In brief: Fall events galore, CPR class and more in Fox Chapel area

Paint pumpkins with police

The Fox Chapel Police Department’s annual Paint Pumpkins with Police event is planned for Oct. 18, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Fox Chapel Borough Building. FCPD will be collecting monetary and non-perishable food donations for the Blawnox Community Food Pantry instead of an admission fee.

Sergeant Craig Sorg and the Fox Chapel Police Department will have pumpkins for children to paint with their families, as well as crafts. The event will also feature a costume contest, so dress up in your silliest, scariest or most creative costume. Refreshments and snacks will be available.

Additionally, FCPD will recognize its third K9 Officer for a Day from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley. Magisterial District Judge Matthew Rudzki will administer the oath of office to the honorary dog at noon. Community members can meet the pooch, 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.

Storytime planned

Sharpsburg Community Library will host its Little Hands PreK Storytime from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Oct. 21 at 1212 Main St. The free weekly arts-integrated storytime is designed for children ages 3-5 with their parents/caregivers. Each session will include stories and a hands-on, developmentally appropriate art activity. This week’s theme is pumpkins.

More information about library programs is available by calling 412-781-0783.

Therapets program

Cooper-Siegel Community Library will host Therapets with Bandit from 10:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 at 403 Fox Chapel Road in Fox Chapel. The all-ages health and wellness program is free.

Bandit is a 7-year-old Portuguese water dog from the Animal Friends’ Therapets program.

These pets have undergone special training to provide comfort and affection and are certified through Animal Friends.

More information about library programs is available by calling 412-828-9520.

Pumpkin patch and fire prevention

First responders will host a fire prevention and pumpkin patch event from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 19 at the O’Hara Township Community Park. There will be games and information booths, a pumpkin patch, photo backdrops, food, treats and prizes. Participants may also get smoke detectors and CO alarms. There will also be various emergency vehicles for families to explore.

The event is presented by Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Company, Blawnox Volunteer Fire Department and Parkview Volunteer Fire Department and EMS.

Visit ohara.pa.us for more information.

Focus group

Sharpsburg Community Library will host a focus group on Oct. 22 to get feedback on library hours and programming. The program is for teens and adults, and will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Library leaders want to hear in-depth about hours, as well as program options and schedules for teens and adults.

It will hone in on why certain schedules may be a better fit for our location.

The focus group will be guided by consultants from the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.

Registration is required online at coopersiegel.librarycalendar.com, or by calling 412-828-9520.

Drug take back

Aspinwall police will host a drug take-back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at the police station along Commercial Avenue.

It is part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

Residents can get rid of unused, unwanted or expired medications.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted in their original container or a sealed plastic bag. Liquids must remain in the original container. No needles, syringes or lancets will be accepted.

For more information, visit DEA.gov online.

CPR class

Foxwall EMS will host a free community CPR class from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 25 at the borough building, 217 Commercial Ave.

EMS officials said it will be an informational class with no test, meaning participants will not receive CPR certification.

People who with to schedule certified CPR classes may contact the ambulance company at 412-963-6611 or email training@foxwall.org.

Breast cancer awareness

Aspinwall police are wearing pink patches on their uniforms and collecting money for families as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Those who wish to contribute can make checks out to Aspinwall and in the memo line write breast cancer. Checks may be dropped off at the borough building, 217 Commercial Ave.

Money will be collected throughout the month and distributed in November to breast cancer survivor families within the borough.

Meetings set

Fox Chapel council will meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the borough building, 401 Fox Chapel Road.

Dog park permits

Aspinwall’s dog park permits are available.

Cost for residents is $15 for their first dog and $10 for other subsequent dogs. Cost for nonresidents is $30 for their first dog and $15 for other subsequent dogs.

The dog park is open from dawn till dusk from Nov. 1 through March 31. Call the borough office at 412-781-0213 for more information.

Performance piece

Edgewood Symphony Orchestra is expected to play an award-winning piece created by Aspinwall Presbyterian Church music director Danny English at the orchestra’s Oct. 19 show at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.

The piece is called Colluctatio. It earned second place in the Belgian World Piano Day Composition Competition in March.

The concert is celebrating Walter Morales’s 20th anniversary as the orchestra’s conductor.

Show starts at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 plus any service fees. More information is available at edgewoodsymphony.org.

Danny English has been involved in music for many years and has earned a variety of accolades. He is also in need of a kidney.

More information about the artist is available at dannyenglishmusic.com.

Meet and greet

Parview EMS will host a meet and greet from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 22 at the Sharpsburg borough building, 1611 Main St. Meet ambulance company staff for a coffee and learn about its subscription drives and how it helps them help you.

Parkview EMS serves O’Hara, Blawnox, Sharpsburg and Oakmont. More information is available at parkviewvfd.org.

Boo Bash

Fox Chapel Area High School National Honor Society students are sponsoring their annual Boo Bash on Oct. 30. The Halloween celebration is for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants will trick-or-treat through the halls of the high school, engage in fun games and activities, and show off their costumes.

The Boo Bash will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at Fox Chapel Area High School. The event is free, but non-perishable food and monetary donations are suggested for Backpack for Hunger and local charities and will be accepted at the door. Items needed for Backpack for Hunger include boxed or single macaroni and cheese, canned food items, protein bars/cereal bars, snack packs, single-serve applesauce packets, single-serve dried fruit, and peanut butter singles or jars. Other items needed include toothpaste/toothbrushes, deodorant, soap/body wash, shampoo/conditioner, shaving lotion/gel, nail clippers/tweezer kits, hairbrushes/combs, BAND-AIDS/first aid kits, lip balm/Chapstick, disposable razors, mini hand sanitizers, cleansing wipes, and tissues.

Parents/guardians should enter through the high school auditorium and accompany their children throughout the event. Children should also bring a bag for their treats.

Leaf collection

Fall leaf collection in O’Hara runs through Dec. 1.

Residents are reminded to rake their leaves within four feet of the curb, but not on the street. No other debris may be mixed in with the leaves. Township officials said leaves left in the street can create a safety hazard, especially if it rains or snows.

Call the township office at 412-784-1784, ext. 203 with any questions or comments regarding the leaf collection program.

Emergency preparedness meetings

Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization, along with Age-­Friendly Greater Pittsburgh and Sharpsburg Emergency Management, are hosting emergency preparedness community meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 in council chambers at the SNO building.

Meet and greet

Parkview EMS will host a meet and greet from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 22 at the Sharpsburg borough building, 1611 Main St.

Come meet EMS chiefs for a coffee and learn about its fund and subscription drives and how it helps the ambulance service provider help people.

Hall of Fame nominations

Sharpsburg Historical Commission is accepting nominations for this year’s Sharpsburg Sports Hall of Fame class. The commission seeks nominations for athletes, coaches and/or teams from the borough to be inducted later this year.

Nominations will be accepted through the end of September. Inductees will be announced in early October and inducted at a council meeting on Oct. 23.

Nomination forms can be found on the commission’s Facebook page.

Creatures of the Night

Fireflies guide you on an evening walk through Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve’s trails to encounter larger-than-life costumed nocturnal creatures on Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25. Hear stories from creatures such as a Great Horned Owl, observe the acrobatics of the Flying Squirrel, go batty with Little Brown Bat, and meet a real-live creature of the night. Come in costume and collect treats along the way at this family-friendly and non-scary event.

Cost is $10 per Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania member/$15 per non-member. Register at aswp.org or call 412-963-6100.

Lauri Ann West Community Center

The Lauri Ann West Community Center’s Sue Golier Memorial Speaker Series presents storyteller Daniel Stern at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23. The former sociology professor will share the story of his parents’ escape from Europe to flee the Nazi regime. This event is free and open to the public. To help us prepare, please register online at lauriannwestcc.org.

In collaboration with the Afterschool Alliance, the Center is hosting Lights on Afterschool from 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 24. The Center’s afterschool instructors will showcase their favorite activities during this event.

Parents and guardians are welcome to stay and participate or drop off their children. This event is free and open to all families with children aged 4-12. Registration is required.

The annual Trunk or Treat at the Lauri Ann West Community Center is set for 4-6 p.m. Oct. 26. No registration is required. Show off your costumes and enjoy treats distributed by generous community members who will be decorating their vehicles.

If you are interested in decorating your vehicle and handing out candy, please contact the Center at questions@lauriannwestcc.org.

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.

Indiana Township leaf collection

Indiana Township’s leaf collection program begins the week of Oct. 27 and ends the week of Nov. 24.

Officials said leaves must be in biodegradable bags and placed curbside. They will be picked up sometime during the week. Monday pickups are not guaranteed.

Plastic bags will not be picked up. The program also does not include other debris, such as grass clippings, brush, etc.

Collected bags are transported to a composting site in the North Hills.

Public works crews will pick up the topsoil generated from the compost site in the spring and use it throughout the township.

Residents living along private roads can plan leaf collection by calling public works at 412-767-5333, ext. 319.

Halloween parade

Sharpsburg is holding its second annual Halloween parade 11 a.m. OCt. 25 at James Sharp Landing. People, pets, bikes, strollers and wheelchairs are all welcome.

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