Reserve sets 2026 schedule of events

Reserve commissioners have approved five events for 2026.

The events are:

• Easter egg hunt: Saturday, March 28, time to be determined, Reserve Volunteer Fire Department ballroom, 33 Lonsdale St.

• Spring cleanup day: Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m. at the township building parking lot, 33 Lonsdale St.

• Halloween parade: Saturday, Oct. 24, time to be determined, volunteer fire department ballroom

• Reserve Light Up: Friday, Dec. 4, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the township building parking lot

• Lunch with Santa: Sunday, Dec. 6, time to be determined, volunteer fire department ballroom

A monthly coffee and doughnuts with township Manager Jan Kowalski is held at 9 a.m. on Fridays before the monthly commissioners meetings. Commissioners regularly meet on the first Wednesday of each month.

Information on township events is available on the township’s website at reservetwp.com.

Deadline nears for Crawford Pool Bathhouse brick fundraiser

The deadline to order commemorative bricks that are part of the construction of a new bathhouse at Shaler’s Crawford Pool is Jan. 31.

The new bathhouse is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend. Included in the construction plan is a brick walkway along the bathhouse.

Personalized bricks cost $125 each. They include up to three lines with 16 characters, all caps, on each line.

Bricks can be ordered on the township’s website, shaler.org.

Volunteers sought to tidy up trail in Millvale

The first Trail Care Thursday of 2026 in Millvale will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 22.

Volunteers will gather at Millvale Riverfront Park, 70 River Front Drive, to collect litter along the Millvale section of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and surrounding areas, remove stickers and graffiti from amenitites, cut vines or undesired vegetation and perform other general trail maintenance.

Helpers are advised to dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes, long pants and layered sleeves that can be removed. The work will take place through light to moderate rain. Everyone should bring a reusable water bottle as water will not be available on-site. All other project supplies and equipment will be provided.

To register, visit friendsoftheriverfront.org/event/trail-care-thursday-millvale-2.

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email. An additional email will be sent the day before the workday with project details; registration after noon will not receive the details email.

For questions, contact Ashley Martin, trail stewardship program manager, at ashley@friendsoftheriverfront.org.

Community invited to free meal on Groundhog Day

Whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow on Feb. 2, everyone is welcome to join neighbors and friends for a free Community Meal from 5 to 7 p.m. that day at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1719 Mt. Royal Blvd., Shaler.

The menu will include stuffed shells, salad, bread and desserts.

Free meals are served at Bethlehem on the first Monday of each month. The next one after February’s meal will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 2.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Church to provide Ashes to Go on Feb. 18

On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, Glenshaw Presbyterian Church, 300 Glenn Ave., will offer Ashes to Go.

People will be able to drive through the church’s portico from noon to 5 p.m. to receive the cross of ashes.

In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a cross of ashes on the forehead at the beginning of the Lenten season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive God’s forgiveness.

Ashes to Go is about bringing the important tradition of Ash Wednesday out from behind church walls and into the places where we go every day. As people become busier, the church wants to offer the receiving of ashes in a new, non-traditional and convenient way.

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.

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