In brief: Herald area events for the week of Oct. 21, 2024
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Indiana Township to present budget Nov. 13
Indiana Township officials are expected to present their proposed 2025 budget at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Town Hall, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd.
Supervisors are expected to approve its advertisement later that evening.
Township Manager Dan Anderson said no real estate tax hike is included in the spending plan.
The budget will be available for review at the Town Hall and online at indianatownship.com.
The final budget is scheduled to be adopted Dec. 11.
Trick-or-treat times slated; parade, costume contest set in Aspinwall
Here are the trick-or-treat times for Herald communities:
• Aspinwall: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
• Blawnox: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
• Fox Chapel: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
• Indiana Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
• O’Hara: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
• Sharpsburg: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services will host a costume contest and mini parade at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 outside the Aspinwall Borough Building, 217 Commercial Ave.
Chief warns of ID theft, other scams circulating in region
Fox Chapel police Chief Michael Stevens is alerting residents about an uptick in fraud and identity theft making the rounds in Western Pennsylvania.
In the borough’s fall newsletter, he encourages everyone to check their credit history each year and look for accounts that have been opened illegally.
If you have questions about an account, call the credit reporting agency.
If the account was opened illegally, residents should call the Federal Trade Commission fraud hotline at 877-382-4357 or email the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Residents also can call the Fox Chapel Police Department office at 412-963-7220.
Stevens notes the phone and email scams he warned about in the borough’s winter newsletter have been continuing. Residents should call the Fox Chapel police before giving out any personal information, bank account numbers and credit card numbers. The department can help decipher whether the call is real. Criminals can use spoofing apps to copy a phone number to make it appear from a law enforcement agency, utility company or law firm.
Consider it a scam if the caller is urgently asking for money, cryptocurrency or gift cards, Stevens adds.
Coats sought in all sizes for winter drive
The fourth annual Winter Coat Drive organized by Fox Families Care is underway.
New or gently used coats in all sizes are being collected Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31 during school hours at every school in the Fox Chapel Area School District.
Drop-offs can be made inside the schools or curbside.
Coats should be freshly laundered, free from holes or stains and have their zippers and buttons in working condition.
Fox Families Care is a nonprofit organization that provides support and resources for students and families in need. Some of the group’s work involves providing scholarships, clothing and school supplies, food and groceries, and emergency grants.
For details about the organization, visit foxfamiliescare.org.
For those in need of a warm coat, distribution will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 8 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Sharpsburg Family Worship Center, 610 Clay St.
O’Hara collecting old holiday lights to help Project Bundle-Up
O’Hara Township once again is partnering with Michael Brothers to be an official drop-off location to recycle holiday lights — all for a good cause.
Michael Brothers donates the funds generated by recycling the lights to WTAE-TV’s project Bundle-Up.
Project Bundle-Up, a joint program implemented by the Salvation Army Western PA Division and WTAE, provides new winter outerwear — including coats, hats, gloves and boots — for children and senior citizens from low-income households throughout Western Pennsylvania.
Since 1986, Project Bundle-Up has raised more than $17 million and provided winter gear for nearly 305,000 individuals.
Lights can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in the lobby of the township building, 325 Fox Chapel Road.
Any type of holidays lights is eligible.
For details, call the township at 412-782-1400.
Students to stage ‘Harvey’; free show for senior citizens is Nov. 6
Fox Chapel Area thespians will perform “Harvey” as their fall play at 7 p.m. Nov. 7-9 in the high school auditorium, 611 Field Club Road, O’Hara.
Tickets, which will be sold at the door, are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Local director and producer Kristiann Josephs is in charge of the show. Teacher Joseph Gass is serving as the technical coordinator, and teacher Mary Beth Dixon is the costume/props coordinator.
The students will stage a free performance for the district’s senior citizens 60 and older at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6. Refreshments will be served before the performance at 3 p.m. in the auditorium lobby. Reservations are required. To reserve a spot and for details about the free performance only, call 412-967-2410.
Roots of Faith celebrating 10 years during First Friday
Mark your calendar for Sharpsburg’s upcoming First Friday event from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1.
The event will be extra special for Roots of Faith, which is marking its 10th birthday.
A communitywide celebration will be held at the center, 800 Main St.
There will be activities for children, vendors, games, a basket raffle and a wine-pull raffle.
First Friday takes place the first Friday of each month throughout the business district in Sharpsburg. Businesses are open late, and there are activities for people of all ages.
Free workshop to explore winter seed sowing
Did you know that fall and winter are the best times to plant native perennial seed for spring germination?
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is hosting a Winter Seed Sowing Workshop for adults from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 2 at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve.
Join us for a basic lesson on collecting, cleaning and sowing some of the Pittsburgh area’s classic native landscape plants. Participants will sow eight different high-wildlife value native species to take home.
The workshop is free, courtesy of the Fox Chapel Garden Club, but registration is required.
To register, visit awsp.org and click on the calendar of events.
Center to host free greeting card workshop
The community is invited to make a free greeting card for loved ones at 10 a.m. Nov. 2 with the Addiction Recovery Ministry in the John Paul I Center, 201 Ninth St., Sharpsburg.
Materials will be provided.
To register, contact Rosemarie Haas at 412-378-9290 or rhaasarm@gmail.com.
Ministry’s Trivia Night to include food, prizes
The Addiction Recovery Ministry is hosting a Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Nov. 27 at te John Paul I Center in Sharpsburg.
Join us for an evening of food and fun. Pizza and soft drinks will be available, and the top three teams will receive prizes.
The entrance fee is $10. Bring a team or join a team there.
All proceeds will be used to help support the ministry’s programs.
To reserve a seat, contact Rosemarie Haas at 412-378-9290 or rhaasarm@gmail.com.
AAUW to host speaker from Persad Center for ‘LGBTQ+ and Beyond’
The Fox Chapel Area affiliate of the American Association of University Women will present a talk on “What’s in a Name? LGBTQ+ and Beyond” at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, corner of Fox Chapel and Field Club roads.
Ted Hoover, an educator and trainer with the Persad Center, will be the guest speaker.
He will tackle each of the specific letters in the “alphabet soup” that’s associated with the LGBTQ+ community. The history and usage of each term will provide attendees with the vocabulary needed to better understand gender diversity and how it’s evolving.
At 52, the Persad Center is the nation’s second-oldest behavioral health and wellness center working with the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS community. The organization aims to destigmatize established cultural systems that exclude or discriminate against gender diversity. Homelessness, family rejection and bullying are among the topics of discussion.
Hoover has worked with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Family Health on youth suicide prevention, adolescent sexual health, and creating safe work and education environments for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+. He also consults with law enforcement agencies and the Civil Rights Division of the FBI on issues of discrimination, hate crimes and human trafficking.
Helpers sought to plant trees in Sharpsburg
Volunteers are needed to plant trees from 9 a.m. to noon. Nov. 2 in Sharpsburg.
The borough is partnering with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to help make the borough greener.
Participants will meet up at Roots of Faith at 800 Main St.
Come out to help plant trees and learn about different types of native trees, proper tree planting practices and tree care. The event will be held rain or shine.
To register as a volunteer for this event, contact Alicia Wehrle, WPC’s community forestry project coordinator, at awehrle@paconserve.org or 412-586-2386.
Creatures of the Night outings set at nature reserve
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is hosting Creatures of the Night outings on October weekends at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Road.
The next sessions are at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26.
Visitors are encouraged to come in costume to walk the trails and meet nonscary costumed creatures who will tell the story of their life.
Treats will be handed out.
The outings will be held rain or shine.
The cost is $15 for nonmembers, $10 for members and free for those 2 and younger.
For details, visit aswp.org/pages/creatures-of-the-night-2024. To register, visit aswp.org or call 412-963-6100.
National Honor Society students plan annual Boo Bash
National Honor Society students at Fox Chapel Area High School are sponsoring their annual Boo Bash from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 for children pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.
The youngsters are encouraged to wear their costumes to trick-or-treat through the halls of the high school and engage in fun games and activities.
The event is free, but nonperishable food and monetary donations will be accepted at the door for the Foxes Burrow and Backpack for Hunger charities.
Items needed for the Foxes Burrow include toiletries such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and body wash, shampoo and conditioner, nail clippers, tweezers, hair brushes and combs, first aid items, lip balm, mini hand sanitizers, and boxes and pocket packs of tissues.
Items needed for Backpack for Hunger include boxed or single macaroni and cheese, canned food items, protein bars and cereal bars, snack packs, single-serve applesauce packets, single-serve dried fruit and peanut butter singles or jars.
The high school is located at 611 Field Club Road in O’Hara.
Parents and guardians should enter through the main entrance of the high school and accompany their children throughout the event. Children should bring a bag for their treats.
Free fire prevention event to include pumpkin patch
The community is invited to a free fire prevention event and pumpkin patch from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 27 in O’Hara Township Community Park, 330 Fox Chapel Road.
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms will be distributed at no charge.
There also will be fire prevention games and information, as well as free hot dogs and drinks.
The event is sponsored by the Parkview VFD/EMS, Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Company and Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company.
SAVES seeks assistance with Halloween tradition
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services is hoping to make Halloween extra memorable this year for children in the community.
The department is seeking donations from businesses and individuals to fill 800 treat bags, with 400 bags at the Aspinwall station and 400 the Sharpsburg station.
In previous years, there were enough donations to make treat bags that included two full-size candy bars.
Monetary donations are being accepted. To pay by check, mark Halloween in the memo line and drop the checks off or mail them to Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services, c/o Halloween Treats, 1611 Main St., Sharpsburg, PA 15215.
Anyone donating something that needs to be picked up or dropped off should contact social member Kim Daniher at 412-680-4349 or kimberlydaniher@gmail.com.
Fox Chapel planning for annual light-up celebration Dec. 4
Planning is underway for the annual Light Up Fox Chapel celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4.
The festivities will begin with the Holiday Tree and Menorah lighting at 5:15 p.m. with Grand Marshall Alex Scott, followed by Santa being escorted in by Sergeant Pepper, the 1970 Volzwagon Beetle. The evening will include crafts for children, letters to Santa, the Pittsburgh Crepe Food Truck and hot chocolate provided by the Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy.
The event is free, but please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need.
Sgt. Craig Sorg and the Fox Chapel Police Department have teamed up with the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League’s Stuff-a-Store to collect new, unwrapped toys for children the holiday season.
Children are invited to write letters to Santa; parents and guardians can scan the QR code in the fall 2024 newsletter on the borough’s website at fox-chapel.pa.us to download their Letter to Santa before the event. Youngsters can bring their letters to light-up night, or they can fill one out at the event. Please include a return address because Santa and his elves will send a reply letter.
Indiana Township to collect bagged leaves
Indiana Township is planning five weeks of leaf collection this fall, beginning Oct. 28 and ending the week of Nov. 25.
This program is for leaves only — no debris such as grass clippings or brush will be accepted. Leaves must be contained in biodegradable bags and placed curbside. Leaves in plastic bags will not be picked up.
To participate, residents can purchase brown biodegradable bags from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Town Hall, 3710 Saxonburg Blvd.
A bundle of five bags costs $5, and quantities are limited. Each bag holds about one-third of a cubic yard.
Biodegradable bags also can be purchased elsewhere, including home improvement stores.
Once collected, the bags will be taken to a composting site in the North Hills.
In the spring, the Public Works Department will pick up the topsoil generated from the compost site for use throughout the township.
Residents do not need to call the township to participate. Crews will visit each public road sometime during each week, beginning on Mondays, to pick up the bagged leaves; Monday pickups are not guaranteed.
Leaf vacuuming underway, but pledge to ‘Leave the Leaves’ encouraged
Fox Chapel residents with wooded property are encouraged to compost, mulch and place leaves there, if possible.
Any help in removing leaves from the borough’s collection program is a sustainable solution, borough officials note.
To that end, the Fox Chapel Park Commission is running a pledge campaign to “Leave the Leaves” in an effort to help the environment.
By signing a pledge online at https://tinyurl.com/2j27324w, residents indicate that instead of raking leaves to the curb, they will leave them in place, rake them into the woods or mulch them. Borough crews still will come by but only will pick up leaves where they are piled.
The commission believes the environmental benefits and cost savings will be significant. As noted on the pledge page, it hopes to “give back” to the community with a celebration and recognition event if enough residents indicate their support.
Leaf collection via vacuuming began last week in the borough. The final collection will take place the week of Nov. 25.
The collection is for leaves only — brush and decorative grasses are not included.
All leaves should be deposited on the lawn behind the curb or road edge, not on the pavement or in the gutter.
Leaves placed on the roadway will not be collected because they can become wet from street runoff, which makes it difficult to vacuum and creates a safety hazard. Article III of the Borough Code lodges a penalty of $1,000 for anyone placing such materials on the roadway.
Once a complete pass has been made through the borough, crews will start over on the first street and continue throughout the borough. The Public Works Department maintains a daily log of streets collected. To track where crews already have vacuumed up leaves, residents can access the information on the borough’s website every Friday afternoon during the collection period.
Once crews have collected on a roadway on or after Nov. 25, they will not return. Residents should notify landscapers of the cutoff date and the need to keep leaves off the street.
Apparel, patches available to support SAVES
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services now has merchandise available for purchase.
Supporter T-shirts and hoodies, both in navy, feature the SAVES emblem on the left chest and a large smoking skull decked out in firefighting gear on the back.
Short-sleeved tees are $12 for sizes x-small through x-large and $15 for 2xl-4xl; long-sleeved tees are $15 for xs-xl and $18 for 2xl-4xl; and hoodies are $22 for xs-xl and $25 for 2xl-4xl.
Patches also are available for $10 each; choose from two designs: Truck Co. 102 Sharpsburg Fire Dist. — Ketchup City Trucking Company, featuring a ketchup bottle decked out in firefighting gear and the phrase “Bringing Flavor to the Box”; or Aspinwall Fire Dist. Engine 102-2 — First and Center streets, featuring the road sign and a fire truck.
The deadline to place an order is noon Nov. 15. Arrangements for pickup will begin after Thanksgiving, An email from 102fundraising@gmail.com will be sent out to everyone who purchased with details to arrange pick up. Apparel will be picked up at the Aspinwall or Sharpsburg stations.
To place an order, visit the e-store at station102.org.
Class of 2027 collecting books for children
Fox Chapel Area High School students are hosting a book drive through Oct. 31 to support Reading Ready Pittsburgh.
The drive, sponsored by the members of the Class of 2027, Community Outreach and the book club, aims to collect new and gently used children’s books as well as teen graphic novels.
The books will be donated to Reading Ready Pittsburgh to support its goal of helping families to foster a love of reading.
Everyone in the community is encouraged to donate books. Books can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in a donation bin at the main/front entrance of the high school, 611 Field Club Road.
Reading Ready Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization supporting the healthy development of young children by increasing access to books and encouraging family engagement through reading.
Volunteers, candy sought for Trunk or Treat
The Lauri Ann West Community Center is planning a Trunk or Treat from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in its parking lot, 1220 Powers Run Road in O’Hara.
All children in the community are invited, and no registration is required to attend.
The center is looking for volunteers to bring their vehicle — decorated wheels welcome — and pass out candy. It also is accepting donations of treats.
To volunteer, email Michelle Drum at mdrum@lauriannwest.org. Volunteers also can sign up online at https://lauriannwestcc.org/event/trunk-or-treat/.
Candy donations can be dropped off at the center’s welcome desk.
Fox Chapel Authority to replace water meters
The Fox Chapel Authority is working to replace customer water meters.
The new Sensus iPERL water meters will be installed at no cost to the customer. The new meters have no moving parts, therefore maintaining the accuracy of the meter for its 20-year lifespan. With new technology, FCA personnel will be able to read the meters more efficiently.
FCA will be reaching out to customers to schedule appointments. The meter change-out takes about 30 minutes to complete, but the meter must be accessible for the crew to perform the work.
It is important for customers to have updated contact information, not only to schedule appointments for the meter replacement program, but also to notify customers in the event of an emergency.
To verify or update your information and to schedule an appointment, call the authority’s office at 412-963-0212 or send an email to info@foxchapelwater.com.
Sharpsburg flea market runs Sundays through October
Sharpsburg Community Flea Market is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through the end of October along North Canal and Tenth streets.
The cost is $5 per spot for vendors.
For details, call Chas Smith at 412-927-9221.
Help available for people grieving loved ones
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one or know someone who is?
Consider joining GriefShare for hope, healing and guidance.
GriefShare is a 13-week Christian faith-based support group that will be offered weekly from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays through Dec. 12, at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road.
People can join at any time.
For details or questions, contact Kim Power at 412-965-8794 or kimfpower@gmail.com.
Visit griefshare.org/findagroup to register directly.
Pantry items wanted
Sharpsburg Community Library needs items for its Little Free Pantry at 1212 Main St.
Items needed include tomato sauce, pasta, tuna, cereal, mac and cheese, fruit snacks, peanut butter, snack packs and shelf-stable milk.
Items not needed include applesauce, pretzels, fruit cups, pudding, canned soup, canned beans and toiletry products.
Donations can be made during library hours from 1 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
The pantry is stocked three times weekly and is completely supported through donations.
For details, call the library at 412-781-0783.
Sharpsburg seeks volunteers for bicentennial events
Sharpsburg will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2026.
Residents interested in planning or volunteering to help with any events are invited to sign up for the borough’s Bicentennial Committee.
To access the signup form, visit sharpsburgborough.com and scanning the QR code under the header “Want to help plan the bicentennial events?”
The borough anticipates having multiple events throughout the anniversary year and will need lots of help.
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.
To have your event or information listed in the Herald’s briefs section, email Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.