Donations sought for Veterans Memorial in Pine

The Friends of Pine Community Parks is seeking the community’s help in raising $200,000 for a Veterans Memorial in the township.

Donations, no matter the size, will help support the creation and preservation of the memorial. Every donor will be recognized at the memorial’s grand opening event.

Several donation levels will be honored with a permanent plaque at the memorial: bronze sponsor ($250-$499); silver sponsor ($500-$999); gold sponsor ($1,000-$1,999); and platinum sponsor ($2,000 and up).

Each plaque will include the donor’s name.

Donations can be submitted online at givebutter.com/UQvRBD. Checks made payable to Friends of Pine Community Parks also can be mailed or dropped off at the Pine Municipal Building, 230 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford, PA 15090, or the Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park Drive, Wexford, PA 15090.

For details, visit twp.pine.pa.us/571/Veterans-Memorial-Donations.

Pine collecting toys until Dec. 10 for Lighthouse Foundation

Pine Township is collecting new, unopened toys or gift cards through Dec. 10 to benefit the Lighthouse Foundation Toy Shoppe and bring some holiday cheer to local children and families.

Items can be dropped off at either the Pine Municipal Building, 230 Pearce Mill Road, or Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park Drive.

The township extends its gratitude to Print King Inc. and Eleven Eleven Gifts for organizing the initiative and providing the community with the opportunity to give back this holiday season.

Retiring Spanish teacher recognized

A retiring Pine-Richland High School Spanish teacher is being recognized upon her retirement after nearly 30 years with the district.

Lil Glaser will retire in early January.

Glaser began her career at Pine-Richland Middle School in 1996 and has taught at the high school since 1997.

From 2002 to 2006, she served as World Language Department chair and was instrumental in establishing the advanced placement Spanish program, which she taught for more than 20 years.

Glaser has led six student trips to Spain.

Glaser has a master of education degree with a specialization in learning disabilities and certifications in Spanish and special education. Before joining Pine-Richland, she taught special education.

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.

Winter heating assistance program opens enrollment

The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, has opened enrollment for the season, offering one-time cash grants to qualifying applicants to help with home heating bills or emergency repairs.

Households can apply through April 10 or until the funds are exhausted.

This season’s grants range from $200 to $1,000.

The income eligibility limit for the 2025-26 program is 150% of the federal income guidelines. A family of four can earn an income up to $48,225 and qualify.

Residents can apply at compass.state.pa.us or by calling 866-857-7095.

Pine-Richland accepts pavilion donation for Eden Hall

The Pine-Richland School Board has accepted the donation of a cedar pavilion for the outdoor classroom at Eden Hall Upper Elementary School.

The school’s parent-teacher organization is gifting the pavilion, valued at $56,000. It had also been part of a partnership that saw the outdoor classroom opened in September 2023.

The pavilion will be built by D’n A Custom Home Builders and contractor Michael J. Perry. The board’s approval was contingent on Perry getting needed permits from Richland. The cost includes delivery, site preparation, all materials, assembly and installation.

Covering the outdoor classroom will allow it to be used throughout the year and regardless of weather, Eden Hall Principal Colleen Berezo said.

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.

Drive-in holiday laser show planned in North Park

Allegheny County Parks is hosting a one-of-a-kind drive-in Holiday Laser Show from Dec. 17-23 at the pool parking lot in North Park.

The 40-minute light show will be synchronized to holiday music.

Showtimes are offered at 6:30, 8 and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $30 per vehicle, and all sales are final. Each ticket, which will be issued via QR code, is nonrefundable and cannot be exchanged for another date or time.

To purchase a ticket, visit alleghenycounty.us/Parks-and-Events/Special-Events/Holiday-Laser-Show.

In the event of cancellation due to inclement weather, participants will be notified via email. Updates also will be posted on the Allegheny County Parks Facebook page.

Ice rink open through Feb. 28

The Dick’s House of Sport outdoor ice rink at Ross Park Mall is open through Feb. 28.

Free skate trainers also are on-site to help everyone feel confident on the ice.

The cost is $10 per person; skate rental is $6 per person and can be purchased during check-in.

Open skate hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 to 8 p.m. Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The rink is closed on Christmas Day and from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3 for winter break. During the week of Christmas, the rink will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday.

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 appeared in the 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.

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 needs 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.

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

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