In brief: Happenings in the Pine Creek Journal area

Richland fire station plans open house

The Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department, which has been serving the community since 1948, is planning an open house from 6 to 9 p.m. July 14 at the station, 5857 Meridian Road.

Attendees will be able to explore various equipment, participate in live demonstrations such as putting out a fake fire, and learn how to get involved with the department.

Fire trucks will be on display, and there will be food trucks and beverages.

All are invited to attend.

Center offers special fitness memberships for college students

College students who are home for the summer are invited to stay fit this summer at the Pine Community Center, 100 Pine Park Drive.

The center offers three-month summer memberships, which includes use of the fully equipped fitness center, an indoor track, top-notch strength and cardio equipment, and access to all fitness amenities.

The VIP membership also includes access to more than 40 group fitness classes each week.

The fitness-only membership costs $105 for Pine residents and $150 for nonresidents.

The VIP membership is $165 for residents and $210 for nonresidents.

To sign up, stop by the center and bring your student ID.

Highpointe at Rebecca announces free summer concerts

Highpointe at Rebecca recently announced the lineup of its free Summer Soundtrack Concert Series, running June through September at the retirement living community, 1871 Highpointe Lane in West Deer.

Each concert will begin at 3 p.m. with guided tours, followed by the performance and a happy hour at 3:30. Concerts will be held outdoors in Highpointe’s courtyard, weather permitting, or indoors if necessary. The concerts, refreshments and parking are free.

• June 20: “The Ukelele Lady” Tracy Lee Simmen. Simmen blends rock, blues, pop and standards, accompanied by guitar or ukulele.

• July 18: Miss Freddye’s Homecookin’ Band. Pittsburgh’s “Lady of the Blues” and her acoustic band performs a mix of blues, gospel, rock and a touch of country.

• Aug. 15: The Highlife Band. The band has been delivering high-energy hits from the ’60s, ’70s and beyond for over a decade, featuring favorites by The Beatles, Eagles, Rolling Stones and more.

• Sept. 12: John Patrick Heiserman. Heiserman performs a range of genres, from classical to modern hits, blending guitar, vocals and storytelling.

Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

To RSVP for any of the free concerts, call admissions counselor Julie Spirnock at 724-444-1521.

Free concerts lined up at Ross Park Mall

Ross Park Mall, 1000 Ross Park Mall Drive, will host a series of Wind Down Wednesday events featuring local acoustic musicians throughout the summer.

People are invited to unwind from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on select Wednesdays near entrance No. 1 by L.L. Bean or on the patios of Wigle Whiskey, Plaza Azteca or The Cheesecake Factory. The three eateries will offer happy-hour options, and L.L. Bean will provide yard games for attendees.

In the case of inclement weather, the performance will take place inside the mall, near Starbucks.

Wind Down Wednesday kicked off June 11 with Darren Miller. Here is the remaining lineup:

• June 25: Bill Purse

• July 9: Abby Abbondanza

• July 23: The Rust Project, Acoustic Duo

• Aug. 6: Dan Styslinger

• Aug. 20: Samantha Sears

• Aug. 27: Scott Blasey

Parish plans flea market in July

SS. Martha & Mary Parish are hosting a flea market from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 11 and 12 at St. Richard Church’s social hall, 3841 Dickey Road, Richland.

A half-price sale will run from noon to 3 p.m. July 12.

There will be a huge selection of kitchen and dining items, jewelry, purses, books, toys, holiday and home decor, and much more.

The flea market is one of the parish’s largest fundraisers.

Pine Community Day set for June 21

Pine will celebrate Community Day starting at 2 p.m. June 21.

There will be bounce houses, a EuroBungy, rock climbing wall, multiple stage performances with No Bad Juju as the headliner, a Wild World of Animals show, a petting zoo, train rides, children’s games, craft vendors, food vendors and craft beer vendors for adults.

The event will conclude with fireworks.

The township also is looking for businesses and organizations to help sponsor the event. Sponsorship opportunities range from $200 to $10,000. To sign up as a sponsor, visit twp.pine.pa.us/DocumentCenter/View/4484/Pine-Community-Day-Sponsor-Form-2025.

Checks should be made payable and mailed to Township of Pine, 100 Pine Park Drive, Pine, PA 15090.

Arts center plans summer solstice bash

The North Hills Arts Center invites the community to celebrate the longest day of the year with a Summer Solstice Raku Party from 6 to 10 p.m. June 20.

The rain date will be June 21.

Participants can purchase a bisque pottery piece made by one of the center’s potters, glaze it and then watch it reach 2,000 degrees in the outdoor kiln.

While you wait for your piece to be fired, you can enjoy live music and refreshments, receive a free tarot card reading and view the Art for Animals gallery show, which runs through July 3 and benefits the Great Pyrenees Club of Western PA.

School supplies sought to help children in need

North Hills Community Outreach is seeking donations of school supplies through Aug. 10 for its Back to School project.

Last year, supplies were distributed to nearly 890 students, an increase compared to previous years.

Donations can be dropped off at any of its three offices from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month at its Allison Park site at 1975 Ferguson Road, Hampton.

Other locations are NHCO Millvale on the second floor of the Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., and at NHCO North Boroughs at Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

Items being collected include new backpacks, colored pencils, 24-pack crayons, erasers, glue sticks, highlighters and markers, loose-leaf paper, notebooks, binders, pens and pencils including mechanical ones, pencil boxes and sharpeners, pocket folders, rulers, scissors and Texas Instruments graphing calculators in working order for advanced high school science and math.

Donations also can be ordered from NHCO’s Amazon wishlist and sent directly to its office.

Farmers Market under way through September

The annual Farmers Market at The Block Northway kicks off June 5 and 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.

There will be special themed events each month:

• June 19: Kids’ Safety Event

• July 24: Christmas in July

• Aug. 14: Back to School

• 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.

Sellers are added throughout the season. Interested vendors are welcome to apply at https://bit.ly/4i3rsZb.

Fundraiser to benefit pet-owning veterans extended to July 4

Animal Friends is encouraging the community to help it reach its goal of raising $45,000 to support its Animal Friends for Veterans program.

Benefactors Robert Fragasso and Bill and Susan Follansbee have extended their Memorial Day matching gift challenge to help pet-owning veterans through July 4.

For every dollar donated, an additional 50 cents will be added, up to $15,000.

Animal Friends for Veterans, funded by the Major Ben Follansbee Memorial Fund, helps rescue pets become loyal companions to veterans facing PTSD, isolation and the transition to civilian life.

The program offers pet matchmaking services, pet food assistance, veterinary care, emergency boarding support and more for veterans in need.

For details about the program and to donate, visit ThinkingOutsideTheCage.org/programs-services/animal-friends-for-veterans.

Workshops to offer driving tips for teens

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

The workshops will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. June 10, Aug. 12 and Oct. 14 at the lower level of the Marshall Municipal Building, 525 Pleasant Hills Road.

The workshops 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 workshops are free thanks to funding by the NJM Insurance Group.

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

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