In brief: Craft beer crawl, Art in Recovery and more in Aspinwall area

Contract approved

Blawnox council voted 6-0 on Aug. 13 to approve a new contract with borough fire marshal John Simmons to do annual fire inspections at businesses, industrial properties and multi-residential properties.

Councilwoman Elaine Palmer was absent.

Borough manager Kathy Ulanowicz said the terms of the contract are until either party terminates the contract. Compensation is half of the fees collected to perform the inspections.

Ulanowicz said fees vary based on the size of the building.

Police event set

O’Hara will host Cookies & Cider with the Cops at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at O’Hara Township Community Park.

It is also a movie night. The film “Dog Man” will be shown in the park at dusk.

Admission to both events is free.

Craft Beer Crawl

Aspinwall Chamber of Commerce will have its Craft Beer Crawl from 2:30-5:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.

Breweries will be represented at local shops along Commercial and Brilliant avenues, as well as Alley A.

Participants must be at least 21 years old. Tickets are $40 per person in advance and $50 per person the day of the event.

Attendees should arrive by 1:30 p.m. at the borough building at 217 Commercial Ave. to check in and receive their wristbands, crawl maps and glassware.

More information is available at aspinwallchamber.com.

Preschool enrolling

The Fox Chapel Area High School preschool program is accepting enrollment for the fall 2025 semester that began Sept. 3. Preschool class will be held Monday-­Thursday from 8:15-10:45 a.m. The class is held at Fox Chapel Area High School, and the cost is $100 for the semester. The program is staffed by Fox Chapel Area High School teacher Jennifer Antonikas, along with high school students who are studying child development. Preschool students must be between the ages of 3-5.

A full program of art, science, language arts and math will be presented to the children through lessons and activities taught by the high school students. The preschoolers will also have snack time, story circle time and a large muscle activity each day. Preschoolers will engage in activities that will get them used to the structure of the school day, as well as begin to prepare them for kindergarten. Additionally, each child will receive a memory book as a final project from the high school students. The memory book will contain the work and artwork that the preschoolers have created through the semester and photos of the students participating in those activities.

To request an application or to ask any questions, please email jennifer_antonikas@fcasd.edu or call 412-967-2400, voice mail number 1883.

Fox Chapel Police Department events

The Fox Chapel Police Department is bringing back Touch-A-Truck for its third year. The family-friendly event is planned for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Fox Chapel Borough Building. The first hour of Touch-A-Truck will be sensory-friendly for children who need a quieter but equally enjoyable experience. During this time, honking horns, flashing lights, blaring sirens or loud sounds will not be permitted. FCPD will be collecting monetary and nonperishable food donations for the Blawnox Community Food Pantry in lieu of an admission fee.

This event offers children of all ages — and those young at heart — the chance to explore various vehicles, including fire trucks, police cruisers, plow trucks and more. Attendees are encouraged to get an up-close look at the equipment used in the community, learn about their functions and meet the people who operate them. Touch-A-Truck will also feature a live demonstration by the FCVFD at 12:30 p.m.

Additionally, FCPD will recognize its second K9 Officer for a Day from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley. Magisterial District Judge Matthew Rudzki will administer the oath of office to the designated pooch at noon. Community members can meet the K9 Officer, take photos and learn about the benefits of pet adoption. Representatives from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will be on-site to answer questions and showcase some more of their adoptable animals.

For more information, visit fox-­chapel.pa.us.

School district recognized

The Fox Chapel Area School District has been awarded Purple Star School designation by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Fox Chapel Area’s designation will begin Jan. 1, 2026, and last through Dec. 31, 2029.

Purple Star Schools is a program that supports military-connected children as they relocate to new schools due to a parent’s change in duty station. This designation is given to Local Education Agencies and schools for their commitment to serving active-duty military families and students through efforts including designating a military liaison and providing a transition initiative.

Deadline extended

Sharpsburg Parks and Recreation Commission has extended its deadline for a bicentennial logo design contest.

The borough’s 200th anniversary is next year.

The commission is encouraging folks to create a logo that includes 200 and Sharpsburg in the artwork, save it as a PNG or JPG, and submit it to parksandrec@sharpsburgborough.com.

The new deadline for submissions is Sept. 15.

Applicants also must include their full name and phone number, as well as a paragraph describing their connection to Sharpsburg with the logo submission.

The borough will review all designs, and the winner will be picked in collaboration with community voting on the best logos. First place will win $200; the runner-up will get $100 and one youth 18 and younger will get $150.

Photos wanted

Sharpsburg Historical Commission wants old photos of churches, businesses, schools and other borough facilities. It also seeks photos of baptisms, sermons, festivals and any other activities from years gone by.

Commissioners said they hope to build on their preservations with submissions from the community.

More information about the preservation effort and how to support it is available on the group’s Facebook page or email SharpsburgHistoricalCommission@gmail.com.

Book for sale

Sharpsburg Historical Commission is selling reprints of a book that chronicles borough history.

The book is expected to be available at the borough office starting Sept. 15.

Cost is $30 with some of the proceeds going toward Sharpsburg’s bicentennial celebration.

More information about it is available on the group’s Facebook page or by emailing SharpsburgHistoricalCommission@gmail.com.

Art in Recovery

This National Recovery Month, the Fresh A.I.R. (Art in Recovery) Festival returns to Sharpsburg for its most expansive celebration yet: a free, three-day, sober-friendly cultural event showcasing the power of creativity in addiction recovery. Open to the public from Sept. 26-28, the festival will feature visual art, writing, music, crafting, and more — spotlighting artists and storytellers in recovery. It will be held at various locations, including Atithi Studios, John Paul 1 Center and Ketchup City Creative. For more information or to submit work, visit teetotal.org.

46th annual Pow Wow

The Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center is holding its 46th annual Pow Wow Sept. 27-28 at its center at 120 Charles St. in Indiana Township. The event will include Native American singing, dancing, drumming, arts and crafts and native foods. No alcohol or pets are permitted. Donation is $6 for adults and $4 for children under 12 and elders.

For more information, visit cotraic.org or call 412-782-4457.

Golf outing

The Wayne Fusaro Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund’s 24th annual golf outing is set for Sept. 20 at River Forest Country Club. Cost is $150 per golfer or $35 for dinner only. Check-in is at noon. For more information, call Jill Fusaro at 412-848-7799 or email jillfusaro@verizon.net.

Preschool openings

Good Shepherd Preschool has some openings in its 2’s and 3’s program for fall 2025. Call 412-963-9494 ext. 304 or visit gslcfc.org/preschool for more information.

Aspinwall History Walking Tour

Learn about the historic architecture, founding families and history of how Aspinwall developed — including two secret gardens — on Sept. 14 during the Aspinwall History Walking Tour. Meet at Aspinwall’s Beans ’n’ Cream at 16 Brilliant Ave. at 2 p.m. Cost is $25 in advance or $30 the day of the tour, and $10 for children ages 4-12. Proceeds benefit Aspinwall Community Organizations. For more information or reservations, email terryntaylor@verizon.net.

GriefShare

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 non­denominational, Christian faith-based support group that is offered weekly from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Thursdays starting Sept. 11 and running through Dec. 11 at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road.

For details or questions, contact Gail Harger: gailharger@verizon.net or visit Griefshare.org/findagroup to register directly.

Deluzio accepting applications for U.S. service academy nominations

Congressman Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, recently announced that his office is accepting nomination applications from eligible young Western Pennsylvanians to attend a U.S. service academy.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Deluzio now has the honor as a congressman to nominate students in District 17 to attend the nation’s prestigious service academies.

“I was in my senior year of high school on 9/11, and it was a motivating factor for me deciding to serve the country. I applied to and ended up attending the U.S. Naval Academy — it was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Deluzio said. “Now, I’m honored to nominate the next class of future military leaders. I encourage any patriotic young person interested in military service to apply to a service academy.”

Applicants can access the nomination application on Deluzio’s website at deluzio.house.gov/services/service-academy-nominations. Additional details, including eligibility criteria, also can be found on the website.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Sept. 30.

The U.S. service academies are the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.; U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado; U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.; and U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination.

Flea market

Sharpsburg’s community flea market is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, June through October, along North Canal Street at Guyasuta Square.

Discover vintage treasures, handmade crafts and great deals from local vendors.

Call Chas Smith at 412-927-9221 for more information.

TOPS meetings

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets each Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. for an interactive program focused on weight loss, healthy eating and wellness at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave., Oakmont.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting for free. 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, handicap accessibility and security.

Call 412-828-3854 for more information or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.

To have your news or event listed in our briefs section, email editor Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.