Student orchestra to perform Disney concert at library
The Cooper-Siegel Community Library is hosting the Fox Chapel Area High School orchestra for a Disney Pop-Up Concert from 11 a.m. to noon May 10 at the library, 403 Fox Chapel Road.
The concert is suitable for all ages, and children are encouraged to dress as their favorite Disney character.
The youngsters will have an opportunity to learn about the students’ various instruments as well as conduct the orchestra.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration is required. To register, visit coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com and click on the event.
For details, call the library at 412-828-9520.
Gardenfest to offer plants, art, baked goods
The Fox Chapel Garden Club is organizing a Gardenfest from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 in O’Hara Township Community Park.
The event will feature a variety of offerings from local organizations and artisans, as well as area garden clubs, including:
• Fox Chapel Garden Club: perennials, native and deer resistant plants;
• Fox Chapel Girl Scouts: garden art;
• The Green Foxes Garden Club: O’Hara Elementary’s kids garden club and bake sale;
• Guyasuta Garden Club: hanging baskets, floral baskets, houseplants and decor;
• Lamb’s Ear Farm: succulents, air plants, perennials, carnivorous plants and houseplants;
• Men’s Garden Club: tool and knife sharpening;
• North American Rock Garden Society: mini conifers, dwarf hardy ferns, alpine plants and iris plants;
• Penn State Master Gardeners: perennials and tomato plants.
For details, visit foxchapelgardenclub.org.
Community invited to Chalk the Wall event
The inaugural Chalk the Wall Sidewalk Arts Festival is set from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 3 in Aspinwall’s business district — on Commercial and Brilliant avenues and Alley A.
Local artists, families and teens are invited to create chalk art on the district’s sidewalks while neighbors and visitors enjoy the live creations.
Funding for the event was provided in part by a grant from Aspinwall Neighbors and support from the Merchants of Aspinwall.
To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/ym3bn3jc.
Design challenge to kick off Remake Learning Days
Nearly 16,000 elementary students in Pennsylvania are set to participate in discoverED 2025, a collaborative design challenge led by the Fox Chapel Area School District.
On May 6, discoverED 2025 will mark the official kickoff of Remake Learning Days in Pennsylvania, a learning festival for students and families.
During this year’s design challenge, students in first and second grades will work to Save the Salamander. After receiving a lesson on animal migration and the importance of wildlife crossings to keep animals safe, students will sketch a bridge prototype and construct it using marshmallows, tape and toothpicks.
About 550 students from 11 area school districts — Avonworth, Diocese of Greensburg, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel Area, Mt. Lebanon, Montour, Northgate, Riverview, Shaler Area, South Park and Wilkinsburg — will gather at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh for an in-person version of the design challenge.
Other schools from across the state will partner virtually for the design challenge.
DiscoverED 2025 is just one part of Remake Learning Days in Pennsylvania from May 1-23. To learn about other educational opportunities, visit remakelearningdays.org.
Bar crawl to benefit Blawnox centennial
Blawnox is hosting a Centennial Bar Crawl fundraiser on May 17, with all proceeds benefiting the Sept. 20 celebration.
T-shirts are $20 and must be worn during the bar crawl to receive drink specials at each establishment.
The evening wil begin at 4 p.m. Old Thunder Brewing Co. and end at 10 p.m. at Nox’s Tavern & Grille, hitting every bar in between: 5 p.m. Starlite Lounge, 6 p.m. Moondog’s, 7 p.m. A-Club, 8 p.m. Sportsmens Club and 9 p.m. Dietch’s.
The fundraiser is open to everyone 21 and older.
Student leaders sought for environmental program
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Seeking Student Leaders for Young Ambassadors Program
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, in partnership with PennDOT, is seeking civic and environmental leaders in 10th through 12th grades to keep Pennsylvania clean and beautiful through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program.
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The Young Ambassadors program empowers young community stewards and civic leaders to become ambassadors in their community for a shared vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.
Ambassadors will have the oppurtunity to train and network with industry leaders, state agencies, local media and the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful network. They will recieve a taste of life in the public service sector.
“I’ve been in public service a long time, and I can say that community leaders are the key difference makers between getting things done and just talking about it,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Every new generation has more to lose with enviornmental damage, so I invite every young Pennsylvanian to be part of the solution.”
Applications are being accepted through June 10.
Students will be chosen through a competitive application process. To apply, visit keeppabeautiful.org or contact Kylie McCutcheon at 724-836-4121, ext. 114, or kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org.
Touch-a-truck
Indiana Township will host a touch-a-truck event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17 at Emmerling Community Park.
There will be vehicles from the police and public works departments, emergency services as well as tow trucks and other machinery. Light refreshments will be served.
Other activities include balloon art, airbrush tattoos, music and more.
More information is available on the township’s website, indianatownship.com.
Gardeners wanted
Best of Blawnox is looking for volunteers to help in the community garden at Blawnox Community Park.
Call 412-295-1638 for more information.
Summer camp registration open
Registration is open for Indiana Township’s summer camp. Deadline to sign up is June 6. Early bird registration with discount admission must be made by May 30.
Summer camp is at Emmerling Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 16 through July 18, except for July 4. It is open to children who have completed kindergarten through age 12.
Early bird resident cost is $260 for a family of three or $110 for one or two children each.
Early bird nonresident cost is $520 for a family of three or $220 for one or two children each.
Regular resident registration is $310 for a family of three or $140 for one or two children each.
Regular nonresident registration is $620 for a family of three or $280 for one or two children each.
The township is in need of counselors as well. Counselors must be at least 16 years old and available for all five weeks of camp.
Applications are due by May 9 via Indianatownship.com or submitted at the Town Hall, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd.
Call 412-767-5333 or go to the township’s website for more information.
Hampton Presbyterian Church
The HPC Big Band is back in the swing of things and brings the sweet tunes through the decades. All are welcome on May 16 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free swing dance lessons will be given by professional instructor Jared Clemens, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by live music from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Refreshments, including hot and cold snacks and hors d’oeuvres, will be offered.
Tickets are $15 each, kids 12 and under are free. For tickets, call Karen Schmidt at 412-867-6416, or the church at 724-443-3201.
Join the church at 11:30 a.m. May 8 for lunch, then remain for the show with Shaun Eli, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Eli is a former comedic writer for Jay Leno when Leno was the host of “The Tonight Show.”
Tickets are $15 each and include a lunch and the show. For tickets and other information, contact Karen Schmidt at 412-867-6416.
The church is located at 2942 East Hardies Road in Gibsonia. Call the church office at 724-443-3201 for details or questions. More information can be accessed online at hamptonpresbyterian.net.
Brian Demchak Hope Challenge
Registration is open for the St. Margaret Foundation Brian Demchak Hope Challenge & Paws for Patients.
New this year is the invitation to have your pets participate for a bandanna and a chance at prizes.
The event runs May 11-17. Complete the event at your convenience, your way. Do so with people or pets you enjoy while filling in the gaps with hope for patients and employees at UPMC-St. Margaret hospital. Choose your own route outside, or on a treadmill, on the dance floor or in a pool to complete a virtual 5K at 3.1 miles or a distance you prefer. Run, bike, walk, swim or play racket sports for those who can’t.
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There will again be a Lunchtime Wellness Walk in RIDC O’Hara from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 13. New in 2025 is an invitation for registrants to include their pets in their challenge and be entered to win the Paws for Patients Cutest Pet Contest, judged by a team of nurses at UPMC St. Margaret.
The first 200 participants will receive a race shirt and a finisher’s medal. Those fundraising online to help fill in the gaps with hope for patients and employees receive free registration if they raise $50.
Designate your participation in honor or memory of someone special with a free wind spinner personalized by the Foundation and displayed in the hospital courtyard.
For more information or to register, visit stmargaret foundation.org/challenge or call 412-784-4205.
Lauri Ann West Summer Camps
The Lauri Ann West Community Center has 10 weeks of fun for kids ages 5-12. Summer camps run from June 9-Aug. 15 with different themes each week. Families must pay 50% of camp fees at registration and be paid in full by May 1. For more information or to register, call 412-828-8566 or visit laurianwestcc.org/summer-camps-2025.
Summer camp registration
This summer, Lauri Ann West Community Center will offer 10 exciting weeks of camp, each featuring a different theme, from June 9 to Aug. 15.
Every Friday, in addition to Kona Ice, there will be special programs. Two new programs this summer will be Dominic the Magician and a “Fire and Ice” show by Mad Science. Campers signed up for the Mad Science specialty camp that week will join our full-day camp for the “Fire and Ice” Show.
For more information or to register, visit lauriannwestcc.org/summer-camps-2025.
Tee ball registration
Aspinwall Tee Ball is announcing its third season for children aged 3-8. Games will start on June 14 and run for 10 Saturdays with an optional Under the Lights game at the end of the season. New this year is a more experienced group for ages 6-8, which will start the season on a tee, but will graduate to coach pitch within a few weeks. Ages 3-6 with little to no experience will continue to use the tee.
Registration is open. Fee is $30 per child. Aspinwall residency is not required. The registration form can be found on the Aspinwall Tee Ball Facebook page or you can register in person at the Borough Building during business hours. Deadline to register is May 5.
Camp Guyasuta events
A Trailside Tasting will be offered by participating wine and spirit vendors from 1 to 5 p.m. May 18. This fundraiser is to help raise money to add to the special needs programs the camp provides to youth with disabilities. It is a rain-or-shine event. The only way to purchase tickets is online or at the door.
Participants must be 21 or older to attend and have a valid state driver’s license, passport or military ID.
At the STEM Adventure Day Camps, campers are grouped in co-ed squads with children of similar ages. With children from different areas, campers have the chance to make lifelong friendships and enjoy a full day of age-appropriate activities.
Campers may attend all nine weeks if interested. Registration forms must be completed by May 1.
For more information or to register for either event, visit campguyasuta.org.
Fox Chapel Day
The fifth annual Fox Chapel Day is planned for noon to 4 p.m. June 14 at McCahill Park.
Activities include a petting zoo, ice sculpture demonstrations, food vendors, pony rides, a trackless train and bounce houses.
Local community organizations will have informational and activity booths.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call Sgt. Craig Sorg at 412-850-5025 or email csorg@fox-chapel.us for more information.
Unity in the Community
Lauri Ann West Community Center’s upcoming community programs have something for everyone.
From 6 to 8 p.m. May 3, kids 12 to 15 are invited to Teen After-Hours Takeover. Teens are invited to hang out, play basketball, try out their volleyball moves, beat their friends at Mario Kart, checkmate their opponent’s king and more. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Registration is required and there is a small fee.
The free communitywide Silent Disco will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 16. All ages are invited to break out their dancing shoes and move to the beat of their favorite station for the night. Registration is required.
For more information or to register, visit lauriannwestcc.org.
To have your news or event listed in our briefs section, email editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.