In brief: Art center winter show, ashes to go, summer jobs, church dinner and more in Hampton

The annual Winter Show at the North Hills Art Center runs through Feb. 26 and will include a “virtual” display of pieces for people who want to avoid in-person gatherings.

The show titled “Where Love Dwells” benefits the nonprofit group Hello Neighbor, which helps refugee families with children settle in the Pittsburgh area.

The virtual show kicked off Feb. 6 on the art center’s YouTube channel with a juried exhibition in the gallery through Feb. 26.

“This show visually depicts the meaning of “home” across different countries and cultures and shows what is important to us and what makes a house a home,” said Kim Freithaler, the art center’s executive director.

“In addition to our 79 local artists’ entries we have 16 pieces created by refugee family members who come from Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Nepal/Bhutan,” she said.

Hello Neighbor helps refugee families assimilate in their new homes in the Pittsburgh area by assigning them a mentor.

The gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

The art center is located at 3432 Babcock Blvd. in Ross.

Church offering ashes to go

Northmont Presbyterian Church in Ross hasn’t been holding in-person worship services since the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But worshipers can still mark the start of Lent with the imposition of ashes during the church’s virtual service on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., which is being livestreamed in conjunction with Wexford and Hiland Presbyterian churches.

Small cups with enough ashes for a family are located inside the church entrance near the wheelchair ramp weekdays from 8 to 5 p.m.

The church is located at 8169 Perry Highway.

Hampton summer jobs

Hampton is accepting applications for seasonal help for various positions including outdoor lifeguards, concession and maintenance staff, summer playcamp counselors, youth tennis instructor and community center service desk staff.

Applications for any of the positions can be picked up at the Community Center service desk or downloaded from the township’s website.

More information about the requirements for the available position is available in an online copy of the township’s newsletter.

Epworth UMC hosting hamloaf dinner

Epworth United Methodist Church in Allison Park is offering a takeout hamloaf dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 11.

The dinner includes hamloaf, cheesy hashbrowns, green beans almondine, applesauce, dinner rolls and pineapple upside-down cake for dessert.

The cost is $9 per person.

Dinners can be picked up in the educational building of the church at 1300 Burchfield Road.

Ash Wednesday service

Hampton Presbyterian Church will hold an Ash Wednesday worship service to mark the first day of Lent on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Depending on the covid-19 restrictions in place when the service occurs, ashes may be distributed, according to church officials. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the nursery will not be available, however, children are invited to attend the service with their families.

The service also will be livestreamed to monitors in several locations in the building for people who want to participate but prefer to remain outside the sanctuary.

The church is located at 2942 East Hardies Road in Gibsonia.

Pool memberships

Memberships to use Hampton’s community swimming pool are now available.

Membership applications for the pool and other facilities including the community and fitness center are available on the township’s website.

Block Party To Go charity fundraiser

Participants in North Hills Community Outreach’s annual block party fundraiser won’t be able to gather in person this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the North Hills charity and social service agency is still planning to party.

Have fun at home with a “Block Party To Go” party bag. The adult bags include a do-it-yourself pizza kit, wine, dessert, a game and more. The children’s bag includes a craft kit from Dots and Doodles, snacks and other items.

Some of the bags will include a “bonus” gift card to a local restaurant or business. The first 300 party-to-go kits will include a link to play BuzzWorthy Pub Trivia.

More information and an order form for party bags are available online at NHCO/Block-Party.

Free tax prep

A free tax preparation service is being offered by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania through April 10.

The service is available virtually or through a combination of online and in-person meetings.

Clients can upload their materials and tax experts will prepare and review the return. The hybrid tax preparation will require two brief appointments in a safe environment, following covid-19 guidelines, to provide information and review the return.

The service is available to residents in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Assistance from a volunteer tax preparer is available for people and families with a total annual income of up to $57,000.

A free, do-it-yourself online tax assistance program is available at myfreetaxes.com.