In brief: Happenings across the Hampton Journal area

Community invited to holiday Sparktacular

Hampton will host its Santa’s Sparktacular holiday event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Hampton Community Center, 3200 Lochner Way.

There will be photos with Santa, compliments of the Rachael Schafer Team of Berkshire Hathaway, and a festive fireworks display.

Food trucks, weather permitting, will be available from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the community center’s parking lot. Food trucks in attendance this year will include Los Gallitos Tacos, Revival Chili and Tom’s Travelin Coffee Truck.

Premier Dance Academy will be stage an outdoor performance at 6:45 p.m., followed by a welcome speech from council members and the fireworks display. After the fireworks, Santa and Rudolph will arrive at the community center.

Inside the center, vendors will serve beverages and samples.

Township police and social workers also will have a booth set up to interact with residents. This year, the social services department will be accepting gift cards and toys for individuals and families in the community. Items and gift cards can be donated during the Sparktacular event or dropped off at the Hampton Police Department.

Officers’ No Shave Campaign to benefit Massimino family

The Hampton Police Department is participating in the annual No Shave Campaign, with proceeds this year benefiting the Massimino family.

Gary Massimino, a Hampton resident and a 35-year volunteer with the Hampton Fire Department, is fighting cancer.

The No Shave Campaign is a multi-monthlong journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming to raise cancer awareness. The money typically spent on grooming is donated to cancer prevention efforts and to help those battling the disease.

Members of the police department have pledged a donation and welcome the community’s help as well. Cash or check donations can be made to the Hampton Police Department Charity Fund. For details, call the police department at 412-486-0400.

The fundraising efforts might be extended into 2026, so check the township’s website at hampton-pa.org for updates.

Roving DUI patrol yields 2 arrests, 44 citations, 77 warnings

The North Hills DUI Task Force organized a DUI detail on Nov. 21 in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Checkpoint Strike Force.

The task force conducted a roving DUI patrol along various roads in Aspinwall, Blawnox, Etna, Hampton, Indiana Township, O’Hara, Richland, Shaler and West Deer.

Officers stopped 94 vehicles for various traffic violations, and two individuals were given a field sobriety test and subsequently arrested for DUI.

There were 44 citations and 77 warnings issued for various vehicle code violations.

This is the 29th year for the North Hills DUI Task Force. To date, 268 checkpoints/roving patrols have been conducted, and 2,294 individuals were tested for DUI, resulting in 1,082 arrests.

The task force consists of officers from Aspinwall, Blawnox, Etna, Franklin Park, Hampton, Indiana Township, McCandless, Millvale, Northern Regional, O’Hara, Reserve, Ross, Shaler, West Deer and West View.

Santa to make rounds in township Dec. 13

Santa will start his tour of Hampton’s neighborhoods at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, outside the Hampton Community Center, 3200 Lochner Way.

He’ll travel throughout the township until about 3 p.m., encouraging residents of all ages to make the nice list this year.

The Hampton Volunteer Fire Department is providing the free ride so Santa’s reindeer can rest up for the big day.

Sal Leo’s Tree Service contributed the candy canes, which will be distributed during Santa’s tour.

Once again, the township is offering a Santa Tracker for residents to view when Santa might be in or around their neighborhood. To view Santa’s route, visit hampton-pa.org/397/Neighborhood-Santa-Tour, click on the link and type in your address in the upper left-hand box.

Please note the times are tentative, and the township tried to include as many streets and areas as possible in the alotted time. If you don’t see your street listed and you would like to see Santa, stop by Hampton Community Park before he starts his neighborhood rounds at 9 a.m.

Township taking applications for land use administrator

Hampton is seeking qualified applicants for the full-time position of land use administrator.

A copy of the job description can be obtained by emailing township Manager Ryan Jeroski at ryan.jeroski@hampton-pa.org.

Resumes should be emailed to Jeroski by 5 p.m. Dec. 22.

High school hosting January blood drive

Hampton High School is hosting another Community Blood Drive on Jan. 28 in the high school library, 2929 McCully Road.

During the Oct. 29 drive, 87 units of blood were collected.

To make an appointment and to view hours, visit vitalant.org. Use the blood drive code UHS010029.

Nominees sought for inaugural Hampton Theatre Hall of Honor

The Hampton School District is beginning a program at the high school to honor alumni who have participated in Drama Club and/or Talbot Players during their time at Hampton.

The Hampton Theatre Hall of Honor will showcase those who have brought prestige and pride to Hampton School District’s Talbot Players and/or Drama Club theater program as an actor, crew member, orchestra member, designer or director

Nominations for the inaugural 2026 year are being sought until Jan. 8. Nominees must be a graduate of at least four years from Hampton High School.

Accepted nominees will be honored during intermission at the final performance of the 2026 spring musical on Saturday, April 25.

The nomination form is available online at tinyurl.com/nmn478e2.

Hampton seeking full-time officer

Hampton is accepting applications for a full-time police officer.

Application packets are available online at hampton-pa.org/DocumentCenter/View/5198/Police-Application-2025 or by visiting the Hampton Township Police Department, 3101 McCully Road, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Completed applications must be returned to the police department by 4 p.m. Dec. 31 via in-person delivery or by emailing Karen Pastor at karen.pastor@hampton-pa.org.

Outreach seeks donations to help people with winter utilities

During the winter months, North Hills Community Outreach provides assistance in paying the heating and electric bills of more than 500 vulnerable seniors, disabled adults and families.

On average, 1 in 5 households is forced to forgo, or have to reduce food, medicine and other necessities, to pay a utility bill.

To help, donations can be made at nhco.org/donate.

For details, call NHCO’s staff accountant, Lin Kostura, at 412-487-6316, option 1 then ext. 3131.

Journalism scholarship open to W.Pa. students

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is accepting applications for its 20th annual Bob Fryer Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) along with the club’s annual $2,500 for aspiring journalists.

The awards are designed to encourage outstanding undergraduate journalism students in print, broadcasting and multimedia. Candidates must be sophomores or juniors enrolled in an accredited college or university in one of Western Pennsylvania’s 29 counties, which include Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Butler.

Applications are available at WesternPApressclub.org or by calling 412-281-7778.

Winners will be awarded at the club’s annual Golden Quills awards dinner.

AARP seeking tax-prep aides

The AARP Foundation is seeking volunteers to be trained for its tax aide program, the nation’s largest free volunteer-based tax preparation program.

Volunteers can be trained as tax return preparers or as client facilitators. Anyone interested in volunteering can call 724-374-3780.

For details, visit AARPfoundation.org/taxaide.

Animal Friends in need of pet food

Animal Friends is in need of food for dogs, cats and rabbits.

Donations benefit the shelter’s homeless animals as well as the hungry pets whose owners are clients of Animal Friends’ Chow Wagon Pet Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels partners.

Visit thinkingoutsidethecage.org/get-involved/wish-list for links to Animal Friends’ Amazon Wish List, Chewy Wish List, Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank and Kuranda Bed Wish List. Purchases made on those sites can be delivered directly to Animal Friends.

Donations of unopened pet food also can be dropped off in the grey donation bins in the lobby of Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township.

If a tax receipt is needed for in-kind donations made through the online Wish Lists, contact Animal Friends’ development team at 412-847-7051 or development@ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org.

Singles welcome to join Association of University People

The Association of University People invites singles 50 and older who are four-year college graduates to join them for activities and to meet new people. Activities include spring/summer picnics, monthly dinners, a book group, Scrabble, meeting up at wineries and local outdoor concerts.

Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.

For details about AUP or to become a member, call and leave a message at 412-353-9088 or email aupsingles@gmail.com.