Scholarships open to Franklin Park seniors
The Franklin Park Community Scholarship Application is now available to any graduating senior who resides in the borough.
Beginning this year, there is a separate application for the Melvin D. Lubert Scholarship for Technical Schools. Any senior looking to attend an accredited technical school is encouraged to apply.
Typically, 10 $1,500 scholarshop are awarded, but the number varies based on the amount of funds raised. Up to two Lubert scholarships are awarded, and up to two scholarships may be awarded to qualified junior firefighters.
Applications for both scholarships can be downloaded from the borough’s website at franklinparkborough.us by clicking on How Do I in the menu and selecting Community Scholarship Program. The deadline to apply is March 14, and applicants must be a Franklin Park resident.
When downloading the application in Word, the document might not automatically come up. You may have to go to your downloads to open the application in Word.
North Allegheny students who reside in Franklin Park can return their completed applications to the school’s counseling office. Franklin Park residents who attend other schools should mail their completed application to Franklin Park Borough Municipal Building, 2344 W. Ingomar Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.
For questions, contact administrative assistant Donna Platt at 412-364-4115, ext. 302, or email dplatt@franklinparkborough.us.
Volunteers sought for Snow Angels Program
Franklin Park offers a Snow Angels Program to assist older and disabled residents with snow removal from their sidewalks and driveways.
The borough is looking for volunteers who will be paired with a nearby resident in need. The program runs through the last snowfall of the season.
To sign up to be a Snow Angel or to receive assistance, visit the borough’s website at franklinparkborough.us, click on Services & Utilities and look under Senior Citizen Programs.
For details, contact administrative assistant Donna Platt at 412-364-4115, ext. 302, or email dplatt@franklinparkborough.us.
If you know of a neighbor who could use the help, please volunteer to be their “angel.”
CCAC plans open house for prospective students
Community College of Allegheny County is hosting an open house from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at its North campus, 8701 Perry Highway in McCandless.
Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the college’s programs, resources and campus activities. Campus tours and refreshments also are planned.
Participants will be able to interact with college administrators, faculty, advisers and staff. Attendees will learn how to enroll in one of CCAC’s more than 130 degree, certificate and diploma program, as well as explore a variety of other services and rescources, including financial aid.
To register, visit ccac.link/OpenHouseEvents.
Cancer support group plans 5-year celebration
Young Adult Survivors United is marking five years with a reception and dinner March 5 on the North Shore.
Cheers to 5 Years will kick off with a reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mike’s Beer Bar, complete with hors d’oeuvres, live music, auctions, a cash bar, testimonials shared by YASU members and a special ceremony to reflect on YASU’s journey.
A Shining Star Award will be presented to Dr. Mounzer Agha, the director of the Mario Lemieux Center for Blood Cancers at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the clinical director of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at UPMC. He will be recognized for his compassionate support of cancer patients.
YASU, a nonprofit organization, provides emotional, social and financial support for young adult cancer survivors and their caregivers/co-survivors.
From 7 to 8 p.m., the party will move to North Shore Tavern for dinner with choice of steak, shrimp or stuffed portobello, as well as salad and dessert.
Only 125 tickets will be sold. The cost is $125 each.
To purchase tickets or to become a sponsor or volunteer for the event, visit yasurvivors.org/cheers-to-5-years.
Animal Friends in need of wet pet food
Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank has put out an urgent call for wet dog and cat food.
To help, browse its wish lists on Amazon or Chewy, and your donation will be delivered to Animal Friends.
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Unopened wet pet food also can be dropped off in the grey donation bins in the front entranceway and lobby of the shelter at 526 Camp Horne Road.
The Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank supports struggling pet owners throughout Allegheny County. According to its website, it distributed more than 17,000 pounds of free pet food to over 3,000 families last month.
For details, visit thinkingoutsidethecage.org/programs-services/chow-wagon.
NA students to stage ‘Children of Eden’
The North Allegheny Music Department will present “Children of Eden” at 7 p.m. Feb. 26-28 and March 1 and 2 p.m. March 2 in the high school auditorium, 10375 Perry Highway, Wexford.
The musical by Stephen Schwartz and John Caird casts biblical stories of Genesis through the personal lens of family. It celebrates the difficulty of choice, the importance of passion, the value of questioning, and the pain in allowing those you love to take risks and face the consequences.
Tickets are $18 for seating in Section 1, which is closest to the stage; $14 for Section 2, the middle of the auditorium; and $10 for Section 3, the back of the auditorium.
Tickets can be reserved online through ShowClix at showclix.com/event/children-of-eden.
Nominees sought for Community Champions initiative
WQED, in partnership with Giant Eagle, recently announced the third season of its Community Champions initiative — a collaboration that celebrates and supports local people and nonprofit organizations that are doing good in their communities.
This year, the initiative is taking a new approach by asking community members to nominate nonprofit organizations that are making a difference.
The deadline for nominations is March 16.
From these nominations, one organization will be selected as the 2025 Community Champion and will be featured in a video profile airing in June.
In past seasons, WQED and Giant Eagle selected a monthly champion that was then featured in an inspiring video profile. Community Champions has showcased 10 organizations in diverse areas of focus, including health care, food insecurity, sustainability, and accessibility and supportive services.
The 2024 Community Champion, Best Buddies, a local nonprofit that aims to end the isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, exemplifies the core tenets of the initiative.
“Whenever I tell people that I work for Best Buddies, they automatically go, ‘Thank you so much for doing this,’ ” said Samantha Mildner, Western Pennsylvania Area director for Best Buddies. “Everybody should be including people with disabilities. And I just happen to love what I do. I’m so lucky that I get to create friendships for a living.”
To ecnourage everyone’s participation in nominating, WQED is showcasing a different past Champion each week on its social channels.
Nominations for the 2025 Community Champion will be accepted until March 16.
To nominate an organization, visit wqed.org/champions.
A playlist of past Champions is available at wqed.tv/gechampions.
Free tax help available through AARP Foundation
Beginning Feb. 1 and continuing through April 14, the AARP Foundation will provide free tax assistance and preparation in Allegheny County through its Tax-Aide program.
Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest nationwide volunteer-based free tax preparation service. In 2024, the nearly 2 million taxpayers who used its services received more than $1 billion in income tax refunds.
Volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS each year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. and Pennsylvania Tax Code. The program e-files individual Federal, Pennsylvania and local EIT income tax returns and makes sure its clients claim the tax refund, credits and deductions earned.
Income tax returns will be prepared during one visit by appointment only, generally lasting an hour to 75 minutes. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Here is list of nearby sites, schedules and contact information to make an appointment:
• Shaler Undercliff Volunteer Fire Department, 700 Mt. Royal Blvd.: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 6 through April 14; contact state Sen. Lindsey Williams’ office at 412-364-0469 (there is no Tax-Aide contact number at the fire station).
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• Ross Municipal Building, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 4 through April 10; contact state Sen. Lindsey Williams’ office at 412-364-0469 (there is no Tax-Aide contact number at the center).
• State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer’s office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Suite 100, Wexford: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 3 to April 14; contact Shaffer’s office at 412-369-2230.
• State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer’s office, 4375 Gibsonia Road, West Deer: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 4 to April 10; contact Shaffer’s office at 412-369-2230.
More information, including an update on tax code changes affecting 2024 tax returns and documents needed for return preparation, can be found online at taxaide-pittsburgh.com.
For questions about the Allegheny County AARP Tax-Aide program, contact Stephen Cohen, Tax-Aide district coordinator, at taxaide.pittsburgh@gmail.com or 412-421-3999.
For details about the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).