In brief: Boy Scout celebration, other happenings around Oakmont, Plum, Verona, week of Aug. 22, 2022.

Boy Scout celebration

Boy Scout Troop 854 of Oakmont, originally Troop 54, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

In commemoration, the troop is holding an anniversary gathering and dinner from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 3 in the dining room of Oakmont Presbyterian Church, 415 Pennsylvania Ave. All current and former Scouts and leaders are invited to attend the event, which will include a dinner, displays of troop memorabilia and photos, guest speakers and more.

Anyone interested in attending or lending troop photos and memorabilia for the event can contact Scoutmaster Dave Scatena at 412-708-1569 or djscatena@verizon.net.

RCAC hosts ‘Rags to Riches’

Riverview Community Action Corp. is hosting an informative program, “From Rags to Riches,” at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 at 501 Second St., Oakmont. The entrance is on Delaware Avenue.

The program focuses on Jessie Mathews Vann, wife of Robert Vann, editor of The Pittsburgh Courier.

After her parents died in the 1890s, she was shunted from relative to relative, once even abandoned in the street.

After being beaten by an aunt, she moved in with her brother and in 1904 graduated with honors from Harrisburg High School. After the death of her husband, Jessie assumed many of his duties at the Courier while serving on several national boards.

A frequent White House guest, she was appointed by President Eisenhower to represent the United States at the inauguration of President William Tubman of Liberia and was offered a post at the United Nations. Her story was featured on the 1950s television show “This is Your Life.”

Admission to the RCAC program is free and open to the public. Call 412-828-1062 to reserve a seat.

Holy Family hosts senior fair

The Holy Family Parish SOS Ministry team is hosting a senior fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 20 at Our Lady of Joy Church, 2000 O’Block Road, Plum.

The event is being presented by the National Aging in Place Council, which will provide free flu shots and blood pressure screenings. In addition, 17 businesses will be providing information on a variety of topics of interest to seniors. Visit each of the tables for drawings and giveaways.

Also, a certified Alzheimer’s care professional will offer a presentation on the disease and dementia at 11:30.

Professionals in several fields will be on hand to answer questions about elder law, pharmaceuticals, home organizing, skin care, senior facilities, home health, life insurance, mortgage information, caregiver solutions, holistic health, Parkinson Foundation, Plum Community Center and wheelchairs, lifts and scooters. The Seniors Blue Book will be available to provide many more resources.

To register, call the SOS Ministry Office at 412-793-4511 x 107 or email sos@holyfamilypgh.org. Indicate if you intend to have a flu shot when you reply. Light refreshments will be served.

Plum ’61 picnic

A picnic will be held to celebrate 61 years for the Plum High School Class of 1961. It will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Rotary Pavilion at Riverview Park in Oakmont.

If interested in attending, call 724-339-3134 or email barbfarina@comcast.net.

Penn Hills ’68 reunion

On Sept. 10 from 5:30-10:30 p.m. at the Riverside Boathouse at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Oakmont, the Penn Hills High School Class of 1968 will host a reunion. There will be live music by The Fabulous Igniters.

For more information, call Charlene Jenkins Liberto at 412-848-7204 or Carol Gismondi Zdrojkowski at 412-519-4851.

Social hour

Verona Community Garden, 246 W. Railroad Ave., Verona, holds social hours from 6 to 8 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. For details, visit veronaborough.org.

Stroke support group meets

Plum Community Center’s stroke support group meets the first and third Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the center, 499 Center New Texas Road.

Jeff Pope is the group coordinator. Experts say social activities, trips and keeping active are some of the best rehabilitation techniques.

Call 412-795-2330 for more information.