Garden club to explore microgreens
Longvue Acres Garden Club’s January program, Let’s Explore Microgreens!, will be held at 7:45 p.m. Jan. 27 at Northmont United Presbyterian Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless.
Local gardener and Ingomar Garden Club member Linda Womsley will explain microgreen basics, including what they are, why we should eat them and to successfully grow them.
Take-home microgreen grow kits will be available for purchase after the meeting.
Programs are offered on the fourth Tuesday of each month and are free and open to the public.
For details, email longvueacresgardenclub1950@gmail.com.
Native plants to be focus of Bradford Woods workshop
Rhea Homa, of the Native Urban Garden Stewardship Program, will lead a workshop on the important roles that native plants play in local ecosystems and neighborhoods from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at Bradford Woods Community Church, 4836 Wexford Run Road.
Homa will help participants explore the benefits of winter sowing native seeds and to prepare greenhouses from upcycled materials. Attendees should bring their own clean, clear gallon jugs. All other materials will be provided.
Online registration is strongly encouraged.
Pop-up marketplace to showcase local artisans’ wares
I Made It! Market will present a pop-up marketplace from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 7 at The Block Northway.
The event will feature more than 120 local artists, makers and small-batch food sellers showcasing handmade gifts for Valentine’s Day or just because.
Among the offerings will be unique gifts for kids, friends, family, pets and your sweetie, including jewelry, clothing, accessories, housewares, 2D artwork, ceramics, locally distilled spirits, baked goods, specialty chocolates and more.
For a list of artisans and more information, visit imadeitmarket.com. Updates will be posted to I Made It! Market’s Facebook event.
Founded in 2007, I Made It! Market hosts year-round pop-up artisan marketplaces throughout Pittsburgh, providing artists a platform to sell their work and allowing shoppers to support small, local businesses.
AARP chapter to learn about chalk art at next meeting
The Pittsburgh-North Hills AARP Chapter 595 is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year.
Its next meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 2, on Groundhog Day, in Fellowship Hall at Hampton Presbyterian Church, 2942 E. Hardies Road. The program will feature chalk artist Dee Ruckert.
Cookies and beverages will be served. Everyone 55 and older is welcome to attend and join the chapter. Members hail from Hampton, Shaler, McCandless, Richland and beyond.
Membership is $10 per year and includes a monthly newsletter, entertainment, snacks, luncheons, travel opportunities — and friendship.
Super Bingo to benefit NA band students
The North Allegheny District Band Patrons is hosting a Super Bingo from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 in the cafeteria of McKnight Elementary School, 500 Cumberland Road.
Participants must be 18 or older to play. All proceeds will help to ensure every student has access to a quality band education.
Tickets cost $30 each.
The evening will include concessions, a bake sale, a 50-50 and special bingo games.
Hoagies and pizza can be preordered online. Each 14-inch hoagie is $10 and is available in five varieties: Italian, All American, traditional, three cheese and turkey. Pizza will be available in cheese and pepperoni for $1 per slice; gluten-free slices of cheese and pepperoni pizza are $2 each.
To purchase tickets and preoder hoagies and pizza, visit zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/ bingo-night-77.
Polar Plunge set for Feb. 7
The community is invited to participate in the McCandless Polar Plunge from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 7 at McCandless Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road.
Participants jump into a mobile plunge unit, dubbed Bear Force One, to raise money for Special Olympics athletes in Pennsylvania.
Every dollar raised helps support programming for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring quality training, competition, leadership programs and health initiatives for Special Olympics athletes in and around McCandless, including North Allegheny’s Unified Bocce team.
Plungers commit to “Freezin’ for a Reason” and raise a minimum of $50 to dip a toe, wade or jump into icy waters. Teams are welcome.
Anyone not ready to take the plunge can register as a fundraiser and cheer on the plungers and stroll through Plunge Town, which will feature food, games, vendors, music and more.
To register, visit register online at give.specialolympicspa.org/event/2026-mccandless-mobile-plunge/e752697.
America250PA offering 25 $10,000 scholarships
To mark America’s 250th anniversary and to honor the legacy of Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to education, America250PA will award $250,000 in scholarships — 25 scholarships worth $10,000 each — to deserving Pennsylvania high school seniors who plan to attend an accredited Pennsylvania college or university in the 2026-27 school year.
The Semiquincentennial Scholarship Program will distribute the scholarships across America250PA’s six regions.
There will be up to 12 awards for community college students and up to 13 awards for students attending four-year institutions.
Applications are due Jan. 31.
To apply, visit america250pa.org/PPE:_Semiquin_Scholarships.
Bradford Woods seeks candidates for 3 posts
Bradford Woods is seeking candidates for two panels that require minimal commitment:
• Planning Commission: Two alternate members will attend monthly meetings when available, participating in discussion but only voting on matters if there is not a quorum of regular members present. The Planning Commission meets on the first Monday of each month.
• Vacancy Board: One person is needed to assist council in appointing a replacement member if an elected member should resign before the end of their term.
Both positions offer a low-key way for residents to be involved in their community.
If interested in either position, send a statement of interest and resume to manager@bradfordwoods.gov.
Registration underway for youth baseball, softball
Registration is now open for the spring season of Brad-Mar-Pine Youth Baseball & Softball.
Early bird registration, along with a discount, runs through Jan. 15. The last day for regular registration is Feb. 24, and the last day to register with a late fee is March 3.
Baseball teams include T-Ball for 3- to 5-year-olds, Transition for 6-year-olds, Pinto for 7- and 8-year-olds, Mustang for 9- and 10-yer-olds, Bronco for 11- and 12-year-olds, Pony for 13- and 14-year-olds and Colt for 15 and older.
Softball teams include T-Ball for 6-year-olds and younger, Manager Pitch for 6- through 8-year-olds and Fastpitch for 8- to 15-year-olds.
To register, visit bradmarpine.org and click on the Login button. If you are new to the league or have yet to register on the website, click on Register Now to create an account.
Resources available at Northland for all types of caregivers
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging recently sent Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road in McCandless, materials from its new PA CareKit initiative to help people who are serving in a variety of caregiving roles.
Folders with resources are available at the upstairs Ask a Librarian desk and in the Caregiver Collection area.
Available guides also are on display across from the Caregiver Collection for the following specific caregiver types:
• Dementia
• Sandwich
• Solo
• Working
• Grandparent
• Long-distance
• Parent
• Spousal
• Youth
The PA CareKit Initiative offers a collection of tools, information and support to help caregivers learn more, plan ahead or catch their breath.
For details about the initiative, visit pa.gov/agencies/aging/pa-carekit.
Throwback Thursday event to highlight 1990s
The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage & Cultural Center, 830 Aufman Lane, is hosting a ’90s Nostalgia Board Game Night for Throwback Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 22.
Attendees will watch a VHS tape; play Mall Madness, Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego board games and more; eat Dunkaroos; and drink Hi-C.
Bring the kids and teach them how to play low-tech board games from the 20th century.
The event is free, but space is limited.
Registration can be made online through CivicRec at secure.rec1.com/PA/mccandless-pa/catalog.
BluePearl seeks pet donors for blood banks
January is National Blood Donor Month, and this year BluePearl Pet Hospital is encouraging pet owners in the Pittsburgh area to enroll their pets as donors to help ease the shortage of veterinary blood products.
Just as humans require blood transfusions for medical conditions or emergencies, the same is true for pets. BluePearl operates a community-based blood banking program at more than 20 locations across the United States.
In 2025, BluePearl performed 7,000 blood transfusions, with almost 50% of blood products used being sourced from the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank.
Throughout January, all donors will receive a free KONG dog or cat toy for enrolling in the BluePearl Blood Bank program.
Healthy cats and dogs between 1 and 8 years old who meet additional eligibility criteria can donate through a short and painless process. Donations are recommended at eight- to 12-week intervals, and each donation could save the lives of at least three other pets. Pets can be unenrolled at any time.
BluePearl provides a complimentary physical exam before each donation and annual lab work for enrolled pets.
BluePearl has two blood bank locations in the region: Pittsburgh North at 807 Camp Horne Road in Ohio Township and Pittsburgh South at 1535 Washington Road in Washington, Pa.
To learn more about the BluePearl Pet Blood Bank, visit bluepearlvet.com/blood-bank.
AAA recognizes local police departments for road safety efforts
AAA East Central honored local police departments last month for their efforts to increase road safety for motorists.
Sixty-five Western Pennsylvania departments received platinum awards, while 23 departments were honored with gold or silver awards.
Platinum recipients covering the North Hills area include police departments in Allegheny County, Allegheny County Port Authority, Bellevue, Cranberry Township, McCandless, Northern Regional, Ohio Township, Shaler and West View.
The Hampton Police Department received a gold award.
Free webinar to provide training in suicide prevention
Penn State Extension is offering a free webinar aimed at saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.
Participants can select one of four dates: 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17 or April 21.
Penn State Extension educators will lead the webinar, “QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention Training,” developed by the QPR Institute. QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer. Participants will learn to recognize the warning signs of suicide in friends, co-workers, family members or neighbors in need.
Designed for all people, regardless of profession, who are concerned about helping others, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention intended to interrupt a crisis and direct someone to proper care. Attendees will discuss potential scenarios and engage in active listening and persuasion techniques.
Penn State Extension offers the webinar free of charge, but participants must register by 11:59 p.m. the day before the event to receive the link to access it. The recording link will not be available after the webinar.
Continuing education credits are available. For details, visit Penn State Extension’s website at tinyurl.com/2suk85t2 or call 1-877-345-0691.
Series to explore management of garden pests
Penn State Extension is offering a webinar series on integrated pest management for home gardeners, Master Gardeners, commercial growers and anyone interested in sustainable pest control.
The series, titled “IPM Essentials: Tools, Tactics and Techniques,” will run from noon to 1:15 p.m. March 10, 17, 24 and 31.
It will teach sustainable and practical strategies for managing pest control across diverse settings, including:
• The basic principles of integrated pest management;
• How to scout and monitor pest populations;
• How to recognize signs and symptoms of common pests and locate reliable identification resources;
• How to apply integrated pest management strategies in real-world settings;
Pesticide applicator recertification credits are available for participants pending approval.
Space is limited, and registration is required by March 9. The cost for the series is $20.
Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinars. A link to the recorded webinars will be emailed to registrants within 10 business days after the live events.
For details, visit Penn State Extension’s website at tinyurl.com/ysddyd5x.
