To have your news or event listed in our briefs section, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.
Burchfield student honored for grief awareness poster
Annie Johnson, a third grader at Burchfield Primary School, was recognized in April for her compassion and creativity.
The 9-year-old is a member of the Caring Team at Burchfield, which works with school Counselor Lezlie DelVecchio-Marks to facilitate supportive programming around childhood grief.
In her role as a caring team representative, Annie has co-taught grief awareness lessons, decorated a “Wall of Hope” in the school for Childhood Grief Awareness Day, and helped with donation drives for charity.
Annie drew on the lessons she’s learned through her involvement with this student leadership team and created a submission for Highmark Caring Place’s annual poster contest. The contest invites students to create a poster about how to help a grieving friend. Annie’s poster design was selected from all elementary entries in the region.
Annie was surprised with the news that she was a winner in art class on April 30. She was presented with a certificate and gift card.
Presentation, Q&A planned on proposed bus route changes in Shaler
The proposed loss of bus service along Mt. Royal Boulevard will be the focus of a Shaler commissioners public safety committee meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. May 26 at the township building, 300 Wetzel Road.
Commissioners have joined residents and community organizations calling on Pittsburgh Regional Transit to not eliminate two bus routes, the Route 2 Mt. Royal and P13 Mt. Royal Flyer, serving the Mt. Royal Boulevard corridor as part of its Bus Line Refresh project.
Shaler Commissioner Josh Fleitman said the township and PRT set up the special meeting because PRT was not having any in-person or pop-up events or other public engagements in Shaler.
“The entire board of commissioners wants to make sure that Shaler residents have an opportunity to voice their opinions to PRT staff and be heard in this process,” Fleitman said. “I have been pleased with PRT’s response to the board’s joint letter and their willingness to discuss the board’s concerns. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting to hear directly from PRT and share feedback on how the loss of bus service along Mt. Royal Boulevard would hurt our community.
“I am hopeful that working together, we can find a way to maintain this lifeline for Shaler.”
Replacement of 3 Millvale bridges subject of public meeting
A public informational meeting to discuss the replacement of two bridges on Lincoln Avenue and one on Grant Avenue will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 21 at the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.
The Lincoln Avenue bridges consist of one near North Avenue, where Lincoln is closed because of the bridge’s condition, and at the opposite end near East Ohio Street, which has a 3-ton weight limit and the sidewalk is closed.
On Grant Avenue, the bridge is across from the Grant Avenue Pocket Park. It has a 6-ton weight limit, causing detours for public buses and emergency vehicles.
The meeting will provide preliminary project details, property impacts and schedule and anticipated traffic control. A PennDOT project team will be available to answer questions and gather feedback. Public comment is being taken through June 18.
The project currently is in the design phase. Construction on Lincoln Avenue is scheduled to start in spring 2028 and be finished that fall, while work on Grant Avenue is scheduled for 2029.
The information and presentation at the meeting will be posted on PennDOT’s website at pa.gov/penndot and can be found there by selecting Projects Near You, District 11 and then “Millvale Borough Bridges Replacement Project.”
For details, contact Zachary Patterson, PennDOT project manager, at 412-429-4864 or by email at zapatterso@pa.gov.
Learn about safe drinking water at library
Residents can learn about water service lines and lead in drinking water from 10 a.m. to 4:30p.m. May 22 at the Shaler North Hills Library.
Representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Get the Lead Out initiative, who are working with the Hampton Shaler Water Authority, will be present to answer questions about drinking water, service lines and more.
They will have a table near the staircase. There also will be free activities for children.
The event is free and open to everyone in the community. No registration is needed.
Mock crash planned at high school
A mock crash will be held at Shaler Area High School at 11 a.m. May 22.
Shaler Hampton EMS, local police departments, Perman Funeral Home and LifeFlight, along with the high school’s emergency responder class, will be participating.
The performance is intended to allow seniors to see what happens when people make poor decisions and get behind the wheel of a car. It will end with the dismissal of students at 11:45 a.m.
LifeFlight will land if weather allows.
Shaler veterans groups plan Memorial Day service
Shaler American Legion Post 785 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9199 will hold a Memorial Day service at 11:30 a.m. May 25 at the flagstaff/cannon in Mt. Royal Cemetery.
Volunteers are needed to place flags on veterans graves at 9:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, May 22.
Former Etna police chief dies
Robert Joseph Ober, a former Etna police chief and longtime borough officer, died May 7.
The Etna resident was a military policeman in the Army from 1964 to 1966. He was a police officer in Etna from 1971 to 1998 before serving as chief from 1998 to 2006.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 p.m. May 21 at Bock Funeral Home, 1500 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler. Services will be at 11 a.m. May 22 in Elfinwild Church, 3200 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler.
Shaler Area prepares for graduation, senior walk-throughs at primary schools
Shaler Area will hold its 2026 commencement at Titan Stadium on May 29.
Students will gather at 6:45 p.m., with the ceremony beginning at 7.
There are 298 students in the class.
Student speakers will be Sarah Sevens, summa cum laude; Cassandra Schneck, class representative; and Abby Tepshich, class president.
Seniors are being invited back to their primary schools on the morning of graduation. They are asked to wear their cap and gown. Jeffery and Rogers students will go to Scott Primary School.
Hours will be from 10 to 11 a.m. at Burchfield, Reserve and Scott and noon to 1 p.m. at Marzolf. Seniors should arrive 15 minutes earlier to meet primary students.
If graduation practice is cancelled because of weather on May 27 or May 28, the senior walk-through will begin at noon May 29 for former Burchfield, Reserve and Scott students.
In the event of rain, the walk-through events outside will be held indoors.
Shaler to hold public hearing on proposed East Elfinwild stop sign
Shaler commissioners will hold a public hearing on adding a third stop sign at the intersection of East Elfinwild Road and Balsam Drive at 7 p.m. June 9 at the township building, 300 Wetzel Road.
Following complaints from several residents, township police did a review of the T-intersection and recommended placing a third stop sign there.
If approved, the new stop sign will have a flashing red light on it to alert drivers, township Manager Judy Kording said.
Shaler Area grad finishes 12th in Pittsburgh Marathon
Tyler Paszkowski, a 2022 graduate of Shaler Area High School and currently a senior and student athlete at Robert Morris University, finished 12th in the Dicks Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.
His finish time was 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 17 seconds for the 26.2-mile course. His pace per mile for the race was 5:42.
Paszkowski is a business & operations management major at Robert Morris. After graduating, he will work with First National Bank’s Banking Rotational Program.
Pre-K Counts to be available only at Reserve Primary for 2026-27
The Shaler Area School Board approved an agreement with the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette to operate its Pre-K Counts program at Reserve Primary School from Aug. 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
The program is administered by the council, which leases space within Shaler Area schools. It previously was housed at all four of the district’s primary schools.
Because the district is moving from a K-3 primary model to K-5 elementary schools, and closing Shaler Area Elementary, Superintendent Bryan O’Black said Reserve is the only location where space will be available for the Pre-K Counts program.
Pre-K Counts has been operating in the district since 2013, beginning with one classroom at Reserve before expanding to the other schools.
Shaler Area does not provide transportation for the program, O’Black said.
Reserve announces onsite township tax collection dates
Jordan Tax Service will be at the Reserve township office to collect township taxes on two dates in June.
The times and days are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 and 9 a.m. to noon Monday, June 29.
Shaler keeps garbage hauler for 2 more years
Shaler commissioners approved extending the township’s garbage contract with County Hauling for 2027 and 2028.
The monthly rate for residents will increase about 6.1% from 2026 to 20027, from $33.77 to $35.83. For 2028, it will increase another 6.1%, to $38.01 per month.
County Hauling has been Shaler’s garbage contractor since 2019.
31 roads in Shaler to be resurfaced
Shaler will resurface 31 roads in the township from early July to late August.
Commissioners awarded the contract to A. Liberoni, which was the lowest bidder at $1.4 million.
The township will also pay A. Liberoni about $102,000 for berm restoration and rain leaders into the berms. The township had previously paid independent contractors for that work, which is now wrapped into the paving contract, township Manager Judy Kording said.
The roads to be worked on are Amherst Place, Amherst Road, Autumnwood Drive from Pictwood to the cul-de-sac, Bernice Drive, Delaware Court, Delaware Drive, Edgecliff Avenue, Fall Run Road from Maple to Middle, Hilglor Drive, Ida Drive, Kennedy Heights Drive, Koehler Street from Parker to Manhattan, Lily Drive from 141 Ida to Elfinwild, Lupine Drive, Manhattan Avenue, Manuel Drive, Margaret Street from Hilglor to the cul-de-sac, Martha Avenue (remainder from gas company project), Mary Avenue (remainder from gas company project), Maryland Drive, Mathilda Street, McElheny Road from Mt. Royal to Woodside, Old Soose Road from Soose to Westwood, Pictwood Drive, Ponderosa Drive from Burchfield to Sapling, Terry Drive, Virginia Drive from Kleber to Delaware, Wallace Road, Westwood Avenue, Williams Street (remainder from gas company project) and Zeno Lane.
Residents on those streets will get a letter from the township with more information in May.
Shaler Area accepts retirements, resignations
The Shaler Area School Board accepted the retirements of four employees and the resignations of three others at its April 22 meeting.
Middle school French teacher Sharon Isherwood and elementary paraprofessional Eileen Wolfson will retire on June 1. Patricia Helfrich, an administrative secretary at Burchfield Primary, will retire on June 11. Paula Dobson, an education and guidance secretary at the middle school, will retire on July 6.
Resignations of high school math teacher Rebecca Butler and Burchfield special education teacher Stephanie Franz are effective June 1. Samantha Robbins, a Spanish teacher at the middle and high schools, is resigned effective April 15.
District awards contracts for exterior doors
The Shaler Area School Board awarded three contracts for exterior doors to AB Specialties at its April 22 meeting.
Costs are $44,200 at Shaler Area Middle School, $25,600 at the Titan Stadium pride entrance, and $22,980 at Reserve Primary School.
School lunch prices unchanged for upcoming year
There will be no change in lunch prices for Shaler Area students in the 2026-27 school year.
As approved by the school board on April 22, the elementary lunch price will remain $2.25 while the secondary price will remain $2.50.
Millvale announces street sweeping
Millvale will be conducting it street cleaning program through Nov. 20.
Residents are asked to obey posted parking restrictions.
A full street sweeping schedule is available on the borough’s website at millvalepa.com.
All-year Millvale High School reunion planned July 18
The 14th biennial Millvale High School Grand Reunion will be from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Croatian Center along Schuetzen Park Road.
All alumni, attendees and friends of Millvale High School are invited.
The school, which closed in 1971, educated students from Millvale and Reserve.
The reunion will include an all-day disc jockey, a catered hot meal, snacks and beverages.
The cost is $30 if paid by July 1.
For details or to be added to the mailing list, contact Karen Ulrich at 412-821-4571.
Barbecue on menu for June’s free Community Meal
Everyone is welcome to celebrate food, fun and fellowship at the free Community Meal from 5 to 7 p.m. June 1 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1719 Mt. Royal Blvd., in Shaler.
The menu will be barbecue chicken, baked beans, tater tots, coleslaw and dessert.
Free meals are served on the first Monday of each month at the church.
The next one after June will be from 5 to 7 p.m. July 6.
For details, visit www.belc.org or call the church office at 412-486-0550.
Strawberry Festival set for June 13
Bethlehem Lutheran Church will host its seventh annual Strawberry Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the church, 1719 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler.
Everyone is welcome.
Admission is $5 per person — free for children 5 and younger — and includes a treat of fresh strawberries with angel food cake, pound cake or a dessert shell, plus ice cream and a drink.
There also will be a bake sale, homemade jam sale, basket raffles, children’s activities and live piano music.
Consider bringing a nonperishable food item to benefit local pantries and the community blessing box outside the church.
For questions, call the church office at 412-486-0550 or visit the church’s website at belc.org.
18th annual Great Gardens Tour set for July 12
The Shaler Garden Club’s 18th annual Great Gardens Tour will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 12.
All proceeds benefit Shaler North Hills Library.
Treat yourself to a walk through five spectacular local gardens, which will delight your senses and inspire your creativity. Join us for this 18th annual Shaler Garden Club’s Great Gardens Tour on Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the tour.
They can be purchased at the library, 1822 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Shaler, or via the library’s website at shalerlibrary.org. Each ticket includes hosted visits to the five gardens and a chance to win a gift basket.
The event will be held rain or shine.
For details, visit shalergardenclub.com or shalerlibrary.org or call 412-486-0211.
Shaler Garden Club is proud to be celebrating 104 years of serving the Shaler community.
Gardens contest underway
Is your lovely garden one in which neighbors compliment? Does a neighbor have a show-stopper garden? Why not celebrate these gardens and talent by entering the Shaler Great Local Gardens Contest?
All gardens in Shaler and the surrounding communities are welcome to enter this casual contest.
It’s easy to enter. Simply submit five photos of your garden along with a description of what makes your garden special. We love a good story.
All types of gardens — such as flower, vegetable, herb or container — will be considered. Drop off your entry at the Shaler North Hills Library, 1822 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Shaler, by the July 6 deadline. Photos will not be returned.
Winners of the contest will be announced at the Shaler Garden Club’s July 22 meeting at the library. Winners will have the opportunity to be a part of the 2027 Great Gardens Tour.
For details, stop by the library or visit shalergardenclub.com or shalerlibrary.org or call 412-486-0211. and philanthropic donations of the Shaler Garden Club.
For details, visit shalergardenclub.com.
Grant covers free spay, neuter surgeries for Millvale residents, veterans
Animal Friends provides free spay and neuter surgeries for owned dogs and cats within its partner communities of McKees Rocks, Millvale, Mt. Oliver and Sharpsburg.
The program is made possible by a grant from the McS Charitable Foundation. In addition, the program will be available to veterans regardless of their location.
Any dog or cat owner who resides in one of these communities or is a veteran and wishes to be considered for the service should complete an application at tinyurl.com/29z4vev so a member of the clinic team can reach out.
Spaying and neutering are among the most impactful choices one can make to protect their pet’s health and help reduce pet overpopulation. These safe, routine procedures prevent unwanted litters, reducing the number of animals entering shelters each year. In addition to easing overcrowding, spaying and neutering can lower the risk of certain cancers, decrease roaming and behavioral challenges, and often lead to longer, healthier lives.
The grant covers the cost of the spay or neuter surgery, including pain medication, a complimentary nail trim and e-collar. All other services, such as vaccines, will be at the expense of the owner.
For assistance with scheduling a feral cat, call Animal Friends directly at 412-847-7004.
Shaler Area looking for summer student workers
The Shaler Area School District is accepting applications for summer workers.
Summer workers will work with district custodial and maintenance staff to prepare buildings for the next school year.
Applicants must reside in Shaler Area, be enrolled in high school or post-secondary education for the 2026-27 school year and be 15 years old by June 1, 2026.
Starting pay is $11.25 per hour.
Applications are available in guidance offices or on the school district webpage, bit.ly/SASDsummerjobs. Applications are accepted through June 3.
2-day Junior Fire Camp open to teens
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services is offering a Junior Fire Camp from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13 and 14 for teens ages 13-17.
Are you curious about what it’s like to be a firefighter?
Discover the world of volunteer fire service with this one-of-a-kind experience featuring fun, hands-on activities guided by real firefighters.
Participants will receive a T-shirt.
The cost of the camp is $35, and scholarships are available.
After applying, you will be notified if you qualify for a scholarship.
For details, visit station102.org/fire-camp.
AAUW organizing 6th author fundraiser
The North Hills affiliate of the American Association of University Women is hosting its sixth annual For the Love of Books fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 at La Roche University, 9000 Babcock Blvd., McCandless.
Doors will open at 9:30 a.m.
The event will feature presentations by local authors followed by a panel discussion, book signings, vendors and raffle baskets.
Morning refreshments and a light, gluten-free and nut-free lunch will be served.
Seating is limited, and reservations are required by May 23.
The cost to attend is $45.
To purchase tickets, make checks out to AAUW North Hills Pittsburgh and mail to June Maier, 959 Broad Meadow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Include your email address to receive an email confirmation.
To learn more, visit aauwnorthhillspgh.org/6th-annual-for-the-love-of-books-fundraiser.
Proceeds help support AAUW’s mission to advance gender equity through advocacy and education.
Join Reserve manager for coffee
Reserve’s coffee and doughnuts meet-up with Manager Jan Kowalski is back for 2026.
An announcement about each session will be posted online the week the meeting. All sessions begin at 9 a.m. in the Reserve Fire Department’s Mt. Troy Ballroom, 33 Lonsdale St.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Meetings are scheduled for May 29, June 26, July 31, Aug. 28, Oct. 2 and Oct. 30. Check the township’s website and social media closer to these dates for the special topics and guests.
Red Cross seeks blood donors, volunteers
During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross urges donors to help the national blood supply recover following a severe shortage and empower their health by making an appointment to give blood or platelets.
Donors of all blood types remain critical to keeping momentum up and the blood supply steady headed into spring.
The Red Cross will perform free A1C testing on successful blood, platelet and plasma donations made through March 31, one result per calendar year. Donors also will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email. Details can be found at redcrossblood.org/March.
The American Red Cross supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood.
To donate blood or platelets, visit redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank donors at blood drives to ensure they have a positive donation experience. Volunteers also are needed as transportation specialists, ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For details and to apply for either position, contact Volunteer Services at 1-800-422-7677 or visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.