In brief: Herald area events for the week of Feb. 5, 2024

Volunteers sought to fill vacancies on boards

Fox Chapel has spots available on its planning commission, park commission, zoning hearing board, construction board of appeals and more.

Applications and more information about the vacancies can be found on the borough website at fox-chapel.pa.us.

Interested residents should submit an application and resume to Shawn M. Peterson at speterson@fox-chapel.pa.us.

Council meetings planned

• Fox Chapel Council will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the borough building, 401 Fox Chapel Road.

• Sharpsburg Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the borough building, 1611 Main St.

Book club to discuss ‘Orange Is the New Black’

Booked for Lunch, an afternoon book club for adults, is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 9 in the library, 403 Fox Chapel Road.

The 18-and-older group meets monthly and reads fiction and nonfiction titles of all genres and formats.

It is a hybrid book club so people can attend in person or connect from home via Zoom.

The Zoom link is available upon registration.

February’s subject is “Orange Is the New Black” by Piper Kerman.

For details, contact Lauren Williams at williamsl2@einetwork.net or call 412-828-9520.

High school orchestra to perform at library

February by the Fire, a free all-ages music program at Cooper-Siegel’s Verne C. Koch Program Room, is planned for 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 11.

Join folks for some music provided by the Fox Chapel Area High School orchestra.

Registration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcome as space permits.

For details, call 412-828-9520.

Sharpsburg library offers arts programs for families, teens

• Family Saturday Studio, a free arts and crafts program, is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main St.

Participants will learn how to create dragons and build homes for them.

The program takes place the second Saturday of the month. It is open to preK-12 students and their families.

• Teen Scene, an arts and crafts and STEAM program for students, is planned for 4 p.m. Feb. 14.

Activities are geared for teens in grades 7-12.

Registration is recommended. Supplies will be provided.

For details, call 412-781-0783.

FBLA collecting shoes in wearable condition

Members of Fox Chapel Area High School’s Future Business Leaders of America are conducting a shoe drive through March 22.

Gently used or new shoes are being accepted and will be donated to people worldwide who do not have access to shoes.

Acceptable donations include new and gently used cleats, boots, sneakers, baby shoes, sandals and Crocs. Do not inlcude any shoes that are torn, missing heels or dirty.

Shoes can be dropped off in a bin labeled “FBLA Shoe Fundraiser” outside the main office of the high school during regular hours Mondays through Fridays.

Students to stage ‘The Little Mermaid’; meet-and-greet event set for kids

Fox Chapel Area students will present “The Little Mermaid” at 7 p.m. Feb. 29, March 1 and 2 and 2 p.m. March 3 in the high school auditorium, 611 Field Club Road, in O’Hara.

Tickets, which are $13 each, will go on sale starting at 7 a.m. Jan. 31. All seats are reserved.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.showtix4u.com/events/fcahsmusical; a convenience fee will be applied. They also will be sold at the door pending availability. Tickets are nonrefundable and can not be exchanged for other performances.

Additionally, the performers will have a Meet and Greet in the Grotto for children 8 and younger from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Feb. 24 in the high school cafeteria.

The special event will include autographs from the performers, face painting, crafts and a sing-along with Ariel and King Triton.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $10 each, and only 100 tickets will be sold. They also will go on sale Jan. 31 at www.showtix4u.com/events/fcahsmusical.

About 140 students are involved in this year’s production, including the cast, crew and live pit orchestra.

Blawnox firefighters partner with coffee shop for fundraiser

The Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company is partnering with The Black Canary, a coffee and ice cream shop, for its February fundraiser.

The Black Canary created a special drink, the Freeport Flyer Mocha, in honor of the fire company’s new rescue vehicle that went into service in 2023. For every drink sold during the month of February at its Blawnox location, $1 will be donated to the fire company.

The specialty drink features smoked mocha infused with cinnamon and topped with torched marshmallows and cinnamon.

The Black Canary is located at 276 Freeport Road. Hours are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. The shop is closed on Sundays.

Orders can be made in person, online at pittsburgh.theblackcanaryorder.com or by calling 724-614-9823.

In-person story times set for prospective kindergartners

All four elementary schools in the Fox Chapel Area School District are hosting in-person story times for incoming 2024-25 kindergarten students and their parents and guardians.

The program is for prospective students who will turn 5 on or by Sept. 1, 2024. The story times will help the youngsters become acquainted with their respective elementary schools and kindergarten teachers. Parents and guardians will gain valuable information about school readiness and registration. Everyone is encouraged attend all three sessions.

• Fairview Elementary School: 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 15, March 13 and April 17;

• Hartwood Elementary School: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14, March 13 and April 17;

• Kerr Elementary School: 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 15, March 13 and April 16;

• O’Hara Elementary School (last names A-L): 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 12, March 19 and April 18;

• O’Hara Elementary School (last names M-Z): 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 13, March 20 and April 19.

Pre-registration is requested. For details and to register for the story times, visit https://www.kdgfcasd.com/.

Blood drive open to community

The Fox Chapel Area High School Fox Leadership Council is coordinating a community blood drive from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 14. The blood drive will be in the large group instruction room at the high school, 611 Field Club Road.

Donors must be 16 or older.

As an incentive, anyone who donates blood at Vitalant between Feb. 11 and March 2 will receive a $10 gift card from Vitalant’s donor rewards store. Additionally, anyone who gives on Valentine’s Day, the day of the school’s drive, will receive a $10 gift card bonus, for a total of $20. The rewards store includes nationwide retailers.

Vitalant also continues to offer scholarships to area high school students. To qualify for the scholarships, Fox Chapel Area High School is hosting several blood drives throughout the 2023-24 school year. The scholarships will be awarded for the highest percent participation and the largest number of registered donations for the year.

Additionally, anyone who donates blood at a local Vitalant center can ask for the donation to count toward Fox Chapel Area High School’s total by mentioning the code UHS010025.

Appointments can be scheduled by visiting vitalant.org, calling 1-877-25VITAL or through the Vitalant mobile app. District students can arrange to make a donation by visiting school counselor Rachel Mache. Walk ins also are welcome.

Pre-Super Bowl shopping event to benefit Guyasuta organization

The Guyasuta Football & Cheer organization is having a pre-SuperBowl shopping celebration Feb. 11.

The event is open to the public, and doors open at 11 a.m.

Organizers have lined up several vendors, including child-friendly ones such as Cotton Candy Creations and Fairy Inspired Hair by Moore’s Knots.

There also will be something for furry family members, including D’s Canine Closet and Mimi’s Cucina.

There will be a 50-50 and basket raffles.

The craft show will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Comfort Inn & Suites in RIDC Park, 180 Gamma Drive, O’Hara.

Gowns, accessories sought for Project Prom

Each year, Project Prom provides eligible high school students with the opportunity to choose free formal attire from a selection of currently styled formal gowns, shoes and accessories.

O’Hara Township is an official drop-off location for Project Prom.

Items can be dropped off through March 15 during business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the township building, 325 Fox Chapel Road.

A clothing rack and bins are located in the lobby.

Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services started Project Prom in 2003, recognizing that prom night is an expensive evening and that many young men and women might be denied the experience as a result. Since then, thousands of teens have benefited from the program.

The gown giveaway is held over several days in the early spring; the dates for 2024 have yet to be announced.

Professional organizer to speak at AAUW meeting

A professional organizer will be the guest speaker at the February meeting of the American Association of University Women.

Paul Regan will talk to participants at 10 a.m. Feb. 13 in Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church.

Regan specializes in helping retirees downsize. His experience also extends to young couples needing to utilize space more effectively, in addition to families who are relocating.

Regan has 33 years of experience in helping clients.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Saint Vincent College and began his career as an activities coordinator at a long-term care facility before becoming a Medicare benefits specialist.

He launched his business, Paul the Organizer, full time in 2005.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

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.

School district releases draft of 2024-25 calendar

Fox Chapel Area School District officials have released a draft of the 2024-25 school year calendar.

The first day of school is scheduled for Aug. 22.

The last day for students is June 6 with commencements on June 8.

Spring break is scheduled for March 31 through April 4.

The board may vote to adopt the calendar at its Feb. 12 meeting.

Families that want to weigh in on the proposed calendar can contact the superintendent’s office at 412-967-2414 or email Mary Catherine Reljac at marycatherine_reljact@fcasd.edu.

Pre-kindergarten program in 6th year

Applications for the Fox Chapel Area School District’s pre-kindergarten program for the 2024-25 school year are being accepted through April 5.

This will be the sixth year for the program, which is housed at Kerr Elementary School in O’Hara. It is open to youngsters across the district who turn 4 on or before Sept. 1, 2024.

The pre-kindergarten program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and will consist of a 4-year-old classroom with 20 students. Eligibility requirements, application forms and details about the program are available on the district’s website at prek.fcasd.edu.

All students must be fully toilet-trained and able to use the bathroom without adult assistance. Parents and guardians must be able to provide transportation to and from school.

The program requires a five-day-a-week commitment, and a child could be withdrawn from the program after 10 absences.

Students are eligible for the program based on their family’s income, which must be below the 300% poverty level for the size of the family.

Enrollment forms — including the pre-kindergarten program application, income verification form and the commitment form — are available at prek.fcasd.edu.

All three forms and proof of income (a copy of one’s most recent W-2 or three current pay stubs) should be sent to Fox Chapel Area School District Pre-Kindergarten Program, c/o Dr. Ashley Constantine, 611 Field Club Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.

For questions, contact Constantine, executive director of elementary education and instruction, at 412-967-2455 or ashley_constantine@fcasd.edu.

Pre-registration for kindergarten underway

The Fox Chapel Area School District will hold kindergarten registration for the fall semester in March.

The district offers various pre-registration events, including parent/guardian orientations and 2024-25 kindergarten story times, beginning in February. Details about all of events are available at https://www.kdgfcasd.com/.

All registration forms must be filled out online. Starting Feb. 6, parents and guardians can go to http://register.fcasd.edu to begin the registration process.

Once the online forms are complete, parents/guardians will attend the school’s registration day, at a specific time, with their supporting documents. Orientation meetings to acquaint parents/guardians with the kindergarten program and registration process are scheduled in February.

Children must be 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2024, to be admitted to kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year.

A certificate of birth date, immunization records, two proofs of residency and a photo ID must be presented for registration.

A child will not be officially registered in the school until all of the items are presented.

Here is the schedule for in-person new kindergarten parent orientation meetings and kindergarten registration; parents and guardians will choose a specific registration time once they complete the online registration for their respective school:

Fairview Elementary School

• Parent orientation meeting: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7

• Registration: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 6

• The school is at 738 Dorseyville Road in Indiana Township. The phone number is 412-963-9315.

Hartwood Elementary School

• Parent orientation meeting: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7

• Registration: 8 to 11 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 7

• The school is at 3730 Saxonburg Blvd. in Indiana Township. The phone number is 412-767-5396.

Kerr Elementary School

• Parent orientation meeting: 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 6

• Registration: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5

• The school is at 341 Kittanning Pike in O’Hara. The phone number is 412-781-4105.

O’Hara Elementary School

• Parent orientation meeting: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8

• Registration: 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. March 8

• The school is at 115 Cabin Lane in O’Hara. The phone number is 412-963-0333.

In addition, districtwide registration sessions for all elementary schools will be held in March for those unable to attend the individual school registration dates/times.

Registration for all incoming kindergartners will be 4 to 6 p.m. March 5 at Kerr Elementary School and 4 to 6 p.m. March 7 at O’Hara Elementary School.

Incoming kindergarten families also are encouraged to sign up for the story times hosted by their elementary school.

To sign up and to learn more about programs for incoming kindergartners, visit https://www.kdgfcasd.com/.

Applicants sought for Trib Total Media scholarship

Trib Total Media’s Scholarship for Diversity in Media, created in 2020, is open to minorities as defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

Eligible applicants must be current high school seniors planning to attend an accredited four-year college or university with a major in journalism, English writing or communications.

Scholarship recipients each will receive up to $30,000 in scholarship funds awarded in annual installments of up to $7,500.

The recipient also will receive a summer internship at Trib Total Media and, upon graduation, an offer for full-time employment.

The students will be required to remain in the approved course of study through graduation and complete summer internships with Trib Total Media each year of the program.

Interested applicants can apply at tribtotalmedia.com.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 14.

“When you’re graduating college, you don’t know the kind of company you might be accepting a position with and what the job will look like,” said Trib Total Media President and CEO Jennifer Bertetto.

“Here you get a very realistic job preview so there are no surprises.”

Rotary scholarships available to high school seniors

Applications are being sought for the Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program for the 2023-24 academic year.

Eight need-based scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded.

High school seniors in Allegheny County are eligible to apply, as are vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools.

Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade-point average and must complete an essay highlighting their community/school service.

Complete application and criteria materials are available on the Rotary District 7305 website or from area high school counselors.

Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 29.