Back-to-school event to feature giveaways
The Penn Hills School District is hosting its annual Back-to-School PHamily Fun Fest from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 17 at Penn Hills High School.
Students’ first day of school is Aug. 20.
While the Fun Fest is taking place at the high school, it is open to the entire district.
Students and their families will have the chance to mingle with friends, teachers and administrators as they enjoy free food, giveaways, games, music and community resources.
The first 150 students will receive a drawstring bag filled with district swag.
Donations, volunteers sought for bag drive
Penn Hills native Jessica Gentile is bringing back her annual school supplies drive after a two-year hiatus.
The collection will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Firestone Complete Auto Care, 397 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville.
Gentile, now of Baldwin, is seeking pencils, crayons, book bags, glue sticks, scissors, markers and notebooks to distribute to students in the Gateway and surrounding school districts, including Penn Hills. Volunteers also are needed.
Donations can be dropped off at the Firestone where the event is being held or the location at 3775 William Penn Highway. Monetary donations can be sent via PayPal to jess_layla@yahoo.com.
Each child gets one book bag stuffed with supplies on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to supply giveaways, the event will include face painting, food and raffles.
For details, contact Gentile at jess_layla@yahoo.com.
Volunteers needed to install smoke alarms
According to the American Red Cross, house fires claim seven lives every day in the U.S.
As part of its Sound the Alarm effort, the organization is seeking volunteers to help install smoke alarms from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 in Penn Hills, Plum, Oakmont and Verona.
Volunteers are invited to start the day at 10 a.m. with state Rep. Joe McAndrew and firefighters at Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department No. 7, 125 Universal Road, for a free cookout. Participants then will be given the smoke alarms and a small list of pre-registered homes.
No experience is necessary. The American Red Cross will provide training. Participants are advised to wear closed-toe shoes. Tools will be provided or you can bring your own.
To sign up for the event, visit tinyurl.com/n2xeepjp online.
Anyone still in need of a smoke alarm is encouraged to call the American Red Cross at 412-263-5278.
Movies planned in Penn Hills parks
The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department is winding down the summer with two showings of family-friendly movies.
“Kung Fu Panda 4” will be shown Friday, Aug. 23, in Penn Hills Park, and “The Garfield Movie” will be shown Friday, Sept. 13, in Friendship Park.
Both movies are rated PG and will begin at dusk.
There will be free admission and snacks.
‘Transformers’ to be shown in Verona park
The free Movies in the Park series returns to Railroad Park in Verona on Friday, Aug. 16.
“Transformers,” will be shown at sundown. Be sure to bring a blanket or chair. Bringing food and coolers is permitted.
In the event of bad weather, the movie will be shown in council chambers inside the borough building.
All-class Penn Hills reunion set for Sept. 14
The Penn Hills High School alumni group is planning its fourth all-class reunion from noon to dark Sept. 14 at Penn Hills Park.
The event, which will occupy all three pavilions in the park, brings Penn Hills alumni together from the 1950s through the 2000s.
There will be a food truck, a DJ, raffles and basket giveaways. This year, the Class of 1973 is planning a bake sale fundraiser.
The cost to attend is $10 per person, and family and friends are welcome. Tickets can be purchased through Lee Adams, a chairperson for the gathering, via Zelle at aceadams25@hotmail.com.
For details and other ways to purchase tickets, visit the Penn Hills High School Alumni group on Facebook.
Boardwalk in the ’Burgh open to vets
The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is planning a Boardwalk in the ’Burgh event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at the H.J. Heinz III VA Medical Center, 1010 Delafield Road, O’Hara.
All veterans and their families are invited to learn about VA programs, benefits and services. The event will kick off with a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. for the new Center for Whole Health and Wellness.
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There will be free hot dogs, chips and refreshments; games such as cornhole and a dunk tank featuring VA staff; live entertainment by Richard “Doc” Mondak of Rust Bucket; and fresh produce available for purchase.
In addition, veterans with a service-connected disability who were separated from the military under other than honorable conditions, such as through an administrative discharge or by special court martial, will be able to meet with a VBA representative to check their eligibility for VA benefits and health care under a recent rule change.
Assistance available for veterans, spouses
State Rep. Joe McAndrew’s office, 77 Universal Road, Suite 1, in Penn Hills provides free assistance to veterans and their spouses from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month.
A veteran service officer from the American Legion will be on hand to help with a variety of needs, including compensation and pension claims, education benefits, enrollment in the VA health care system, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits, and obtaining military personnel and medical records.
There are limited appointments available for August. To make an appointment, call 412-793-2448.
McAndrew’s 32nd District covers Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona.
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.
Brain-boosting workshops for kids on tap
Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, is offering a number of brain-boosting workshops for children ages 6 to 11 in August, including:
• Food Scientists: 2 to 2:45 p.m. Aug. 15. Participants will learn about the research of food scientists and engage in visual experiments. Registration is required.
• Future Engineers: 6 to 6:45 p.m. Aug. 15, 22 and 29. Participants will learn about the engineering design process while brainstorming and building with different materials to come up with solutions to unique real-world problems. Registration is required.
To register for any of the above events, call the library at 412-775-5700 or go online at pennhillslibrary.org.
Flutist to perform Caribbean sounds at library
Flutist Gemma Stemley is scheduled to perform music from the Caribbean region from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 31 at Penn Hills Library.
Selections will cover calypso, reggae and soca — (so)ul of (ca)lypso.
Stemley, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, will teach audience members about the differences in the rhythmic sounds of the music of Harry Belafonte, who was credited with popularizing calypso in the U.S.
She also will share the history of the steel pan and Native American flute.
Registration is required and can be made by calling 412-775-4700 or visiting pennhillslibrary.org and clicking on the events list.
Disability celebration planned in Schenley Plaza
Disability Pride PA is partnering with the Pittsburgh disability community for its third annual Disability Pride celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 24 at Schenley Plaza, 4100 Forbes Ave.
The event, which is free and open to the public, celebrates the 34th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
There will be entertainment, giveaways, activities, advocacy, resource tables and a variety of vendors and food trucks.
The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with stage performances and a parade around Schenley Plaza. The keynote speaker will be disability rights leader Josie Badger.
Stage performances include comedian Gab Bonesso, musicians Ryan Gilfillian and Friends of Tom Band, children’s entertainer Miss Cassidy Creates and poetry from the Live/Ability project.
There also will be accessible games and activities sponsored by the Ryan Shazier Fund and a sensory-friendly space sponsored by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The National ADA Disability Caravan will be on-site with voting information and story collecting.
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To register or volunteer for the event, visit tinyurl.com/PGHVolunteer.
Anyone who needs disability accommodations, including a tactile ASL interpreter, are encouraged to register in advance at tinyurl.com/dppgh2024.
Masks are encouraged.
For details, visit disabilitypridepa.org/dp-pgh.
Station 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.
Verona Farmers Market sets up Thursdays
Verona’s seasonal farmers market has kicked off into full swing. Hosted every Thursday until Nov. 21, each market features a list of local vendors.
For special announcements about the market, visit the Verona Farmers Market Facebook page.
Association of University People seeks members
The Association of University People (AUP) invites singles 50 and older, who are four-year college graduates, to join them for activities and to meet new people.
Activities include monthly dinners, social gatherings, concerts, meeting up at local wineries and day trips. Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.
For details or to become an AUP member, call 412-353-9088 or email aupsingles@gmail.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 e-mail jmjkwj@gmail.com.