In brief: Trick or treat times, tree planting and more in Fox Chapel area

Trick or treat

Here are the trick-or-treat times for Fox Chapel area communities on Oct. 31:

• Aspinwall, 6-7:30 p.m.

• O’Hara, 6-8 p.m.

• Fox Chapel, 6-8 p.m.

• Indiana Township, 6-8 p.m.

• Blawnox, 6-8 p.m.

• Sharpsburg, 6-8 p.m.

Personnel moves

Fox Chapel Area School District approved multiple personnel moves at its school board meeting on Oct. 13.

They include the acceptance of business manager Kimberly Pawlishak’s resignation effective Dec. 10. She was hired earlier this year for the same job at Shaler Area School District.

Mia Carlino resigned as personal care assistant at Dorseyville Middle School effective Sept. 8.

Christine Harper resigned as 12-month building secretary at O’Hara Elementary School effective Oct. 16.

Shelley Zottola resigned as instructional assistant at Fairview Elementary School effective Oct. 27.

Dominica Delaney resigned as high school junior varsity head basketball coach effective Oct. 6.

More board actions at the Oct. 14 meeting can be seen on the school district’s YouTube channel.

Bingo

Sharpsburgh VFW Post 709 is hosting Fall for Our Veterans Bingo on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.). Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door (if space is still available). Tickets include 40 regular games. Additional packets are $10 each and sold separately. Must be 16 to attend and 19 to play. Cash bar and food are available.

Paranormal fundraiser

Sharpsburg Community Library’s next fundraiser invites patrons to enjoy a frighteningly good evening at several haunted hotspots.

On Nov. 1, the library will partner with Bump in the Night Society, a Pittsburgh-based paranormal investigation group, to host the inaugural Haunted Sharpsburg Paranormal Experience. From 7 to 10 p.m., attendees will learn the ins and outs of ghost hunting and conduct their own investigations of the library and the nearby Linden Gym.

“Halloween is my absolute favorite time of the year. Our development manager Nadine Ostrowski and I discussed doing a fundraiser in the fall, so I knew anything I planned would fit into spooky season,” said SCL Branch Manager Sara Mariacher. “Earlier this year, Bump in the Night Society was the (Steel City Horror Show) guest, so I pitched the idea of a paranormal investigation.”

Thankfully, Mariacher said, Bump in the Night Society Lead Investigator Sean Bowman was excited to help SCL through a special event.

Mariacher also contacted the Sharpsburg Historical Commission, who connected her with Linden Gym Director Greg Domian. The gym is said to be haunted by the ghost of a girl named Hanna.

The Haunted Sharpsburg Paranormal Experience is open to adults ages 18 and older, or teens ages 16 and older with a participating adult. Tickets are $25 per person. All proceeds benefit the library.

Participants will be required to sign waivers and should wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes they can easily move around in, as the group will be walking between investigation sites at night.

To register for the fundraiser, visit coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org or call 412-828-9520.

Major works concert

The Fox Chapel Area High School choirs and orchestra will present their major works concert, “The Light Within,” on Oct. 26. The program will feature the Fox Chapel Area High School Concert Choir and Orchestra performing Elaine Hagenberg’s “Illuminare.” The concert will also include performances by Fox Chapel Area High School’s Vulpes Cantantes and Madrigal Singers.

The performance will be held at East Liberty Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected at the concert, and online donations are being accepted at tinyurl.com/fcmajorworks.

East Liberty Presbyterian Church is located at 116 S. Highland Ave. in East Liberty. Free on-street parking is available in East Liberty on Sundays. Please use the Penn Avenue entrance of the church. A handicapped accessible entrance is located on Highland Avenue.

Tree planting

Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy have partnered for a tree planting event Nov. 1. Volunteers are needed for the event from 9 a.m. to noon.

Activities start at RedHawk Coffee, 1019 N. Canal St. More information is available on the SNO Facebook page.

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.  

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.

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. 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’s second annual Halloween parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 25 at James Sharp Landing.

Adult and children and what organizers are calling the wheel brigade, strollers and wagons and those in wheelchairs, are encouraged to dress up. Pets will also be allowed to march in costume.

People can preregister on the borough website or sign up the day of the parade at 10 a.m.

The parade goes up 13th Street onto Main Street and ends at Sixth Street. The borough’s Halloween Scare event starts immediately following the parade and goes to 3 p.m.

Many shopkeepers throughout the business district will have treats. Vendors will be set up along North Canal Street. Roots of Faith will have arts and crafts. Live music is expected at Guyasuta Square. Pumpkin painting is planned outside the senior high-rise.

Sharpsburg Community Library will also have Halloween-themed activities.

The parade is organized by the parks and recreation commission and is sponsored by the borough. Halloween Scare is organized by the Sharpsburg Business Group.

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