Spring book sale set
The Friends of the Library is gearing up for its spring book sale from April 3-7 at Northern Tier Library.
Proceeds fund library programs such as children’s holiday parties and Summer Learning Program.
The hours of the book sale will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 3 and 7; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 4 and 5; and noon to 3 p.m. April 6.
The last day of the event, April 7, will feature a $5 bag sale.
Richland’s leaf pickup day set for April 3
Richland will have its spring leaf pickup day on April 3.
All bags must be curbside before 6 a.m. on the day of pickup.
Leaves and vegetative clippings must be placed in biodegradable paper bags. Plastic bags will not be accepted.
Each bag should be under 40 pounds.
Tree trimmings must be tied or bound, and the branches should be no larger than 3 inches in diameter and 48 inches in length.
Real ID days set for spring
The Allison Park Driver and Photo License Center, located in the Duncan Manor Shopping Center at 1701 Duncan Ave., McCandless, will host a Real ID Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14 and May 5.
Applications for Real IDs will be the only services available during the event. No other driver’s license business will be conducted. Starting May 7, residents will need a Real ID-compliant license or identification card, passport or military ID to board a domestic commercial flight, enter a military base or enter certain federal facilities.
PennDOT will need to verify your identity, your Social Security number and your Pennsylvania residency, even if you already have a Pennsylvania driver’s license or photo ID card.
For a list of documents required to apply, visit tinyurl.com/5e3d59t8.
Men welcome to join Good Friday breakfast
The Richland Ministerial Association is hosting a Good Friday Men’s Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. April 18 at Bakerstown United Methodist Church, 5760 William Flynn Highway.
Guest speaker will be Chris Cochran, a motivational and inspirational speaker, as well as the author of “What’s Good About Today?”
All men are welcome to attend.
The cost is $12 per person, payable at the door, and reservations are required. To make a reservation, call 724-443-3184. The deadline to reserve a spot is April 10.
Upcoming Local Events
Church plans women’s Good Friday breakfast
First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, 5825 Heckert Road, is hosting a Good Friday Women’s Breakfast at 8 a.m. April 18.
The special program is titled “The Dignity of Shopping” by Sally Power of Treasure House Fashions: “Sally’s mess became her message — through God’s redemptive grace.”
The cost is $10, payable at the door.
To make a reservation, call 724-443-1555, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The deadline to reserve a spot is April 8.
Personal care items sought to help people in need
North Hills Community Outreach is collecting personal care items through April 13 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 disposable razors, chapstick, dental floss, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, wash cloths or loofa sponges, body lotion, bars of unscented soap and unscented shower gel.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits cannot be used for personal care products. Such items are a necessity and often pose an expense that many low-income families are unable to afford.
Each family in need receives a bag containing the above products.
Donations also can be ordered from NHCO’s Amazon wishlist and sent directly to its office.
5K run/walk to raise money for nonprofit
The second annual ATP 5K Run & Walk — benefiting Adventures in Training with a Purpose and its military and first responder program, Aurelius — is planned from 8 a.m. to noon April 13 at the North House Boathouse, 10301 Pearce Mill Road, McCandless.
All ages and fitness levels are welcome, and a post-race party will be held at the boathouse.
The cost to register is $35 for adults, $30 for veterans and first responders, and $15 for children 12 and younger.
Featured Local Businesses
To register in advance, visit https://e.givesmart.com/events/Hbn/. The registration link also includes sponsorship opportunities.
Day-of registration will begin at 7:30 and end at 8:30 a.m. The race will start at 9 a.m.
Advance packet pickup will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 11 and 10 a.m. to noon April 12 at ATP’s office, 7000 Stonewood Drive, Suite 115, Pine.
Proceeds benefit the Christian nonprofit organization and its mission to provide physcial and mental health services to civilians, veterans and first responders confidentially and free of charge.
Awards will be given in several categories: overall top three males and females, top three senior males and females 60 and older, and top three boys and girls 12 and younger.
For details about ATP and its programs, visit adventurestraining.org, email info@adventurestraining.org or call 724-967-1628.
August Wilson center seeks artwork for upcoming exhibit
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is inviting artists of African descent living in the Greater Pittsburgh area to submit work for Being/Seen, a group exhibition opening in May.
Selected artwork will be displayed at the center’s first-floor galleries, including the Victoria Gallery and Yvonne Cook Family Regional Gallery. The group exhibition will run concurrently with “Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden,” the first major retrospective of prolific 20th century African American sculptor John W. Rhoden (1916-2001).
Artists may submit new or existing work that reflects their personal experience or perspective on Being/Seen.
Emerging, early-career and established artists 18 and older from Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland counties are encouraged to submit work. All mediums will be considered.
The deadline to apply is April 6, and the submission fee is a $5 to $15 suggested donation.
For details about the exhibit’s theme and to access the online submission form, visit awaacc.org/news/being-seen-an-open-call-for-art.
Artists will be notified directly in early May. Selection includes a $190 honorarium and complimentary one-year membership to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center.
Upcoming Local Events
For questions, contact programming@awaacc.org.
Free tax help available through AARP Foundation
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).
• 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, Pine: 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.