In brief: Happenings across the Pine Creek Journal area

Outreach looking to restock cereal, safety items

North Hills Community Outreach is seeking help to restock items for its Safety for Seniors program and its supply of cereal.

The Safety for Seniors program helps people 60 and older remain safe in the home of their choosing. Items needed include nonslip mats for bathtubs, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, night lights, flashlights, aerosol fire-extinguishing sprays and emergency fire blankets. To donate items via NHCO’s Amazon Wish List, visit tinyurl.com/ua6hy5nt.

Cereal can be dropped out at any of the organization’s offices during business hours or purchased via its Amazon Wish List at tinyurl.com/5yw7mu6h.

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any of NHCO’s three offices — its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

NHCO collecting toys for children in need

North Hills Community Outreach once again is collecting toys to ensure children in need have a memorable holiday.

The collection runs from Nov. 9 through Dec. 8.

Last year, 821 children received new toys, games and other gifts.

Here are a few toy and gift ideas: gift cards for clothing stores such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, etc. (teens love these); board games; puzzles and books; plush blankets; bath and body items; craft kits and art supplies; sports equipment; ear buds, phone chargers and other phone accessories; popular toys; and makeup kits.

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any of NHCO’s three offices — its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

Donors also can order from NHCO’s Amazon Wish List and have the gifts delivered directly to its offices.

Chorale to present music composed by women

The North Hills Chorale will present its Winter Concert, “Winter’s Alleluia,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at Vincentian’s St. Vincent Hall, 8150 McKnight Road, McCandless.

Celebrate the season with a moving selection of spiritual music composed by women, including works by our member Leslie Ward. We hope this inspiring music brings our community closer together during the holidays.

Free-will offerings are welcome to support the continued success of NHC. Please consider bringing a nonperishable food donation for the North Hills Community Outreach Food Pantry.

For details, visit nhchorale.com.

North Hills Chorale began as a CCAC noncredit class in 1993. The first concert presented by the group was in December 2003. It gained nonprofit status in 2011.

Bear sightings noted

Richland officials are alerting residents about black bear sightings and cautioning residents about birdfeeders outside their homes, which can lure the animals.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the oil in sunflowers and the fat in suet can lure bears, not to mention squirrels, from a considerable distance.

For additional information, visit bearwise.org to learn what you can do to help live responsibly with bears.

The state Game Commission is the reporting authority for when people see a bear in their neighborhood. The agency tracks the calls to see whether the bear is moving on or staying the in the area, usually due to a food source provided by humans.

To report a bear sighting, contact the state Game Commission’s centralized dispatch center for reporting at 1-833-PGC-WILD or 1-833-PGC-HUNT.

Police station has drop-off box for unused meds

Northern Regional Police Department has a drop-off box at its station, 230 Pearce Mill Road in Pine, where people can leave their unwanted or expired prescription medications at no charge.

Note the following list of what can be dropped off and what can’t be accepted.

These items are accepted: prescription patches, prescription medications, prescription ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, samples and medications for pets.

These items are not accepted: hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, nonprescription ointments, lotions and liquids, medication from businesses or clinics, needles (sharps) and thermometers.

For additional information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs website at pa.gov/agencies/ddap.

Changes coming to e-waste recycling in Pine

Beginning Jan. 1, e-waste drop-off services will no longer be available at the Pine Township Municipal Building or the Pine Community Center.

Residents who wish to recycle e-waste after this date must schedule a residential pickup directly with Vogel Disposal. Appointments will be required for all e-waste collections.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the current drop-off option before it ends on Dec. 31.

To schedule an e-waste pickup after Jan. 1, call Vogel Disposal Service at 724-625-1511, email customerservice@vogeldisposal.com or visit its website at vogeldisposal.com.

Updated information will appear on your November bill.

For additional information about trash and recycling services in Pine, visit the Trash Disposal & Recycling page at twp.pine.pa.us/221/Trash-Disposal-Recycling.

Seasonal events slate at Pine center

Pine’s Parks and Recreation Department is planning several seasonal events at the Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park Drive.

• Holiday Dazzle 2025: 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Kick off the holiday season with an evening of carriage rides, visit with Santa and his elves, food trucks, a fireworks display and more. The cost for ages 1 and older is $5. A full schedule of this event will be available on the township’s website.

• Santa’s Cocoa Corner: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5. Children are invited to step into a festive winter wonderland and enjoy hot cocoa, sweet treats and a magical meet-and-greet with Santa. Capture holiday memories, snap photos and share your wish list in this cozy, cheerful setting. Tickets are $8 per child, and there are two timeslots to choose from: 5:30 to 6:30 and 7 to 8 p.m.

• Local Apple Tasting and History of Soergel Orchards: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12. Back by popular demand, this event will include free tastings of apples from Soergel Orchards. Attendees will learn how different varieties taste and look and how to grow and harvest apples. New recipes will be shared. They also will learn about the agricultural history of the orchard. The event, which is free and open to everyone, is part of the Environmental Advistory Council’s speaker series and workshops.

To register for any of the above events, visit operations.daxko.com/Online/5450/ProgramsV2/Home.mvc and click on Special Events.

Science programs offered for children

• Preschool Science Adventure — Toys!: 3 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6. Children can test and learn how toys work by using various kinetic toys. Participants will explore the gravity, magnetism and balance of toys in this interactive program. Only 20 spots are available. The cost for Pine residents and nonresidents who are community center members is $20; for nonresidents, the cost is $23.

• Fun Science Fridays — Winter Wonderlab: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. For children 5 to 12, this program will have participants cheering and laughing at the experiments by MAD Science of Pittsburgh. There will be bubbling potions, shivering quarters, fog and more. Only 20 spots are available. The cost for Pine residents and nonresidents who are community center members is $27; for nonresidents, the cost is $29.

To register, visit perations.daxko.com/Online/5450/ProgramsV2/Home.mvc and click on Science & Enrichment.

For details, contact Gina Kampi at gkampi@twp.pine.pa.us or 724-625-1636.

OES announces 8th annual holiday craft show

The Norwood Herrington Chapter No. 356 Order of the Eastern Star will hold its eighth annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way (off Cemetery Lane), Ross.

Admission is free.

Everyone is welcome to start their holiday shopping with offerings from local vendors, including handcrafted items, unique gifts, sweets, jewelry, decor and apparel.

There also will be a large basket auction of items from the vendors at the show.

Richland schedules leaf pickup dates

Richland Township has announced its fall leaf pickup dates.

For residents whose Vogel collection day is Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, the next leaf collection will be Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.

For residents whose Vogel collection day is Thursday or Friday, the next leaf collection will be Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

This service is provided to reduce the impact of leaves on the municipal stormwater system, streams and wetlands.

Here are the rules:

• All bags must be curbside before 6 a.m. on the day of pickup;

• All leaves, garden residue and cuttings must be in biodegradable paper bags;

• Bags should weigh under 40 pounds;

• Tree trimmings — no larger than 3 inches in diameter and smaller than 48 inches in length — must be tied or bound into manageable bundles.

Garden club members to learn about possums

The Ingomar Garden Club will hold its next meeting Nov. 5 at Northmont Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless.

The 10:30 a.m. business meeting will be followed by a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and a program about possums.

Julie Travaglini, senior director of education and curriculum at the Allegheny Land Trust, will present “Awesome Opossums: Is It Possum or Opossum?” She will speak about the intriguing biology and ecological importance of the often-overlooked opossum.

Prospective members are welcome.

For details, visit ingomargardenclub.com.

Comic Book Show coming up in November

The Pittsburgh Comic Book Show is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at Crowne Plaza Hotel, 164 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park.

Special guests include Bob McCloud, co-creator of “The New Mutants”; Mike DeCarlo, legendary inker for “Batman” and DC Comics; and Tom DeFalco, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics from 1987-1994.

There will be more than 85 vendor tables, tens of thousands of comic back issues and the opportunity to trade paperbacks, slabs and rare and key issues.

General admission is $10, plus a 25-cent ticket service fee when purchased online. Tickets also will be sold at the door or can be purchased at Pop Culture Comics’ two locations — 1105 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Shaler and 3029 Sussex Ave. in Baldwin Township.

The show is free for children 12 and younger, first responders and military members (show military ID at the door).

For details and to purchase tickets, visit pittsburghcomicbookshow.com.

CCAC schedules fall event for community

CCAC’s North Campus, 8701 Perry Highway in McCandless, is hosting a Fall Community Day from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 5.

Everyone is welcome to join local community organizations, friends and neighbors for crafts, live music, food, games and more.

Complimentary light refreshments will be available.

For details about CCAC’s fall events schedule, visit ccac.edu/ccac-events/index.php.

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:

• 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.

Outreach collecting items for Thanksgiving dinner

North Hills Community Outreach is collecting items to provide a complete Thanksgiving dinner to families in need through Nov. 9.

Everyone can help by donating any or all of the following goods:

• Large box of stuffing mix

• Large box of instant mashed potatoes

• 15-ounce can of cranberry sauce or yams

• 16-ounce cans of vegetables

• Any dessert mix

• Box of corn muffin or biscuit mix

• Package of turkey gravy mix

• Package of napkins

• Grocery certificate for $25 or more (to purchase a turkey)

• Canvas shopping bag

Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at any of NHCO’s three offices — its main office at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton; the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave.; and Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon. Items also can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 1 at the Hampton location.

Next up will be the Holiday Toy Collection, which takes place from Nov. 9-Dec. 8. Last year, 821 children received new toys, games and other gifts for the holidays. For a list of suggested items to donate and a link to NHCO’s Amazon wish list, visit nhco.org/sharing-project-donations.

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