Fox Chapel Area School District’s annual Community Safety, Health & Wellness Event is fast approaching.
Its fourth installment will take place on April 26 at the Aspinwall municipal parking lot, 217 Commercial Ave. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It intends to create camaraderie among area residents, first responders and district police.
Hundreds of people have routinely turned out for the event, which is held rain or shine.
Organizers believe this year will be no exception.
“I always love seeing our students and our families and other members outside of the school walls engaging with one another,” said Jill Leonard, event co-organizer and district community engagement specialist. “This event is really an extension of relationship building.”
The district and its school resource officers are sponsoring the event in conjunction with the district’s municipalities — Aspinwall, Blawnox, Fox Chapel, Sharpsburg, O’Hara and Indiana Township – and their police departments. Firefighters from these communities and Foxwall EMS staff are also expected to participate.
The event will feature vendor booths, a touch-a-truck area, wellness screenings, free bike helmets for children and other giveaways, a bike rodeo with police, car seat checks and food.
“Our school resource officers look forward to this event every year,” said school district police Chief Joe Kozarian said via a news release. “It gives them an opportunity to connect with our local residents and our community first responders. The residents of the Fox Chapel Area School District communities have always supported our efforts to keep our students and staff safe, and this free community safety, health, and wellness event is a way that we can reach out to thank them.”
The vendor area has been expanded to allow more safety demonstrations and informational booths from UPMC and Allegheny Health Network as well as local youth organizations.
AHN’s STAR Center, which includes simulations, teaching and academic research, will have CPR manikins and will demonstrate some basic first-aid techniques.
Foxwall EMS has been involved in a variety of school programs both with Fox Chapel Area and Shady Side Academy.
Ben Shopland took over as EMS chief less than a year ago.
His staffers are expected to bring one of Foxwall’s ambulances and provide health screenings.
“I haven’t been to one of these yet, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all runs,” Shopland said. “Aspinwall is very invested in making sure that the community and the public safety organizations are connected. We’re down there quite often in various community events.
”I’m looking forward to taking it all in. I’ve been, as a new chief, building relationships with all the other agencies in the area. It will be nice to see everybody in one place.”
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services, which formed from the merged Aspinwall and Sharpsburg volunteer fire departments, is expected to bring a fire demonstration trailer.
Firefighters will be showing the importance of fire safety and the benefits of having an escape plan.
Fox Families Care, a nonprofit partner with the school district, donated two bicycles for a bike raffle. Other activities include a basket raffle and various games.
Tickets for Fox Chapel Area’s May 28 Kennywood Day will be sold.
There’s a good chance safety day attendees will see Kozarian and another officer grilling hot dogs and other food.
Shannon Santucci, Arnold’s mayor and Hartwood Elementary school’s resource officer, is expected to be back at the food stand. Her healthy options such as fruits and chicken kabobs were a big hit last year.
“The district overall is very grateful for that rich spirit of collaboration with all our first responders,” Leonard said. ‘We don’t really have to beg anybody to come. They all want to come. It’s a good way to reach out to the community and it creates those ties and forges those relationships.”
Admission and parking is free. There are no shuttles this year.