In brief: Herald area events for the week of March 4, 2024

School district sets 2024-25 calendar

Fox Chapel Area School District officials have approved their 2024-25 school year calendar.

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

Thanksgiving break will be from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2.

Spring break is scheduled for March 31 through April 4.

Kennywood Day is May 28.

The last day for students is June 6, with commencement June 8.

Details about district activities are available on its website at fcasd.edu.

Senior citizens invited to luncheon at high school

Senior citizens in the Fox Chapel Area School District are invited to a free luncheon in their honor March 16 at the high school, 611 Field Club Road, O’Hara.

The luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. in the cafeteria. Entertainment will be provided by students in the chamber ensemble.

The event is sponsored by the high school’s Fox Leadership Council Community Outreach Committee.

Space is limited and reservations are required. For details or to make a reservation, call Maria at 412-967-2410.

Guests should enter in the back of the building at the athletics entrance near the fox statue.

Rental applications available in Aspinwall

Aspinwall has applications available for short-term rental properties.

The borough adopted an ordinance in December regulating what often is called Airbnbs, businesses catering to people staying in town fewer than 30 days.

Rules state the proprietor must obtain a permit and live at, or within 5 miles, of the rental unit.

Rental property owners must carry all applicable insurances and will be subject to the borough’s $500 annual business privilege tax. Properties also must be inspected by the borough’s code officer.

Applications are available at the borough office, 217 Commercial Ave.

For details, call 412-781-021.

Aspinwall Council to update various fees

Aspinwall Council plans to adopt a resolution updating its various fees including building permit applications, delinquent charges for outstanding borough bills, short-term rentals, dumpster and pod fees and street opening permit fees.

The voting session is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 13 at the borough building, 217 Commercial Ave.

Library’s pantry in need of supplies

Sharpsburg Community Library’s Little Free Pantry at 1212 Main St. needs some supplies.

A wish list was posted online at coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org/sharpsburg.

Items requested include small bags of cookies and snacks, pudding cups, applesauce and fruit cups, instant oatmeal, Campbell’s chunky soups, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

The pantry is stocked three times weekly and is completely supported through donations.

For details, call the library at 412-781-0783.

Free programs set at Cooper-Siegel

Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Road, will present the following free programs and clubs in March. For details about any of the programs, call 412-828-9520.

• Booked for Lunch, an afternoon adult book club, will meet from noon to 1 p.m. March 8. The group reads fiction and nonfiction titles of all genres and formats and meets monthly. It is a hybrid book club, meaning folks can attend in person or via Zoom. March’s book is “Solito,” a memoir by poet Javier Zamora.

• Purls of Wisdom, Fox Chapel Area’s knitting circle, will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. March 10. Knitters 18 and older and of all experience levels are welcome. Bring your works in progress and enjoy conversation, community and informational instruction.

• Pgh Architecture, a history lecture featuring Tracy Myers from the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, is set for 2 to 3:30 p.m. March 13.

Sharpsburg libary plans activities for adults, tweens

Sharpsburg Community Library, 1212 Main St., offers a variety of programs and club meetings in March.

For details about the following programs, call 412-781-0783 or visit coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org/sharpsburg.

• Family Saturday Studio, an arts and crafts program for all ages, is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 9. The program is offered the second Saturday of the month. This month’s crafts will have a spring theme.

• Teen Scene, an afterschool program for student in grades 7-12, is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays throughout March. Youths are encouraged to make friends, express themselves, play games and learn.

• Bilingual Chinese Storytime, a language and literacy program for children, will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 16. The program is designed for preschool through second graders and their caregivers. Participants will explore the Chinese language through bilingual songs, books and playful experiences with native speakers. The program is offered the third Saturday of the month.

Fox Chapel seeks volunteers to fill boards

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

Interested residents are encouraged to send an application and resume to Shawn M. Peterson at speterson@fox-chapel.pa.us.

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

Applications available for military banners in Blawnox

Blawnox is accepting applications for its Hometown Hero Banner Program.

It is designed to recognize and honor residents who served or are serving in the nation’s armed forces.

Each banner will honor a specific service person and will include their name, branch of service, medals of valor and a photo if provided.

The hometown hero must be a current or previous resident of the borough.

An immediate family member of a current or previous serviceman or woman of Blawnox also will suffice. Banners will be displayed on Freeport Road from Memorial Day to Veterans Day to honor and celebrate their dedication to our country.

There is no official deadline to submit an application.

However, it must be submitted by the end of March at the latest if the family wants the banner up for Memorial Day.

There is a $110 application fee.

Forms and details are available on the borough website at blawnox.com.

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.

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. The remaining sessions include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.