Want to learn bridge or need a refresher?
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to play bridge, one of the world’s most popular card games, now is your chance.
Beginning Bridge lessons will be offered for seven consecutive Tuesdays, starting March 31, at the Sewickley YMCA.
The lessons will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The cost is $75 per person and includes a textbook, handouts and at-table game playing assistance.
The lessons are aimed for people 16 and older, new players and/or players who are returning to the game and need a refresher.
Bill Holt, a Diamond Life Master, teaches the basic concepts and joy of bridge, which is the perfect way to learn. It is team-taught by the Pittsburgh Bridge Association. Come solo or bring a friend — no partner is needed. This is a great way to keep your mind sharp and meet new friends.
To register, visit sewickleyymca.org/bridge.
New police car
Leet officials recently purchased a new police car.
Commissioners approved its financing at a workshop meeting last month.
The 2026 Ford Explorer cost about $59,000, including a $14,000 police package that contains lights and sirens, decals, console and cage for prisoners.
The vehicle will come from Laurel Auto Group in Johnstown. The fitting will be done by West Penn Vehicle Specialists.
Financing includes a 3-year, $44,000 loan from First National Bank. Remaining monies may come from the township’s capital projects or police budget.
Police Chief Brian Jameson said the new vehicle will set the visual standard for the fleet.
It is expected to be in service by the end of March.
Remaining SUVs are expected to get new decals in its image. The goal is to make police more visible in the community.
The new vehicle replaces a dark grey 2020 Dodge Durango with dark decals acquired by previous police department leadership.
Other two SUVs in the fleet are 2022 and 2023 Ford Explorers, both from Laurel Auto Group.
Library events
Sewickley Public Library will host Sahaja meditation from 11 a.m. to noon on March 14 at 500 Thorn St.
Enjoy the silence, peace and stress release that is always free with this weekly meditation program.
Newcomers are welcome. No registration required.
The library will host its Maj Jongg Group from 6-8:45 p.m. March 16.
Mah Jongg is a game of both skill and luck that originated in China many centuries ago.
Sewickley Library is hosting a new group for American Mah Jongg players. Bring your Mah Jongg set if you own one, the library can also provide sets if you do not have one.
This group is open to all skill levels, but no instruction will take place during the meetup.
Registration is required. Call 412-741-6920 for more information.
Transportation plan discussion
Leetsdale will host a community meeting to discuss an active transportation plan at 6 p.m. March 23 at the borough building, 373 Beaver St.
It is open to anyone who lives, visits or passes through the borough. Officials hope to get feedback on how to make Leetsdale more walkable, accessible and safe.
The borough received a grant from the state Department of Health via the WalkWorks program to develop the plan. It is being created by consultants at Pashek MTR and projected to be done in June.
Registration for the community meeting is recommended but not required.
Call 724-266-4820 for more information.
Safety course open to drivers 55 and older
Seniors for Safe Driving is offering an upcoming course for motorists 55 and older from 1 to 5 p.m. May 7 at the Baierl Family YMCA, 2565 Nicholson Road, Franklin Park.
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.
SMC Club
The SMC Club, an affiliate of the Sewickley Valley YMCA, will host Lindsay Dill of the Allegheny Land Trust on March 6 to share an update on new projects and financial grants.
On March 20, Stephen Cropper, chief meteorologist for WPXI-11 TV, will discuss Pittsburgh’s weather patterns.
Speakers for March 13 and 27 have yet to be announced.
The club meets Friday mornings year-round, except Fridays preceding national holidays, at the Sewickley Valley YMCA, 625 Blackburn Road.
Coffee, doughnuts and socialization starts at 9 a.m., followed by the meeting at 10 a.m.
For details, visit smensclub.org or Facebook.com/smensclub.
Easter Egg Hunt
Leetsdale will host its Easter Egg Hunt from 2 to 4 p.m. April 4 in Henle Park.Children should bring a basket or bag.
Leet seeks volunteers for open board seats
Leet has open seats available on its Civil Service Commission and Quaker Valley Ambulance Board.
Commission seats are six-year terms. The board seat is a five-year term.
Anyone who wants to fill those volunteer positions must be a registered voter and have lived in the township for at least a year.
Email letters of interest and resumes to township Manager Betsy Rengers at brengers@leettwp.org.
For details, call 724-266-2280.
Sweetwater summer camps
Registration is open for summer camp at Sweetwater Center for the arts, which now have flexible scheduling designed to support families all summer.
Community feedback showed the need to expand the camps all day through the summer. Expect children of all ages to explore their artistic side, meet new friends and be surrounded by creativity.
Camp options include:
• Early Childhood Camps (ages 4-6): 9 a.m.-noon. Imaginative, hands-on mornings filled with artmaking, clay and culinary exploration in a nurturing age-appropriate environment.
• Children’s All-Day Camps (ages 7-11): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Gives kids more time to create, connect and dive deeper into their artistic interests— and families the flexibility of an all-day program.
• Teen Camps (ages 12-15): 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Offers skill-building and creative growth just for teens; select programs are offered as a full-day experience.
Class registration is open, and camps fill up fast.
For more information or to register, visit sweetwaterartcenter.org.
Outing with the Easter Bunny
The Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is hosting Cookies and Carrots with the Easter Bunny from 1 to 3 p.m. March 28 at 1850 Big Sewickley Creek Road.
There will be an Easter egg hunt, crafts, raffles and photos. The event is designed for children 10 and younger with their caregiver. The cost is $5 per child.
Check-in will start at 1 p.m., followed by the egg hunt at 1:30.
Please bring your own basket or bag to collect the eggs.
For details, visit bellacresborough.org.
State police academy applications open
The Pennsylvania State Police is accepting applications for its 2026 Law and Leadership Academy — Southwest Location. The application period runs through May 1.
The free program is designed for residents or students in Southwest Pennsylvania, 18 and older, who have a high school diploma or GED and are seeking a career in law enforcement. Modeled after professional police academies, the curriculum includes instruction on criminal investigations, traffic laws and police resources, alongside paramilitary training in physical fitness, swimming and marching.
The academy runs from May 11 through Aug. 5. Classes are held:
• Mondays: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Saturdays: Two dates (tentative)
The program aims to foster self-discipline and teamwork while giving participants a firsthand look at the cadet experience.
Interested applicants can obtain an application by contacting the Southwest program coordinator, Trooper Tristan T. Fay, at tfay@pa.gov or by visiting patrooper.com. More information is available on the Pennsylvania State Police website at pa.gov/agencies/psp.
Networking group for women
Networking with Purpose: Inspired Women Paying it Forward North meets quarterly at the Doubletree by Hilton, 910 Sheraton Drive, Marshall.
The next business meeting and vendors will be from 6 to 7 p.m. April 16, with registration taking place at 5:30 p.m.
In just one hour each quarter, the group of nine chapters collectively raises more than $40,000 for women’s nonprofits locally and globally, with just a $100 quarterly commitment to vote and nominate.
The group aims to create space for women who have more in their lives to take action on behalf of women who have less.
For details, call Debra Dion Krischke at 724-935-6100 or visit InspiredWomen.com.
Local author to discuss latest novel
The Penguin Bookshop will present an evening with Sewickley author Marie Benedict to celebrate the launch of her new novel, “Daughter of Egypt,” at 7 p.m. March 21 at The Lindsay Theater, 418 Walnut St., Sewickley.
In “Daughter of Egypt,” Benedict transports readers from the glamour and turbulence of 1920s Britain and Cairo to the sands and lush shores of ancient Egypt as she weaves a story of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten pharaoh, rewriting both of their legacies forever.
Benedict, a New York Times bestselling author, will discuss her latest book and her research process. The talk should last about an hour and will conclude with a question-and-answer session from the audience.
Individual tickets are $35.07 each or $46.49 for a couple’s ticket good for two admissions; both ticket prices include the EventBrite fee and sales tax. Tickets include a signed copy of “Daughter of Egypt,” which will be available for pickup at check-in 30 minutes before the event.
Advance registration is required through EventBrite at tinyurl.com/53fa92vv.
Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sewickley Academy offering summer programs
Registration is open for Sewickley Academy’s summer programs.
A robust variety of enriching and impactful programs in academics, athletics, technology, and visual and performing arts are available. The programs, operating the week of June 8 through the week of July 27, are led by faculty members and partner organizations.
Half- and full-day options are available.
To register and learn more, visit sewickley.org/summer.
Slow Tech Film Series offers free screening
The Slow Tech Film Series, being held at The Lindsay Theater, features free screenings focused on technology and its impact on young people.
Next up is “Can’t Look Away” at 7 p.m. April 13 (13 and older). “Can’t Look Away” will include a Q&A with a mental health professional.
Kindergarten registration open
Quaker Valley School District kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year is open.
District policy states a child should be 5 by Sept. 1 to enroll in kindergarten.
Families of children who will be 5 by Oct. 1 should read the district’s policy for early admission.
In addition to proofs of residency and age, the Department of Health requires up-to-date immunization records to be submitted. More information is available at qvsd.org.
BROADcast Concert Series is free, open to public
The BROADcast Concert Series returns this spring with concerts at Sewickley United Methodist Church.
Proceeds from the concert benefit the restoration and preservation of the church’s historic 1909 Möller pipe organ.
Performances include Michael Griska, sitar, and Ashish Sinha, tabla, performing Traditional Music of India at 7:30 p.m. March 14 and the Academy String Quartet presenting Domestic and Imported Lyricism at 7:30 p.m. April 13.
All concerts are free and open to the public.
Visit www.cwmfdn.org for details.
Tapas Talks to explore wellness, photography
The Tapas Talks’ 2026 season includes Holistic Health & Wellness: A Functional Medicine Perspective on May 7 and A Photographer’s Journey: From the Gridiron to the Garden on Oct. 22.
Each session is held at Allegheny Country Club and includes an engaging talk, live music, tapas, dessert and complimentary valet parking.
To register, visit tapastalks.com.
Business Connection
Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, a referral group of business professionals, will meet at Eat N’ Park on Route 60 in Robinson for breakfast from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on March 18. Speakers will be Jason Henze of Overhead Door Company of Pittsburgh and Jim Kernick of Kernick’s Tire Center and Auto Service. To attend, become a member, or, for more information, visit gpbc-pgh.org or call 412-364-6446 ext. 302.
AUP inviting singles 50-plus to join
The Association of University People invites singles 50 and older, who are four-year college graduates, to join them for activities and to meet new people.
Activities to name a few are happy hour, brunches, lunches, dinners, meet-ups at music venues, a nontraditional book group, day trips and Scrabble.
Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.
To obtain more information about AUP, the activities or become an AUP member email Group AUPSingles@gmail.com.
Fern Hollow Nature Center offers workshops
Fern Hollow Nature Center, 1901 Glen Mitchell Road in Sewickley, offers a diverse series of adult educational programs led by Naturalist Janel Morrison. The upcoming season promises a blend of hands-on workshops, interactive presentations, and guided outdoor explorations designed to connect the community with the natural world.
As spring arrives, the center will take its education into the field. On April 7, Morrison will team up with Environmental Educator Sam Burke for a “Flora & Fauna Hike” through Sewickley Heights Borough Park. The hike is designed for adults and families to discover how local ecosystems change from the meadows to the woods. The cost is $7 for members and $10 for nonmembers. Registration is required.
The late spring schedule includes two unique workshops:
• May 13: “Crazy Carnivorous Plants,” an exploration of Venus flytraps and pitcher plants, where participants can take home their own specimen.
• June 10: “Rock Gardening & Hypertufa Container Construction,” a creative workshop blending horticulture and design.
Programs are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Some workshops require additional material fees.
For more information or to register, visit fhnc.org/adult-programs.
21st Colosimo golf outing
The 21st annual Anthony Colosimo Memorial Golf Outing is set for June 5 at the Beaver Valley Golf Club, 725 Sixth Ave. in Patterson Heights, Beaver Falls.
The cost is $150 per golfer until June 1. Golfer fees paid after June 1 will increase to $175.
Those wishing to sign up as a foursome must register by June 1.
Registration at the event starts at 8 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be served.
A shotgun start is set for 9 a.m. followed by lunch at 2 p.m.
Sponsorship opportunities are available from a $100 tee or green sign to a $1,000 gold package that includes golf and lunch for four.
All proceeds benefit the Quaker Valley Rotary Foundation.
For details, call 724-846-2212.
To have your event or information listed in our briefs section, email Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.