In brief: Blawnox adopt-a-block program, food box distribution and more in Fox Chapel area

Adopt-a-block program

The Best of Blawnox Organization is introducing a new volunteer opportunity for community members with an adopt-a-block program.

Adopt-a-block is a volunteer program aimed at keeping the streets of Blawnox free from litter and debris. Volunteers will be assigned one (or more) designated neighborhood blocks to clean up regularly.

The recommended commitment is a few times a month when it is convenient for you. The adopt-a-block program kicks off in conjunction with Blawnox’s Earth Day celebration.

To sign up or for more information, email adoptablockblawnox@gmail.com.

Food box distribution

Fox Families Care is partnering with Farmers to Families to provide free fresh food boxes.

The boxes will be available to all families that are eligible for the FCASD free/reduced-lunch program or any family in the school district that is experiencing a financial hardship.

Boxes will be distributed the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 4 to 6 p.m., through May 27.

Pick up will be at Kennedy Park in Sharpsburg or Emmerling Park in Indiana Township.

Visit the Fox Families Care website Foxfamiliescare.org to sign up.

Community shredding event

There will be a free community shredding event April 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aspinwall municipal lot.

All community residents are invited to bring personal documents to the shredding truck and watch on a video screen as the machine destroys their confidential and private papers.

The event is sponsored by Friends of Jess for Judge Committee.

Tree planting volunteers needed

ACC-IWLA in partnership with the Township of O’Hara will be planting 100 Silky Dogwood seedlings on the northside canal of the O’Hara Township Community Park on April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help with tree planting or photography should contact O’Hara Manager Julie Jakubec at jjakubec@ohara.pa.us.

Volunteers are limited to 30 people, so don’t wait to reserve your spot to help the community.

For more information, visit ohara.pa.us.

Carnegie Science Center’s Lettuce Grow Together! program

The Carnegie Science Center is teaming up with North Hills Community Outreach to broadcast three Facebook Live events that will explore the science behind gardening and healthy eating.

The following virtual events will be hosted on Carnegie Science Center’s Facebook page and will be available on the Science Center’s YouTube channel following the livestream:

• Harvesting Lettuce and Making a Salad, April 21 at 11 a.m.: Learn how to seed, grow and harvest lettuce to make a delicious and nutritious salad.

• Apiaries and Bees, May 19 at 11 a.m.: Take a virtual tour of North Hills Community Outreach’s apiary and learn about the relationship between bees and plants.

These Facebook Live events are part of Carnegie Science Center’s Lettuce Grow Together! program, sponsored by GrowingGreat and Del Monte Foods. Learn more at: carnegiesciencecenter.org.

Blawnox cleans up

Blawnox Cleans Up, an Earth Day event, will be held April 24 from 9 a.m. until noon. Lend a hand to clean up the park and other public areas in the borough.

Registration and supply pickup begins at 9 a.m. at Blawnox Fire Station at 376 Freeport Road.

Light snacks will be available for volunteers. Social distancing and mask wearing are required. The event will be held rain or shine.

To register in advance (not required), email thebestofblawnox@gmail.com.

Spring bush collection

Indiana Township will hold its annual spring bush collection, picking up brush throughout the entire township during the weeks of March 29, April 5, April 12 and April 19.

Residents are asked to place all brush at the roadside by 7 a.m. on Monday with butt ends facing the street.

Residents living on private roads should call 412-767-5333. For more information, visit indianatownship.com.

Summer camp registration

Registration is open for the Winchester Thurston summer camp at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park location. Camps are held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The four-week camp is from July 12 to Aug. 13. Grades 1 through 6 are eligible to attend.

There are limited spaces. Register at aspinwallriverfrontpark.org/wt-summer-camps/. The deadline to register is May 1.

Easter services

The Northmont United Presbyterian Church announced its Holy Week schedule:

• Maundy Thursday/Good Friday: There will be a combined virtual service. This service will be live at 7 p.m. on April 1. The recorded version will be available after the service.

• Easter: The service will be recorded and available online at 11 a.m on April 4. There also will be a parking lot service held at the same time (11 a.m.). Participants are encouraged to attend either service or both. The content will be the same for both services.

The Hampton Presbyterian Church announced its Holy Week schedule:

• Maundy Thursday: The church will not host a soup supper April 1. Families are encouraged to gather around their table at home with a bowl of Lenten Bean Soup and homemade bread.

• Good Friday: There will be an hourly prayer vigil on April 2 and continuing until 9 a.m. on April 3. At 7:30 p.m., there will be worship service.

• Easter Sunday: There will be three in-person worship sessions and one virtual meditation April 4. A recording of the Easter Service will be avilable for later viewing, and there will be a brief virtual service available Easter morning.

The in-person services will be: Sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. and located at the firepit; and the traditional Easter Worship services at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

For more information, call the church office at 724-443-3201.

Meditation sessions

The Pittsburgh Buddhist Center will offer weekly online meditation sessions from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

The series is designed for beginners. The guide is a Buddhist monk, and the techniques taught are secular and appropriate for adults regardless of beliefs or religious affiliations. There is no registration required.

For the link, visit coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org.