In brief: Happenings across the Shaler Journal area

Backyard habitat program open to Millvale residents

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is offering free native plants and habitat help to Millvale residents.

Its Certified Backyard Habitat program is available for free to the Millvale community thanks to support from The Pittsburgh Foundation. However, space is limited.

An information session about the program is planned for 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Ave.

Enrollment in the program includes:

• A site visit from one of our habitat advisers;

• A custom report with resources tailored to your property;

• Delivery of hand-selected native plants valued at $125;

• A Certified Backyard Habitat sign provided upon completion.

The program aims to help residents create a space that supports birds, pollinators and wildlife right at home, whether one has a full backyard or just some space to place a few containers outside your windowsill.

For details, contact the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania at 412-963-6100 or email cbh@aswp.org.

Sidewalk eyed for Wetzel Road in Shaler

Shaler is pursuing installing a sidewalk on the southern side of part of Wetzel Road.

A parks and recreation study recommended a sidewalk be placed on Wetzel from Mount Royal Boulevard to Meyer Road, the entrance to Kiwanis Park.

The township will be sending letters to owners of the nine homes along that part of the road about working out agreements for the sidewalk, said Tim Rogers, who recently left as manager consultant. The township will schedule a meeting with those residents in the near future.

The sidewalk would be installed at no cost to property owners, Rogers said. Residents would be responsible for future maintenance, including snow removal.

The sidewalk would be built in 2026, Rogers said.

Millvale Days to include car cruise, wrestling

The 2025 Millvale Days will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 12 and noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 13.

There will be live music, a car cruise, games, KSWA Wrestling, volleyball, an activity area for children and more.

Stop by the Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Ave., for games and special treats.

Vendor permit applications are available online at millvalepa.com/things-do/pages/millvale-days.

Check out the official Millvale Days 2025 page on Facebook for details as they become available.

Free vaccine clinic set for cats, dogs

Animal Friends is offering a free vaccine clinic for cats and dogs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 5 at Millvale Riverfront Park, 70 Riverfront Ave.

Free services offered include shots for rabies, DHPP, FVRCP and Lepto. There also will be free pet food while supplies last.

Additional services and their respective fees include:

• Microchipping: $11

• Flea treatments: Seresto collars, $55-$65; ParaDefense (dog topical), $10; ParaMonthly (cat topical), $8

All cats must be in a secure carrier, with one cat per carrier.

All dogs must be on a sturdy, nonretractable leash.

There is a limit of three pets per person due to limited space.

Free community meal to celebrate summer’s end

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1719 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler, is hosting a free end-of-summer community meal from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8.

Everyone is welcome to kick back and enjoy some fellowship with a summertime picnic menu of hamburgers, hot dogs with all the fixings, side dishes and dessert.

While September’s meal is taking place the week after Labor Day, the meals for the rest of the year will continue to be served on the first Monday of each month. The next meal will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 6.

For details, visit belc.org. For questions, call the church office at 412-486-0550.

Public invited to learn about area’s Native Americans

The Richland History Group invites the public to a free program, “Homelands: Native Americans of Allegheny,” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown (FPCB), 5825 Heckert Road, Richland.

Michael I. Burke, curator and assistant director of the Fort Pitt Museum, will discuss the history of Western Pennsylvania’s Native Americans, specifically those who inhabitied Pittsburgh’s North Hills area along Route 8.

Serving the Heinz History Center since 2012, Burke has designed numerous award-winning exhibits, specializes in colonial Western Pennsylvania history and is an expert on the region’s original habitants.

Following the presentation, Nelson Crooks, an elder and historian with the 1867 FPCB, will provide a brief church history and tour of its sanctuary.

The church has easy access off Route 8, a large parking lot and is wheelchair accessible.

There will be a display and free copies of 21 of the Richland History Group’s published articles about area history.

Advanced registration is not required, but the Richland History Group would appreciate it for planning purposes.

To register, call 724-443-1112 and provide your name and the number attending.

Ballet school plans open house with free classes

The Three Rivers School of Classical Ballet invites families in the Greater Pittsburgh area to an open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 30 at its new studio at 420 Perry Highway, West View.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet instructors, register for fall classes and have photos taken with a ballerina.

Several free classes will be offered during the event: Creative Movement at 9 a.m. for ages 2 to 5; Placement Class I at 10 a.m. for ages 5 to 7; and Placement Class II at 11 a.m. for those 8 and older.

Three Rivers School of Classical Ballet, the official school of the Conservatory of Dance Arts, offers classes in four divisions: Children’s Division (ages 2 to 7), Student Division (Levels I to IV), Conservatory Program (pre-professional students) and the Open Division (adults and recreational students 12 and older).

The school is under the guidance of artistic director/ballet master Christopher Fellows and provides professionally taught classes, live performances, educational outreach and artistic excellence through the medium of dance.

Outreach collecting coats, accessories for kids

North Hills Community Outreach is collecting new coats for children ages infant to 18 from Sept. 1 through Oct. 16.

New hats, scarves and gloves also are being accepted.

Gift cards to purchase coats are welcome as well.

The outerwear will be distributed in the fall to area children in need.

Donations can be dropped off 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.

Coats and accessories also can be ordered through the NHCO Winter Coat Shop wishlist on Amazon at tinyurl.com/ypc74ws9 and shipped directly to the nonprofit.