In brief: Happenings across the Pine Creek Journal area

Rams to celebrate Homecoming on Sept. 19

The Pine-Richland School District invites the community to mark Homecoming 2025 on Sept. 19.

The celebration will begin at 3:15 p.m. with a Staff vs. Students softball game, followed by the Homecoming Festival at 4:30 p.m.

The festival will feature many booths and food trucks from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the grassy area next to the softball field. Fun activities and spirit apparel also will be available.

The Homecoming Parade will start at 6:45 p.m. at the softball field.

Following the parade, everyone is invited to watch the Rams take on Plum at 7:30 p.m.

Members of the Homecoming Court will be introduced before the game, and the queen will be announced at halftime.

2025 Hall of Fame inductees feted

Pine-Richland welcomed its Class of 2025 inductees into its Athletic Hall of Fame:

• Janet Chappell — tennis coach

• Ben DiNucci — football; 2015 graduate

• Brandon Hunt — football, track & field and baseball; 1999 graduate

• John Karr — baseball, football and basketball; 2006 graduate

• Brittany Pikur (Adams)— soccer, basketball and lacrosse; 2004 graduate

• 2006 baseball team

The inductees were recognized at the Sept. 5 home football game, and a banquet in their honor was held the day after in the high school cafeteria.

Not one to disappoint, the Rams won their game against Seneca Valley, 49-20.

Annual Dragon Boat Festival planned at North Park Lake

The Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team invites the community to a day of thrilling races, vibrant entertainment, delicious food and family fun at its annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival.

The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at North Park Lake in McCandless.

This year’s family-friendly festival will feature spirited races with community teams, sport teams, youth teams, para-paddlers and teams of cancer survivors battling it out for glory.

There also will be cultural performances such as the lion dance, family-friendly activities, vendor booths and food trucks.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, an all-breast cancer survivor dragon boat team founded in 2017. With members ranging from ages 24 to 80, Hearts of Steel brings together survivors from diverse backgrounds to promote full and active lives through the empowering sport of dragon boating.

To learn more about the team, visit heartsofsteelpittsburgh.org.

Pine Center’s library branch marking 1 year

Northern Tier Regional Library’s Pine Center branch will celebrate its one-year anniversary at 10 a.m. Sept. 20.

Stop by and celebrate the milestone with cupcakes, snacks, fun activities and more.

A giving tree also will be set up for anyone who wishes to support the library by purchasing gifts.

Applications being accepted for military banner program

Applications are now open for Pine’s 2026-27 Hometown Heroes military banner program.

The initiative recognizes current service members and veterans with a 24-inch-by-48-inch double-sided banner displayed on 67 township-owned poles from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.

To be eligible, the honoree must be a current or former resident of Pine or have family currently living here. Veterans also must have been honorably discharged or died while serving their country.

The banners will be displayed for two years and then returned to the service member or their family.

Space is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Businesses in the township also can sponsor a military banner by applying. If the nominating family/friend wishes to purchase the banner without a sponsoring business, they can do so by selecting the appropriate option: nominee only, sponsor only or nominee and sponsor.

For details and an application, visit twp.pine.pa.us/501/Military-Banner-Program. You will need to sign up for a Civic Plus account to access the application.

Applications can be submitted online or dropped off at the Pine Township Municipal Building, 230 Pearce Mill Road.

Community invited to annual International Day of Peace event

The annual North Hills International Day of Peace Celebration is planned for 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 21 at Point Grove in North Park.

This year’s theme is “Act Now for a Peaceful World” and remembers Sister Elizabeth “Betty” Sundry, who died June 1 at age 88. Sundry, a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence, was involved in many social justice efforts.

The event aims to promote peace and cultural diversity through entertainment, personal stories, information tables, food samplings, activities and a flag ceremony.

The gathering is hosted by AAUW North Hills Pittsburgh, Sisters of Divine Providence, La Roche University, North Hills Ebony Women Inc., Muslim Association of Pittsburgh, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh and members of the North Hills communities.

For details, email diversity@laroche.edu.

Fall bird walk set in Pine Community Park

Master Birders Ray Morris and Ken Knapp, both members of the Pine Environmental Advisory Council, will present a Fall Bird Migration Walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 11 through Pine Community Park.

The scenic 2-mile walk will begin with a brief overview in the Pine Community Center’s meeting room.

All ages and skill levels are welcome. Keep in mind there will be some uphill walking. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Closed-toe, comfortable shoes are advised. Bring water and binoculars if you have them.

Garden club to explore Beatrix Potter

The Ingomar Garden Club will gather for its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at Northmont Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless.

The 10:30 a.m. business meeting will be followed by an 11:30 lunch and a program, “Introducing Beatrix Potter,” presented by Ann Troxler of the Beatrix Potter Society. Society members have been delivering Beatrix Potter talks since 2005 to adult groups worldwide, teaching about her works and how her legacy continues to impact us today.

Prospective members are welcome to attend.

For details, visit ingomargardenclub.com.

Seminar aims to teach financial independence

Bob Gordon of McCandless, founder of My Dream Life, is hosting a 10-session seminar to help people looking to live their “dream life,” one that is free of financial and time constraints.

“Living Life on Your Terms: Being Financially Independent” will be held in the event room at Ruckus Cafe, 1707 Babcock Blvd., Shaler.

The sessions will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22; Nov. 5, 19 and 26; and Dec. 3, 10 and 17.

Tuition is $150 and is due at the time of registration.

Participants must register before attending the first session and must be on time for each session, which means seated and ready to begin at least five minutes before the start time.

Gordon has been making a difference in the disability community for many years and empowering people through leadership programs and other businesses. Now 75, he is looking to share how everyone can live a “fully expressed life,” which he has been doing since he was 33.

“I firmly believe that what people really want is to make a difference. And when they have their basic survival income handled, they are free to make that difference,” Gordon said.

To register and to learn more about the program, visit my-dreamlife.com.

Pine seeks seasonal laborers, drivers

Pine’s Department of Public Works is hiring for a variety of seasonal winter positions.

Applications are being accepted for the following roles:

• General laborer, seasonal full time, daytime

• General laborer with a Commercial Driver’s License, seasonal full time, daytime

• General laborer with a Commercial Driver’s License, seasonal full time, nighttime

• Winter driver with a Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License, seasonal on call

• Winter driver with a Class C Commercial Driver’s License, seasonal on call

Applicants must live within an hour of the township.

For additional position details, a list of other job openings and to submit an application, visit twppinepa.isolvedhire.com/jobs.

Bus trip to visit Amish site in Ohio

The Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park Drive, is organizing an Amish Harvest bus trip Sept. 27 to Middlefield, Ohio.

The full-day adventure will include guided stops at local craft shops, the Middlefield Cheese House/Museum, an Amish Farm Market/Apple Orchard and a hayride at Ridgeview Farm, where everyone will get a pumpkin to take home.

The cost of the trip is $168 per person and includes transportation, step-on guide, lunch, attractions, brown bag gifts, taxes and gratuities.

This bus will depart from the Pine Community Center at 9 a.m. and return at 7:30 p.m.

Seating is limited. To reserve a spot, visit tinyurl.com/949ey253.

Community center offers fitness classes

The Pine Community Center offers a variety of fitness classes, such as adaptive fitness for special-needs youths, interval and circuit training, cardio, cycling, pickleball, pilates, yoga and zumba.

The cost per class is free for VIP members, $8 for facility members and $10 for nonmembers.

To sign up for class cancellations and updates, text @pinegroupx to 81010.

For a schedule, visit twp.pine.pa.us/179/Group-Fitness.

Touch-A-Truck set Sept. 20; Spooktacular coming up Oct. 19

The Parks and Recreation Department is organizing a free Touch-A-Truck event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 20 in Pine Community Park. The first hour will be sensory-friendly.

A variety of vehicles will be on display, and all are welcome to attend. Visitors will be able to leave a handprint on one of the plows from public works. There also will be food from Chick-fil-A.

Registration opens Sept. 15 for Halloween Spooktacular, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 19 near the Keys Pavilion and Friends of Pine Community Parks Amphitheater. The cost is $5 for Pine residents and $10 for nonresidents.

Children can dress up in their favorite costume and march in a costume parade, enjoy a Halloween-themed puppet show and magic show, get creative with pumpkin decorating, crafts and more.

Heyl Family Practice to open 3rd location

Heyl Family Practice, an independent primary care provider in the North Pittsburgh region, is opening a third location in in January in Richland.

The new office at 5830 Meridian Road, located within the St. Barnabas Medical Center building, will undergo updates beginning in October in preparation for the opening.

As a division of Genesis Medical Associates Inc., the largest independent primary care network in the North Hills, Heyl Family Practice currently operates offices in West View and McCandless.

“We’re excited to bring the Heyl Family Practice experience to Gibsonia and to offer care to anyone seeking trusted, reliable, independent primary care,” said Scott Heyl, third-generation family physician at Heyl Family Practice.

The Richland office will provide comprehensive primary care for adults of all ages, including preventive services, chronic condition management and ongoing health support.

The team anticipates beginning to accept new patients in the coming months.

In addition to outpatient services, Heyl Family Practice also will provide care for personal care and skilled nursing facility residents on the St. Barnabas campus. This integration enhances continuity of care as patients’ needs evolve and includes on-site provider support, coordination with hospital systems such as UPMC Passavant, and long-term care management with outpatient follow-up through the new office.

For details about Heyl Family Practice, visit genesismedical.org.

Taco Tuesday fundraiser to benefit Blessing Board

The Blessing Board is hosting a Taco Tuesday fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 23 at Shaler Plaza, 880 Butler St.

The cost is $50 per person and $35 per person for groups of eight or more.

Admission includes a meal from the Los Gallitos food truck, tickets for two margaritas or beers from Dancing Gnome, soft drinks and water, and dessert from Oakmont Bakery.

All proceeds benefit the Blessing Board, a nonprofit celebrating its 15th anniversay of providing free furniture, household items and home medical equipment to people in need.

Participants must be 21 or older.

Registration is required by Sept. 18. To register, visit tinyurl.com/bdzn77wp.

For questions, call 412-423-6074 or email finance@theblessingboard.org.

Public welcome to Northern Regional’s police board meetings

The Northern Regional Police Department — serving Bradford Woods, Marshall, Pine and Richland — is reminding residents of its scheduled Joint Police Board meetings, which take place at 7 p.m. at the Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park Drive:

• Sept. 24

• Oct. 22

• Nov. 20

• Dec. 18

The Northern Regional Police Department’s schedule of events can be found online at nrpolice.com by clicking on Event Calendar under the About Us tab in the menu.

If a meeting is changed, it will be updated accordingly. Residents also are encouraged to follow the department on Facebook.

Farmers Market continues at Pine Community Park

The Farmers Market at Pine Community Park will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 5 by the splash pad.

Vendors include Knock About Coffee, Pittsburgh Pastures, Arsenal Cider House, Fessides Farm & Apiary, Coffee Au Lait, Gray Farms, Sarah’s Homebaked LLV, Tiny Trax Farm, Biber Family Farm, BBQ Stu’s, The Olive Tap, Hello Hummus, Gabby’s Cookie Jar, Eastman Family Farmstead, Addvery Farms, Sweetwater Farms, Keystone Cultures, La Dolce Nota, 1:11 Juice Bar, Designs Inspired by Abby, Pittsburgh Artisanal Soap and Cherish Creamery.

Live music will be provided by Everest Gray.

Farmers Market under way through September

The annual Farmers Market at The Block Northway runs through Sept. 25.

The market, produced in partnership with the I Made It! Market, offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and homemade treats, handcrafted goods and rotating food trucks from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday throughout the season.

Vendors include Jodikinos Farms, Binko’s Pepper Sauce, Couldn’t BEE Better Honey, Nedalgyro, Sweet Florence Candy Co., Glencoe Gourmet, A Sweet Morsel Co., Boyd and Blair and many more.

The next special themed events are:

• Sept. 18: Pep Rally

• Sept. 25: Coffee With a Cop

The market is sponsored by Jim Shorkey Mitsubishi, SSB Bank, Key Bank, Highmark and AHN.

Workshop to offer driving tips for teens

Impact Teen Drivers, in partnership with the Northern Regional Police Department and Marshall leaders, scheduled several workshops for teens and their parents or guardians throughout the year.

The fourth and final workshop for 2025 will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Oct. 14 at the lower level of the Marshall Municipal Building, 525 Pleasant Hills Road.

The workshop will provide evidence-based strategies to keep teens safer on the road. Attendees will learn about Graduated Driver Licensing, tips and tricks to avoid distractions, the importance of seat belts, the risks of speeding and more.

The workshop is free thanks to funding by the NJM Insurance Group.

Seating is limited. To reserve a spot, email Detective Tim Hohos at thohos@nrpolice.com.

Blood donors sought

The need for blood donors persists, and the American Red Cross and Vitalant are encouraging people to help.

Donations of all blood types are crucial year-round, especially type O, the most frequently transfused blood type. O-negative blood can be given to patients of any blood type, while O-positive can help most patients.

Here are a few nearby Red Cross blood drives:

• Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Allegheny County Public Safety Training Campus, 700 W. Ridge Road, McCandless

• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at Northgate High School, 589 Union Ave., Bellevue

• 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3832 Gibsonia Road, Richland

• 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – St. Athanasius Church, 7 Chalfonte Ave., West View

• 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at Keystone Summit Park, 3000 Ericsson Drive, Marshall

• Noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 31 at Christ Lutheran Church, 917 Evergreen Ave., Millvale

To find a Red Cross location and to learn more about blood donation, including eligibility information, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Vitalant operates about 115 donation centers nationwide and is hosting drives at several locations in the North Hills area this month, including:

• 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Bloodmobile at Bruster’s Ice Cream of Ingomar, 9600 Perry Highway, McCandless

• Noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Richland Township’s activity room, 4019 Dickey Road, Richland

• 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church, 2230 Rochester Road, Franklin Park

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at Triumph Church, 1293 Mt. Nebo Road, Ohio Township

• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at Deer Lakes High School’s gym, 163 E. Union Road, West Deer

• Noon to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at West Deer Township’s meeting room, 133 E. Union Road, West Deer

• Noon to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at UPMC Passavant Hospital’s Passavant Annex, 9100 Babcock Blvd., McCandless

• 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15 at Fox Chapel High School’s LGI Room, 611 Field Club Road, Fox Chapel

• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at St. Matthew’s lyceum, 106 North Ave., Millvale

• 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at AHN-Wexford Hospital, 12351 Perry Highway, Pine

Vitalant also regularly schedules collection dates at its Cranberry Donation Center, Butler Centre, Second Floor, 20421 Route 19; Pittsburgh Fox Chapel Donation Center at One Alexander Center, Suite 207, 2585 Freeport Road; and Pittsburgh North Hills Donation Center at McKnight North Professional Center, Suite 600, 9365 McKnight Road, McCandless.

To make an appointment and find other locations, visit vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

To have your news or event listed, email editor Marje Horvath at mhorvath@triblive.com.