In brief: Richland Splash Pad opens, garden club volunteers needed and more in Pine, Richland

The Splash Pad at Richland Park is now open for the season.

Weather permitting, the popular water playground for kids operates daily from 10 a.m. to noon, 1 to 3 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The season runs through Sept. 6.

The splash pad and playground are located near the baseball fields.

Richland Park is located at 1157 Sterling Drive in Bakerstown.

Garden club volunteers

The Richland Township Garden Club is looking for a group of volunteers who are interested in starting a Richland Township Garden Club to manage four areas at Richland Community Park. These areas will include the barn planting beds, pavilion planting beds and two new areas located near the new concession stand.

If interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Melissa Williams mwilliams@richland.pa.us or call 724-443-5921.

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Vacation Bible school

Ascension Lutheran Church at 8225 Peebles Road in McCandless is hosting a vacation Bible school on July 12-15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Kids entering Pre-K to sixth grade are invited to enjoy making crafts, playing games, making music and learning what the Bible says about the one true God. Register at ascensionpgh.myanswers.com/mystery-island.

Gibsonia author hosting book launch party

A Gibsonia woman who has authored a book titled“Thriving in a Digital World: A Workable Plan For Taking Back the Reins Of Your Family” is hosting a launch party on June 19 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Christina Avallone decided to write the book after hosting an event called Parenting in a Digital World that drew more than 500 people.

The book provides practical advice to help families find a way to balance technology with everyday living.

Avallone began teaching the course after leaving a a successful career to stay at home to raise her two daughters. She said she discovered that much of the “discipline and order” she used in the corporate world translated into managing a household.

“The essential landscape of how we rear our children has changed,” she says. “I used to talk with my kids when they were in their strollers. Children played outside with other children in real life.

“Now I see parents on their phones and the kids are playing by themselves or worse yet, playing on a device,” Avallone says. “I have long felt a burden to share how we can parent differently, how we can take back the reins of our family. This is a message of hope not condemnation.”

The open house is being held at 330 Ivy Drive, Gibsonia.

Avallone’s book is available on Amazon.

At the library

Northern Tier Library has expanded its hours as follows: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., The library is closed on Sundays.

The library is open for browsing. Computer use no longer requires an appointment and is limited to one two-hour session per day.

New mask requirements (per CDC guidelines) are as follows: If you are fully vaccinated, you are not required to wear a mask.

If you are not fully vaccinated, please wear a mask for your own protection as well as the safety of others.

Please remember that children have not had the chance to be vaccinated. For their safety, masks should be worn in the children’s department.

Women’s Business Network meetings

Guests are welcome to attend a meeting at no cost. At the time of publication, many meetings are being held virtually; please check with the local chapter representative for more information. To learn more, visit wbninc.com.

The Cranberry Chapter holds regular meetings the first and third Thursday of each month from 7:30 to 9 a.m.. The next meeting is June 17. For more information, contact Cynthia Wood at 724-316-3427.

The Criders Corners Chapter holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from noon to 1:15 p.m. The next meeting is June 22. For more information, contact Sherri Walker at 412-760-9601.

The All Virtual Chapter holds regular meetings via Zoom on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to attend at no cost. For more information call Jennifer Pasquale at 412-908-1663.

9th Annual Young Writers Institute

The Fellow of the Western PA Writing Project is holding its ninth Young Writers Institute this summer for rising fifth through seventh graders.

The Institute will be the week of July 26-30 from 9 a.m. to noon in Wexford at Atlas Art Studio, 75 Shenot Road.

It will feature guest writer Cameron Barrett from Pittsburgh, who has won numerous awards as a poet. The Westmoreland Museum also will visit, and participants will write about some art.

To register, visit AtlasArtPress.com/shop/ywi. For more information, email Kathy at kathyanngiegel@gmail.com.