In brief: Utility work, blood drive and more around Collier, Carnegie

Utility work taking place on Route 50

Utility work on Route 50 (Washington Pike) in Collier Township, is taking place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 14 according to PennDOT District 11. A single-lane closure will occur on Washington Pike in each direction between Commercial Drive and Landgraf Avenue. Crews from Thompson Electric Inc will conduct overhead utility work.

Open Air Carnegie 2.0

Open Air Carnegie 2.0 will continue from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 3. East Main Street from Broadway to Mary will remain open to vehicular traffic.

Blood drive

Bridgeville and South Fayette have teamed up with Vitalant to host a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Hampton Inn in Bridgeville. To make an appointment (recommended), visit vitalant.org and click the “Log In” button. On the new window, choose Donor Login (previous donor) or New Donor (haven’t donated with Vitalant before), search with group code C5300098, or call 412-209-7000.

Cindrich named first-year mentor

Olivia Cindrich of Carnegie is one of 52 students selected as a Lebanon Valley College first-year mentor to guide first-year and transfer students through their early weeks at The Valley. Cindrich, a graduate of Carlynton Jr-Sr High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science in exercise science.

Starting with orientation weekend in August, first-year mentors are responsible for assisting new students in succeeding personally, socially and academically through connections to the college and their peers.

New and transfer students are assigned to a smaller group of other students who likely share the same major. Every group is led by a first-year mentor who is an upper-class student who has displayed leadership ability and a willingness to assist new students during their first year of college. First-year mentors serve as positive role models and acquaint all new students with LVC’s structure, services and culture.

Open Air Flea Market

An Open Air Flea Market at the Church of the Atonement, 618 Washington Ave., will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26. Kitchen items, decorations, clothing and shoes, bedding, plants and more will be sold. All are welcome! Please wear a mask and follow all Allegheny County COVID-19 guidelines.

Vendor space is still available. Vendors must bring their table or blanket (no tarps) and a chair. Space is $10, payable in cash. For more information or to register as a vendor, call Joyce at 412-276-0366.

Hard to recycle event

Pennsylvania Resources Council will hold a Hard to Recycle Collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at Settlers Cabin Park Wave Pool in Collier Township. Cell phones, computer towers, microwaves, stereo equipment, cable boxes, DVD players and VCRs can be recycled for no cost. A fee will be charged for fluorescent tubes, printers, small Freon appliances, tires, computer monitors and televisions.

Face masks must be worn at all time, and items should be placed in trunks or the beds of trucks. For details, visit prc.org or call 412-488-7452.

Backpack Blessings collection

Collier Township Police Department will be collecting single-serving sized food for Chartiers Valley School District students to take home after school. Collection sites are in the lobbies of the Collier Township Police Department and Collier Township Administration Department (both located at 2418 Hilltop Road in Presto) and the Collier Community Center, 5 Lobaugh St. in Oakdale. The project is sponsored by Helping Hands of St. Barbara Church in Bridgeville. For details, call Pam Fatoni at 412-638-2306.

Blanket drive

Instead of gathering to make blankets, St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Green Tree is conducting its 19th Annual Blanket Drive in honor of Kathy Buchner with a drop-off collection of blankets.

All sizes and types of blankets may be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Greentree Printing, 2351 Noblestown Road. Include your name and email address if desired, and a thank you and reminder about next year’s 20th anniversary blanket drive will be emailed to you. This year the blankets will be gifted to nurses working in the covid units at 10 Pittsburgh-area hospitals.

Donations of blankets are being accepted through Nov. 1. For details, email g.gross@comcast.net.

Fairview Fall Virtual 5K registration open

In lieu of South Fayette Community Day and other large in-person events this year, South Fayette Township and Dollar Bank are partnering to present a new community event — the Fairview Fall Virtual 5K and Family Fun Run. Adults and children are invited to run or walk during event week, Sept. 26-Oct. 2, to raise money toward building an ADA-accessible playground in Fairview Park in South Fayette Township.

Registration is $25 per person or $60 per family. The fee includes free T-shirts and swag, raffles and race prizes. Everyone is welcome to participate as individuals, households or larger fundraising groups. Participants can run anywhere, anytime during race week, and tune into Facebook (@SouthFayetteTownship) during event week for live videos and drawings. Details and registration: https://runsignup.com/southfayette.