AAA recognizes local police departments for road safety efforts
AAA East Central honored police departments last month for their efforts to increase road safety for motorists.
Sixty-five Western Pennsylvania departments received platinum awards, while 23 departments were honored with gold or silver awards.
Among the local platinum recipients are police departments in Allegheny County, Allegheny County Port Authority, Monroeville, Oakmont, Penn Hills, Pittsburgh Bureau and Plum.
Reminder issued about winter street parking
Penn Hills officials issued a parking advisory for residents during the winter months.
During snow events, residents should use any available off-street parking for their vehicles. This enables the Public Works plow trucks to safely and efficiently make their way through residential streets.
Parked vehicles should never block the roadways from plow trucks, ambulances, fire trucks or other emergency vehicles.
Families invited to special math night
The Penn Hills School District is hosting its Title I Magic of Math Family Math Night from 6 to 7:30 pm. Jan. 15 at Penn Hills Elementary School, 1079 Jefferson Road.
Families are invited to participate in interactive math activities designed to make learning fun and engaging.
Incoming kindergartners are welcome to attend. There also will be a designated sensory-friendly space available.
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Valentine Bingo to benefit firefighters
Penn Hills No. 7 Volunteer Fire Company, 125 Universal Road, is hosting a Valentine Bingo on Feb. 7.
Doors will open at 3 p.m., and bingo will start at 4:30.
Tickets are $20 each and include one sheet (six cards) per game, with 20 regular games and five special games.
Tickets also will be sold for basket raffles, a 50-50 and other raffles.
Food and alcoholic beverages (for those 21 and older) will be available to purchase. Attendees must purchase a ticket to enter.
Please note that tickets can only be purchased in person at the station or online. When purchasing tickets online, no physical ticket will be mailed to you; you will provide your name at the door.
School organizing super bingo on Feb. 7
Divine Mercy Academy is hosting a Valentines Super Bingo on Feb. 7 at the Lourdes Center, 245 Azalea Drive. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m., and early bird games will start at 6:45.
This is an over-21 BYOB event.
Tickets are $30 and include 10 rounds of regular bingo, three specials and a jackpot. Those who order online before Jan. 15 will receive a bonus pack of specials.
There also will be extra bingo boards available for purchase, as well as pull-tabs, a 50-50 and basket auction. The concession stand will be open.
Online ticket sales will end at 10 p.m. Jan. 23. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door. All sales are final.
To purchase tickets, visit square.link/u/evZi0wtN.
Seating is preassigned; when checking out, let Divine Mercy Academy know who is in your party so you can be seated together.
For questions, contact Sara Flaherty at dmabingo@dmapgh.org.
Last day to recycle Christmas trees is Jan. 18 in county parks
The Allegheny County Parks Department’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs through Sunday, Jan. 18, at any of the county’s nine parks. Trees can be dropped off from 8 a.m. until dusk.
All lights, decorations, tinsel and stands must be removed. The trees will be mulched and used in the county parks.
During the 2023-24 program, more than 3,000 trees were received and recycled, with the resulting mulch used for various purposes throughout the park system’s 12,000-plus acres.
Drop-off locations are:
• Boyce Park, soccer fields parking lot, Pierson Run Road, Plum;
• Deer Lakes Park, Veterans Shelter parking lot, 1090 Baileys Run Road, Tarentum;
• Harrison Hills Park, parking lot at Chipmunk and Cottontail drives, Harrison;
• Hartwood Acres park, Middle Road parking lot, Indiana Township;
• North Park, swimming pool parking lot, McCandless;
• Round Hill Park, Alfalfa Shelter parking lot, Elizabeth Township;
• Settlers Cabin Park, park administration office, Robinson;
• South Park, Brightstar parking lot at McConkey and Corrigan drives, South Park;
• White Oak Park, Chestnut Shelter parking lot, White Oak.
Upcoming meetings
Upcoming municipal and school district meetings include:
• Council: 7 p.m. Jan. 26 (tentative date; visit pennhillspa.gov for updates) Council Chambers at the government center, 102 Duff Road;
• Zoning Hearing Board: 7 p.m. Jan. 28 in Council Chambers (fourth Wednesday of each month);
• Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in Council Chambers (fourth Thursday of each month);
• Library Board: 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road (last Wednesday of each month);
• Penn Hills School Board: 6 p.m. Jan. 28 (regular public voting meeting) in the Sen. Jay Costa Media Center at Linton Middle School, 260 Aster St. (last Wednesday of each month)
To check for cancellations, agendas or other changes to the municipal meeting schedule, scroll down to the bulletin board section of Penn Hills’ homepage at pennhillspa.gov or sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts. A hard copy of the township agenda also is available at the Penn Hills Library.
To sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts, visit savvycitizenapp.com/signup or download the app on your mobile phone.
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?
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 its monthly school board meetings on its website at https://www.phsd.org/our-district/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.
Pavilion rentals being accepted for 2026
The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department is accepting reservations for pavilions for the 2026 parks season.
Penn Hills offers several pavilions at its four parks in the community:
• Duff Park P avilion at Duff Park, 120 Duff Road;
• Maple, Red Oak and Sycamore pavilions at Penn Hills Park, 120 Colorado St.;
• Turner-Friendship Park Pavilion at Turner-Friendship Park, 1340 Hunter Road;
• Connolly, Crawshaw and Schrott pavilions at Universal Park, 1 Memorial Drive.
For details about the amenities available at each pavilion and park, visit pennhillspa.gov/parks-recreation/reserve.
The cost to rent a pavilion is $75 per day for residents and $100 for nonresidents; an alcohol permit costs $25.
To check availability, call 412-798-2147.
Open house, Mass to kick off Catholic Schools Week
To kick off National Catholic Schools Week, Divine Mercy Academy invites the public to a Mass at 11 a.m. Jan. 25 at Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, 245 Azalea Drive, Monroeville.
An open house will be held from noon to 2 p.m. The open house will give families considering a private education the opportunity to meet Divine Mercy Academy’s faculty and families.
For details, call 412-372-7255 or visit dmapgh.org.
Rotary scholarships available for seniors
The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program has scholarships available for the 2025-26 academic year.
In recent years, the program has awarded at least eight need-based scholarships at $5,000 each.
High school seniors in Allegheny and Beaver counties are eligible to apply.
Those attending New Kensington-Arnold, Kiski Area and Burrell Area high schools and The Kiski School in Westmoreland County also are eligible. 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 Rotary District 7305 website at rotarydistrict7305.org by clicking on Scholarship Opportunities. Applications also are available through area high school counselors.
Applications postmarked after Feb. 28 will not be accepted.
For details, contact Dr. Robert Arbuckle, committee chairperson, at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.
Scholarships available for aspiring journalists
The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is accepting applications for its 20th annual Bob Fryer Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) along with the club’s annual $2,500 for aspiring journalists.
The awards are designed to encourage outstanding undergraduate journalism students in print, broadcasting and multimedia. Candidates must be sophomores or juniors enrolled in an accredited college or university in one of Western Pennsylvania’s 29 counties which include Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Butler.
Applications are available at WesternPApressclub.org or by calling 412-281-7778.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 9.
Winners will be awarded at the club’s annual Golden Quills Awards Dinner.
Course available to drivers 55 and older
Seniors for Safe Driving is offering an upcoming course for motorists 55 and older from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 24 at the Penn Hills Senior Center, 147 Jefferson Road.
The PennDOT-approved course is an opportunity for older motorists to refresh their driving skills and their knowledge of the rules of the road.
There is no testing or behind-the-wheel driving. Participants who complete the course can receive a three-year discount of no less that 5% on their auto insurance.
Course highlights include one’s health and driving performance; effects of medication and alcohol on driving; yielding and intersections; strategies for safe passing and managing one’s speed; keeping up with vehicle technology; preventive ways to reduce driver distractions;, proper use of safety belts, air bags and anti-lock brakes; defensive driving tactics and sharing the road; dealing with aggressive drivers and road rage situations; and the latest information on traffic laws and regulations.
The cost is $17.
To register for a class, call 800-559-4880 or 724-283-0245 or go online at SeniorsForSafeDriving.com.
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.
There is well-lit parking, wheelchair accessibility and security.
For details, call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.
Firefighters sought
Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Company No. 7, 125 Universal Road, is accepting applications for its live-in program, bunk-in program, junior firefighters program and home response team.
Eligible candidates will get free college tuition through Allegheny County’s FireVEST program. The program provides full scholarships for an associate degree or certificat program at CCAC, as well as training at the Allegheny County Fire Academy. Penn Hills residents who become firefighters also receive a tax credit.
The department, which averages as many as 1,000 calls each year, operates a 100-foot ladder truck, a heavy-duty rescue pumper and a Class A pumper.
To learn more, visit phvfd227.com.
Station 225 seeks junior firefighters
Station 225 of the Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department is accepting applications for its new Junior Firefighter Program.
The program is open to 16- and 17-year-olds.
For details or to apply, call the station at 412-731-2222, email pennhillsvfd225@gmail.com or stop by the station from 7 to 9 p.m. any Tuesday.
In 2024, Station 225, located at 2997 Robinson Blvd., responded to 600 calls. The department encourages members of the community to join in its lifesaving efforts.
Verona 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.
Cub Scout Pack 817 open to new 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.
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.
To have your news or event listed, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.