Recycling changes in Blawnox

Blawnox residents are reminded there is no curbside recycling.

Those materials are to be disposed of with the regular trash.

Glass recycling still is available via the bin at the O’Hara Township building.

Food pantry open Jan. 26

Blawnox’s food pantry will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 26 at the borough building, 376 Freeport Road.

No proof of residency or income is required.

Donations for the food pantry can be made at the borough office during business hours.

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.

Valentine’s Day card drive underway for seniors

O’Hara residents are encouraged to spread some Valentine’s Day cheer to senior citizens in the community.

Cards will be provided in the lobby of the township building, 325 Fox Chapel Road, and residents are invited to write a special message.

The project is sponsored by the township’s Human Services Department.

For details, contact Jalen Byrd, social services coordinator, at 412-694-6439 or jbyrd@ohara.pa.us.

The township also is accepting donations of blankets, grip socks and clothing.

Christ the Divine Teacher plans open house

Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy is Aspinwall is hosting an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 27 for enrollment in the 2024-25 school year. The school at 205 Brilliant Ave. serves preschool through eighth grade.

Parents and guardians will be able to meet Principal Mark Grgurich and members of the teaching staff, tour the school with a current student, talk to parents of students and receive a registration packet.

Reservations are requested but not required. To make a reservation, visit cdtca.org/admissions and click on the link that says “this form.”

Private tours are available for those unable to attend the open house.

To schedule a visit, call or email Katie Lovett, director of admissions, at 412-781-7927 or katie.lovett@cdtca.org.

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.

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 Jan. 22 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 starts Feb. 6

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.

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