In brief: Herald area events for the week of June 3, 2024
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Spring Art Fling set for June 15 in Blawnox
Best of Blawnox will host its annual Spring Art Fling from noon to 3 p.m. June 15 along Freeport Road in the borough’s business district.
It will feature various art and food vendors as well as music, exhibits and demonstrations.
The event is sponsored by Dollar Bank. For details, email bestofblawnox@gmail.com or visit bestofblawnox.com.
Blawnox food pantry availability extended
Blawnox officials have added extra days and hours to the borough’s food pantry to serve more residents this summer.
The pantry at the borough building is usually open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the last Friday of the month.
It also will be open from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 25 and July 23.
Borough Manager Kathy Ulanowicz said the goal is to reach people who are working and cannot stop by in the morning.
The pantry serves at least 20 people each month. No proof of income or residency is required.
Donations can be dropped off at 376 Freeport Road during regular business hours. Paper products, laundry detergent and dish soap are in high demand.
For details, call 412-828-4141.
Movies in the Park to screen ‘E.T.’ and ‘Trolls’
O’Hara will present Movie in the Park at 8 p.m. June 20 and June 25 in O’Hara Township Community Park.
The first night is “E.T.” The second show will be “Trolls.”
For details about township events, visit ohara.pa.us.
9th River Rocks event coming up
The ninth annual River Rocks, a special event benefiting Allegheny RiverTrail Park, is set for 6 to 10 p.m. June 7 and 2 to 9 p.m. June 8 at 285 River Ave. in Aspinwall.
The first night includes a VIP cocktail reception followed by dinner and dancing at the park.
General admission is $125, and VIP is $175.
The second day is free admission and features a festival-style community celebration for the grand opening of the new six acres of parkland.
For details, visit alleghenyrivertrailpark.org.
Times change for several library programs
Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main St., has changed some of its programs because of summer reading.
• Little Hands Art Storytime for PreK friends and their caregivers is moving from Mondays at 1:30 p.m. to Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. starting June 11.
• Wiggle Time storytime for children 2 and younger with their caregivers will resume at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays starting June 13.
• Senior Craft & Chat, the biweekly program for senior adults, is changing its time to 3 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month.
• Teen Scene, the Wednesday program for middle and high schoolers, is changing its time from 4 to 7 p.m. to 3 to 6 p.m. starting June 12.
• Read with Mishka, a storytime with the Elk hound mix and certified therapy dog, and Alejandra Bernal from Animal Friends, makes its surprise return at 4 p.m. June 14. It is expected to continue through the summer on the second Friday of the month.
The summer reading program is scheduled for June 1 through Aug. 3.
People are encouraged to read anything from comic books, biographies, plays and even food labels.
About 800 people at Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its Sharpsburg branch combined participated in last year’s program.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets Tuesday evenings
The local chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a support group to help those struggling with weight loss, meets Tuesday evenings at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave., in Oakmont. Meetings begin with a private weigh-in between 5:45 and 6:10 p.m.
Anyone interested in joining can attend a meeting and decide if TOPS is right for them. For details, call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.
Library’s pantry in need of supplies
Sharpsburg Community Library’s Little Free Pantry at 1212 Main St. needs some supplies.
A wish list was posted online at coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org/sharpsburg.
Items requested include small bags of cookies and snacks, pudding cups, applesauce and fruit cups, instant oatmeal, Campbell’s chunky soups, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
The pantry is stocked three times weekly and is completely supported through donations.
For details, call the library at 412-781-0783.
Graduation looms
• Fox Chapel Area High School: About 300 students will graduate at 2 p.m. June 9 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 4141 Fifth St., in Oakland.
Clara Kelley and Henry Koloc will be the student speakers.
• Shady Side Academy: 133 students will graduate at 9 a.m. June 8 at Michael J. Farrell Stadium on the senior campus in Fox Chapel.
Student speakers will be announced a few days before the event.
Funnel Cake Fridays return to Kennedy Park in June
The Sharpsburg-Aspinwall Rotary Club and Sharpsburg Parks and Recreation Commission again are sponsoring Funnel Cake Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m. throughout the month of June in Kennedy Park, North Canal Street.
The events on June 7, 14, 21 and 28 will feature food — including hot dogs, pierogies, funnel cakes and a few surprises — as well as activities from 5 to 7 p.m. and music from 7 to 8 p.m.
There are themes for each of the nights:
June 7: Safety Night — musician will be Donna O;
June 14: Service Night — musician will be Braylee Pierce;
June 21: Game Night — musician will be Marty Gonzales;
June 28: Music Night — Wild Bill Cox will kick off the evening as all of our musicians come back to perform a full evening of music.
All proceeds support the Rotary’s local and international charities.
Glass recycling set at Hartwood Acres
Glass recycling bins will be available July 13-18 at the Hartwood Acres amphitheater’s overflow lot, 4100 Middle Road.
The traveling program is offered through the Allegheny County Department of Sustainability and Pennsylvania Resources Council.
People can drop off glass bottles, jars and jugs of all colors from 7 a.m. to sunset.
No color sorting is required. Containers should be empty and rinsed, with lids and labels still on.
Bags and boxes used to deliver glass must be discarded off-site.
Townwide yard sale set June 8-9 in Aspinwall
Aspinwall residents are invited to participate in a townwide yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 and 9.
The event will be held rain or shine.
Moonshot Museum staff to discuss Pittsburgh’s role in space exploration
Staff members from the new Moonshot Museum will discuss Pittsburgh’s contributions to the future of space exploration from 2 to 3:30 p.m. June 9 at the Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road.
Attendees will meet the fleet of robotic landers and rovers under construction on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Astronomy visualization software will be used to explore lunar craters, mountains and “seas.” The predictive power of science fiction in shaping visions for future lunar settlements will be explored.
The program is geared toward adult audiences but is appropriate for older students. It is made possible by the Sue Golier Speaker Series Endowment.
The free event is open to the community, but tickets must be reserved. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, visit lauriannwestcc.org.
Story Supper caters to youngest readers
The area’s youngest readers, infants through age 5 accompanied by an adult, are invited to a monthly Story Supper at Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main St. Siblings are welcome.
The program is a partnership with Fox Families Care, the family literacy program includes storytime, a nutritious meal, creative play and a free welcome book.
Remaining dates for the family literacy program, which runs from 5:45 to 7 p.m., are June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 30 and Nov. 20.
Families are encouraged to apply early when registration opens for each event because space is limited.
To register, visit coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com.
Free monthly musical performances open to community
The Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, is hosting free Thursdays on the Patio.
Each month will feature a different musician in partnership with Band Together Pittsburgh. From 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 20, the featured performers will be Vento, Ziggy, Hawk and McCarthy.
The gathering previously was known as Wine Wednesdays.
Attendees are invited to bring wine or other beverages and spend a warm evening listening to live music on the center’s patio. Bring your own chair. In case of inclement weather or extreme heat, the event will move indoors.
Snacks will be available for purchase at the center’s Aspinwall Everyday Gourmet.
The event is free, but registration is required.
To register, visit lauriannwestcc.org.
Community center still has openings for summer camps
Lauri Ann West Community Center offers a variety of summer half-day and full-day camps for children 5 to 12.
There are still openings in many of the camps in June and July.
The offerings feature a mix of sports, STEAM discovery, activities in the gym and outdoor play.
There is a new theme each week. Specialty camps such as Mad Science, Assemble Pgh, Little Med School and Knight School (chess) also are available.
Full-day camp hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost for full-day camps is $299 for members and $350 for nonmembers; during the week of July 4, the price is $240 for members and $280 for nonmembers.
The price for half-day specialty camps range from $125 for members and $355 for nonmembers, depending on the topic.
For a complete list of camps, visit the website at lauriannwestcc.org/summer-camps-2024.
For questions, call the center at 412-828-8566 or email questions@lauriannwestcc.org.
Nominations open for sports hall of fame
Nominations for the Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame are being accepted.
Nominations can be for any player, team or team builder such as a coach, equipment manager, broadcaster or someone who made a significant impact on a team. It is open to all sports.
Nominees must have lived in the borough at some point in time.
The Sharpsburg Historical Commission is expecting to induct three individuals and one team to the hall of fame. Nominations will be accepted until Aug. 31, and the induction ceremony will take place in the fall.
For details and nomination forms, visit the borough website at sharpsburgborough.com.
Applications available for military banners in Blawnox
Blawnox is accepting applications for its Hometown Hero Banner Program.
It is designed to recognize and honor residents who served or are serving in the nation’s armed forces.
Each banner will honor a specific service person and will include their name, branch of service, medals of valor and a photo if provided.
The hometown hero must be a current or previous resident of the borough.
An immediate family member of a current or previous serviceman or woman of Blawnox also will suffice. Banners will be displayed on Freeport Road from Memorial Day to Veterans Day to honor and celebrate their dedication to our country.
There is no official deadline to submit an application.
There is a $110 application fee.
Forms and details are available on the borough website at blawnox.com.