts based on the weight of the shoes collected.
Santa to roll with firefighters
Santa once again is enlisting the help of local firefighters to check up on residents, young and old, before he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.
He will be riding on a Rosedale fire truck through those neighborhoods starting at 8 a.m. Dec. 21 through the afternoon.
On Dec. 22, he will make the rounds with the North Bessemer firefighters through those neighborhoods.
Gather the little ones and wave hello!
Free microchip clinic open to Penn Hills, Verona residents
Pawsitive Voice, a local coalition pushing for improved animal control practices in Penn Hills, will hold a free microchip clinic from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Steel Goat Marketplace, 200 Jefferson Road.
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The clinic is only for dogs weighing 10 pounds or more. There will be 100 microchips available.
To secure a time slot, email pawsitivevoice@gmail.com.
Participants must bring a driver’s license or piece of mail showing Penn Hills or Verona residency.
Library highlights upcoming offerings
The Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, offers a variety of programs for all ages.
Note the library will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas, Dec. 26 and on New Year’s Day; the library will close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.
For a complete list of offerings, visit pennhillslibrary.org. To register for any of the programs, visit the website and click on the events tab to view an interactive calendar. The following teen programs do not require registration.
Here are some upcoming highlights:
CHILDREN
• STEAM Lab … Confetti Cannons (ages 6-11): 5 to 5:45 p.m. Dec. 19. Participants will build their own confetti cannons, just in time for New Year’s Eve.
• Open Play (infant to age 5): 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 21. Caregivers will have a chance to socialize while the little ones enjoy playtime with music and toys. Registration is not required.
• KidzStix Cardio Drumming (ages 6-11): 4:30 to 5 p.m. Dec. 23. Join this upbeat drumming program that combines exercise, dancing and fun with drums led by certified instructor Coleen Bortz.
• Speedcubing (ages 8-11): 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 30. All experience levels are welcome to meet at the library to rapid-solve lots of combination puzzles.
• Library Laser Tag (ages 6-11): 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 31. The library will be your laser tag arena, and you and your team can strategize to get around obstacles to win points. Please register for each child attending. Laser tage will be broken up into sessions based on the time of arrival to keep the games going throughout the hour.
TEENS (grades 6-12)
• Teen Makerspace … Ceramics: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Join us every week in December to experiment with a different piece of technology. This week, you can explore ceramics.
• Noon Year’s Eve … Wish Jars: 11:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 28. Teens are invited to make wish jars to ring in the new year at the library before our balloon drop at noon.
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• Teen Fiber Arts … Crochet: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 31. No experience is required.
ADULTS
• Yoga: 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 3. This regular program meets at 2 p.m. every Friday and from 1 to 2 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month. Bring your own yoga mat and towel to this free class. A limited number of mats are available to borrow.
• Puzzle Exchange: 10 to 11 a.m. Jan. 4. Bring in an old puzzle and find a new one.
• Native Plant Sowing Workshop: 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 6. Join Native Urban Garden Stewardship volunteers Rhea Homa and Liz Glowark as they share their passion for native flowers. During this hands-on workshop, you will learn about the important roles that native plants play in healing the local ecosystem and providing food and habitat to species on the brink of extinction such as the Monarch butterfly and the rusty-patched bumble bee. Registration is required by using the following link: https://secure.everyaction.com/owRnoqgEOU-Ss_raWKeZAg2.
• Crafternoons … Clay Owls (Part 1): 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 10 and Jan. 31. Join us for a two-session art project. This month we will create and then paint small clay owls. By registering for this session, you will automatically be registered for part two on Jan. 31.
• Accessible Crafts … Dream Jars: 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 13. No registration is required for this craft program held twice a month for patrons of all abilities. This week’s craft is dream jars. Mark your calendars: The Jan. 27 craft is screen printing. —
ALL AGES
•Community Fridge Restock:11 to noon Dec. 20, Jan. 3 and Jan. 10; 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 18, Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29. The Penn Hills Library Community Fridge is an ongoing, free resource available to all patrons. You are not required to provide any information in order to take food or other items you need. Reusable bags are recommended. There will be a limited number of milk crates available that can be used to transport food if you do not have a bag.
American Legion scholarships open to students in grades 6-12
The Pennsylvania American Legion is taking entries for its annual essay contest. Winners will receive $3,500, $3,000 or $2,500 scholarships.
The contest is open to students in multiple categories: grades 6-12. Students can be from public, private, parochial, cyber/charter or homeschooled.
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Students must submit their essay by mail or hand delivery to their local American Legion post by Jan. 8 for those in grades 9-12, and by Feb. 5 for those in grades 6-8. Complete rules and regulations are available at PA-legion.com/programs/student-and-youth/essay-program or by emailing wareagles79@hotmail.com.
The Legion also hosts an oratorical contest with scholarships offering $7,500, $5,000 and $4,000. That contest is open to those in grades 9-12. More information is available at legion.org/oratorical or by emailing jgdrnjevich@aol.com.
Firefighters selling 2025 lottery calendars
The Rosedale and North Bessemer volunteer fire departments are selling 2025 lottery calendars.
The calendars are $30 each and have winners every night.
They make excellent holiday gifts.
For details on how to purchase, call the Rosedale station’s nonemergency number at 412-793-1224 or North Bessemer’s at 412-793-1840.
Heating assistance available to low-income households
Thousands of eligible customers miss out on bill assistance by not applying for federal grants. With the winter season approaching, many income-eligible customers remain unaware of programs that can significantly reduce their energy bill.
Peoples Natural Gas, an essential utilities company, encourages its customers to take advantage of available resources to help offset winter heating costs.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is now open for the 2024-25 heating season. LIHEAP is a federally funded assistance program that provides grants to eligible low-income households to help pay for heating costs. Grants start at $200 and may be higher based on income and the number of people living in the home.
To qualify for a LIHEAP grant, customers must have a total gross household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Customers do not have to be on public assistance or have an unpaid heating bill. LIHEAP is open to renters and homeowners. To learn more about the income limits and to apply, visit https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs.html, click on Services in the menu and search for LIHEAP.
In addition to LIHEAP, Peoples offers programs to help make energy-saving home improvements that reduce long-term costs. If you or someone you know needs assistance, call 1-800-400-WARM (9276) or visit peoples-gas.com/help to learn more.
Upcoming Local Events
Community invited to Healing Worship Night
The Young Black Motivated Kings & Queens and Connected Community are hosting an end-of-year Healing Worship Night at 6 p.m. Dec. 28 at the Connect Center, 827 Linden Ave. in East Pittsburgh.
To RSVP for the event, visit ybmkq.org and click on Events in the menu.
Blood donors sought
The American Red Cross and Vitalant are encouraging prospective blood donors to step up now that cold weather is here.
Donations of all blood types are crucial year-round, especially type O, the most frequently transfused blood type. O-negative blood can be given to patients of any blood type, while O-positive can help most patients.
To find a Red Cross location near you and to learn more about blood donation, including eligibility information, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Vitalant, which operates about 115 donation centers nationwide, is thanking donors who give blood, platelets or plasma through Dec. 20 with a $10 gift card as part of its Donor Rewards Program. Donors also will be entered for a chance to win one of five $5,000 gift cards.
Vitalant’s Pittsburgh Fox Chapel Donation Center at One Alexander Center, Suite 207, 2585 Freeport Road, regularly schedules collection dates, including these upcoming one: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13-15, 17 and 20 and noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 17.
To make an appointment and find other locations, visit vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
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.
Municipal, school district meetings viewable online
Want to stay informed about the municipality and school district you live in and the decisions made by people you elect to office?
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Both entities livestream their meetings online.
• Penn Hills Council livestreams its monthly meetings on YouTube @PennHills TVONLINE. Past livestreams of meetings also are available to view. Check them out at youtube.com/@PennHillsTVONLINE/featured.
• The Penn Hills School District livestreams monthly meetings on its website at www.phsd.org/school-board/live-stream-and-video-archive. Past meetings also are available. Among the videos are the school board’s regular public voting meetings, HR/Policy and Finance Committee meetings, and Athletic Advisory, Safety/Buildings & Grounds and Curriculum Committee meetings.
Anti-litter award program offered for kids
Environmental nonprofit Keep America Beautiful is seeking entries from children in kindergarten through sixth grade for its Litter Hawk Youth Award Program.
Children are asked to complete a project sharing their hope, optimism and concerns about litter and inspire others through art, words or video.
The theme for the contest is “Join the Greatest American Cleanup! Show us how you can keep your community litter-free for America’s 250th birthday.”
Children in kindergarten through grade 4 can create a poster; those in grade 5 are asked to write an essay; and those in grade 6 can create a video.
The deadline to participate is Jan. 31. Winners will be announced in April as part of an awards ceremony at the state Capitol building in Harrisburg.
For an entry form, go to KeepPABeautiful.org/grants-awards/awards/litter-hawk, email slarson@keeppabeautiful.org or call 724-836-4121, ext. 104.
Students sought for charity’s leadership program
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is seeking participants for its “Student Visionaries of the Year” program, where local student teams undergo a seven-week leadership program to raise awareness and funding for blood cancer patients and their families and build professional skills.
Teams are tasked with organizing fundraisers and other events for the benefit of the society.
For details, visit LLSstudentvisionaries.org or email erica.gribbin@lls.org.
Free books available monthly for kids through age 5
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Children who reside in the 15235 ZIP code are eligible to receive free books every month until their 5th birthday through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in conjunction with Reading Ready Pittsburgh.
The program, which aims to inspire a love of reading, is open to all children within the city of Pittsburgh and 18 ZIP codes in the Mon Valley area.
Each month, a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home. The first book is always the classic “The Little Engine That Could.”
For details about the program and to enroll your child, visit readingreadypittsburgh.org/DPIL.
Cub Scout Pack 817 seeks members
Cub Scout Pack 817 is looking for new members.
Boys and girls in grades K-5 are welcome to see what the fun is all about. Pack 817 meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday, September through May, at the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department, 5806 Verona Road.
Cub Scouts offers members many opportunities to try new things, provide service to others, build confidence, develop leadership skills and make new friends.
Members of Pack 817 participate in pinewood derby races, crafts and cooking, Cubmobile challenges, rocket launches, camping and more. There also are summer activities.
For more information about Pack 817, contact Cubmaster Randy Ford at 412-852-5840 or pack817.verona@gmail.com.
Rotary offering need-based scholarships
The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program is accepting applications from current high school seniors and GED students for 2024-25.
This year, eight need-based scholarships at $5,000 each will be awarded.
The scholarships are open to students in Allegheny and Beaver counties, as well as those attending New Kensington- Arnold, Kiski Area and Burrell Area high schools and The Kiski School in Westmoreland County. Vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools also are eligible.
Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade-point average and must complete an essay highlighting their community/school service.
Complete application and criteria materials are available on the website of Rotary District 7305 at rotarydistrict7305.org/scholarships.php or from area high school counselors.
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The deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Applications postmarked after that date will not be accepted.
For details, email Dr. Robert Arbuckle, chairperson of the scholarship committee, at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.
Assistance available for veterans, spouses
State Rep. Joe McAndrew’s office, 77 Universal Road, Suite 1, in Penn Hills provides free assistance to veterans and their spouses from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month.
A veteran service officer from the American Legion will be on hand to help with a variety of needs, including compensation and pension claims, education benefits, enrollment in the VA health care system, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits, and obtaining military personnel and medical records.
There are limited appointments available for August. To make an appointment, call 412-793-2448.
McAndrew’s 32nd District covers Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona.
Free clothing available
Mt. Hope Community Church, 12106 Frankstown Road, operates a free Clothesline to people in need from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday.
Parking is available behind the church, and there is a bus stop nearby at Frankstown Road and Parkridge Drive.
Clothing for women, men and children of all ages is available, as well as some shoes and accessories.
Bags are provided, but visitors also are encouraged to bring their own.
The church also is accepting and loaning gently used children’s books.
For details, call 412-793-0227 or visit mthopepcusa.org/youth-ministries.
Station seeks firefighters, junior members
The Verona Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applictions for active firefighters as well as junior members 16 and 17 years of age.
Interested individuals can stop by the fire station, 465 Parker St., from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays.
Training is provided through the Allegheny County Fire Academy.