In brief: Happenings across the North Hills Journal area

Homecoming game scheduled for Oct. 10

The North Hills School District invites the community to cheer on its varsity football during the annual homecoming game Oct. 10 at Martorelli Stadium, 5336 Perrysville Ave., West View.

The Indians will take on Shaler at 7 p.m.

This year’s homecoming court nominees will be recognized and the king and queen crowned before kick off. The ceremony will start around 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for the game will be available online.

65th annual band festival to feature 10 schools

North Hills will host the 65th annual North Hills Marching Band Festival on Sept. 20 at Martorelli Stadium.

The show will begin at 6 p.m., and gates will open at 4:45.

In addition to North Hills, participating schools include Chartiers Valley, East Fairmont, Fort Cherry, Moniteau, Montour, North Allegheny, Northgate, Riverside Beaver County and South Allegheny.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children 5 and younger.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate with cash or a credit card.

Ross looks to hire fire services director by Christmas

Ross hopes to hire its first director of fire services by Christmas, Commissioner Dan DeMarco said.

Commissioners, at their Sept. 15 meeting, were expected to approve creating the position along with the new Department of Fire Services.

It is being done as part of a revamp of the township’s fire services following a study by Robb Consulting.

The department will lead and coordinate all fire-rescue and related emergency services in Ross. The director, the highest-ranking fire services officer of the township, will be a managerial position appointed by commissioners, with a $75,000 annual salary.

The director will be expected to develop and enforce standard operating guidelines among the township’s volunteer fire departments.

A fire marshal would also be appointed. That person will lead the investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of fires and explosions. The fire services director and township manager will create a job description for the position of fire marshal.

Ross accepting nominations for ‘Citizen of the Year’ award

Nominations for the 2025 Durachko-Gottfried Ross Township Citizen of the Year are being accepted.

Founded in 2019, the award is presented each year to a township individual or group who has made a meaningful and significant impact on the community.

The deadline to nominate an individual or group is 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. One candidate will be given the award at the Dec. 15 commissioners meeting.

For more information and a nomination form, visit ross.pa.us/397/Durachko-Gottfried-Citizen-of-the-Year-A.

Community invited to annual International Day of Peace event

The annual North Hills International Day of Peace Celebration is planned for 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 21 at Point Grove in North Park.

This year’s theme is “Act Now for a Peaceful World” and remembers Sister Elizabeth “Betty” Sundry, who died June 1 at age 88. Sundry, a member of the Sisters of Divine Providence, was involved in many social justice efforts.

The event aims to promote peace and cultural diversity through entertainment, personal stories, information tables, food samplings, activities and a flag ceremony.

The gathering is hosted by AAUW North Hills Pittsburgh, Sisters of Divine Providence, La Roche University, North Hills Ebony Women Inc., Muslim Association of Pittsburgh, YWCA Greater Pittsburgh and members of the North Hills communities.

For details, email diversity@laroche.edu.

Annual Dragon Boat Festival planned at North Park Lake

The Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team invites the community to a day of thrilling races, vibrant entertainment, delicious food and family fun at its annual Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival.

The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at North Park Lake in McCandless.

This year’s family-friendly festival will feature spirited races with community teams, sport teams, youth teams, para-paddlers and teams of cancer survivors battling it out for glory.

There also will be cultural performances such as the lion dance, family-friendly activities, vendor booths and food trucks.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit Pittsburgh Hearts of Steel, an all-breast cancer survivor dragon boat team founded in 2017. With members ranging from ages 24 to 80, Hearts of Steel brings together survivors from diverse backgrounds to promote full and active lives through the empowering sport of dragon boating.

To learn more about the team, visit heartsofsteelpittsburgh.org.

Hard-to-recycle collections set for fall

The Pennsylvania Resources Council is hosting two hard-to-recycle collection events this fall to enable area residents to responsibly recycle a variety of items not accepted in curbside collection, including e-waste, tires and small Freon appliances.

These events, held in partnership with the Allegheny County Health Department, will take place at two locations:

• Settlers Cabin Park, 635 Ridge Road, Robinson: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 27

• Northgate Senior High School, 589 Union Ave., Bellevue: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18; this collection is sponsored by the Quaker Valley Council of Governments.

There is a $5 per car participant fee, as well as some per-item fees, all of which are paid on-site by cash, check or credit card.

The $5 participant fee includes the unlimited disposal of CPU (towers), laptops, mice and keyboards; home phones and cellphones; tablets and backup power devices, servers, routers and modems; DVD players, VCRs and stereos; microwaves; copiers and scanners; electronic cables; video game consoles; and expanded polystyrene packaging material.

Additional per-item fees are required for tires, $5 without rims and $12 with rims; computer monitors, $20; televisions, $35 to $45; printers, $5; small appliances containing Freon, such as window air-conditioning units and dehumidifiers, $10; and fluorescent tubes, $2 per 4-foot tube.

For a complete list, visit prc.org.

Participants must register in advance online at prc.org/CollectionEvents or by calling 412-488-7490.

The 2025 hard-to-recycle collection campaign is sponsored by the Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Parks Department, Colcom Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 11 Cares, Pennsylvania American Water, Quaker Valley Council of Governments, Styropek, 90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP.

Lions organizing oldies dance Oct. 11

The Elfinwild Lions Club is sponsoring an oldies dance from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at St. Ursula’s Hall, Duncan Avenue, Hampton.

Tickets are $25 per person and include beer, pop, water and a light buffet. Jan Smith will be the disc jockey.

For tickets, visit the Shaler North Hills Library, 1822 Mt. Royal Blvd., or call 412-487-1888.

Community Day to include fun for all ages Sept. 27

The Ross Parks and Recreation Department invites everyone to celebrate Community Day from 3 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Ross Township Community Center, 100 Ross Municipal Drive.

There will be live music, inflatables, activities, vendors, a Touch-A-Truck, caricature and balloon artists, a magician and more.

A parking shuttle will be available.

Garden club to explore Beatrix Potter

The Ingomar Garden Club will gather for its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 1 at Northmont Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless.

The 10:30 a.m. business meeting will be followed by an 11:30 lunch and a program, “Introducing Beatrix Potter,” presented by Ann Troxler of the Beatrix Potter Society. Society members have been delivering Beatrix Potter talks since 2005 to adult groups worldwide, teaching about her works and how her legacy continues to impact us today.

Prospective members are welcome to attend.

For details, visit ingomargardenclub.com.

Seminar aims to teach financial independence

Bob Gordon of McCandless, founder of My Dream Life, is hosting a 10-session seminar to help people looking to live their “dream life,” one that is free of financial and time constraints.

“Living Life on Your Terms: Being Financially Independent” will be held in the event room at Ruckus Cafe, 1707 Babcock Blvd., Shaler.

The sessions will meet from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22; Nov. 5, 19 and 26; and Dec. 3, 10 and 17.

Tuition is $150 and is due at the time of registration.

Participants must register before attending the first session and must be on time for each session.

Gordon has been making a difference in the disability community for many years and empowering people through leadership programs and other businesses. Now 75, he is looking to share how everyone can live a “fully expressed life,” which he has been doing since he was 33.

“I firmly believe that what people really want is to make a difference. And when they have their basic survival income handled, they are free to make that difference,” Gordon said.

To register and to learn more about the program, visit my-dreamlife.com.

Church plans flea market, clothing and bake sale

The community is invited to help support three groups at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Perrysville as they combine efforts to boost local and national charities and community service projects.

A flea market, clothing closet and bake sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 4 at the lower-level rear entrance to the church, 920 Perry Highway, Ross.

The semiannual flea market, organized by the men of the congregation, will feature more than 25 participating vendors.

The Christian Closet is run by the women of the church. For a minimum donation of $5, visitors can fill a provided bag with their selections of gently worn clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children.

And everyone is welcome to visit the front counter, where the youths of the church will be selling homemade baked goods as well as breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, chips and soda.

For details, call the church office at 412-364-6626.

Sisters selling Lucky Number tickets for 2026

The Sisters of Divine Providence are selling 2026 Lucky Number tickets.

The fundraiser is based on the Pick 3 evening Pennsylvania Lottery game. Each $25 number is valid for the entire year — from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026.

Daily winners receive a minimum of $25 up to $150 on select days throughout the year when their three-digit number is chosen. Gift orders are available.

To participate in the 2026 Lucky Number fundraiser, visit cdpsisters.org/LuckyNumber or call 412.635.5401.

The fundraiser supports the ministries and mission of the Sisters of Divine Providence, 9000 Babcock Blvd., McCandless.

Safe2Say program important tool for school safety

As a new school year kicks off, state lawmakers are reminding students, parents and community members about Safe2Say Something, a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.

Safe2Say Something teaches youths and adults how to recognize the warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” before it is too late, according to safe2saypa.org.

People can report an anonymous tip by phone at 1-844-SAF2SAY (1-844-723-2729), online at safe2saypa.org or through the Safe2Say app. A crisis center reviews, assesses and processes all submissions. In case of an emergency, call 911.

Among the statistics noted on the organization’s website:

• 1 million students reported being harassed, threatened or subjected to other forms of cyberbullying.

• 80% of school shooters told someone of their violent plans; 59% told more than one person.

• 70% of people who died by suicide told someone of their plans and gave some other warning sign.

Taco Tuesday fundraiser to benefit Blessing Board

The Blessing Board is hosting a Taco Tuesday fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 23 at Shaler Plaza, 880 Butler St.

The cost is $50 per person and $35 per person for groups of eight or more.

Admission includes a meal from the Los Gallitos food truck, tickets for two margaritas or beers from Dancing Gnome, soft drinks and water, and dessert from Oakmont Bakery.

All proceeds benefit the Blessing Board, a nonprofit celebrating its 15th anniversay of providing free furniture, household items and home medical equipment to people in need.

Participants must be 21 or older.

Registration is required by Sept. 18. To register, visit tinyurl.com/bdzn77wp.

For questions, call 412-423-6074 or email finance@theblessingboard.org.

Blood donors sought

The need for blood donors persists, and the American Red Cross and Vitalant are encouraging people to help.

Donations of all blood types are crucial year-round, especially type O, the most frequently transfused blood type. O-negative blood can be given to patients of any blood type, while O-positive can help most patients.

Here are a few nearby Red Cross blood drives:

• Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Allegheny County Public Safety Training Campus, 700 W. Ridge Road, McCandless

• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at Northgate High School, 589 Union Ave., Bellevue

• 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3832 Gibsonia Road, Richland

• 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 23 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – St. Athanasius Church, 7 Chalfonte Ave., West View

• 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at Keystone Summit Park, 3000 Ericsson Drive, Marshall

• Noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 31 at Christ Lutheran Church, 917 Evergreen Ave., Millvale

To find a Red Cross location and to learn more about blood donation, including eligibility information, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Vitalant operates about 115 donation centers nationwide and is hosting drives at several locations in the North Hills area this month, including:

• 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Bloodmobile at Bruster’s Ice Cream of Ingomar, 9600 Perry Highway, McCandless.

• Noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at Richland Township’s activity room, 4019 Dickey Road, Richland.

• 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church, 2230 Rochester Road, Franklin Park.

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at Triumph Church, 1293 Mt. Nebo Road, Ohio Township.

• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at Deer Lakes High School’s gym, 163 E. Union Road, West Deer.

• Noon to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at West Deer Township’s meeting room, 133 E. Union Road, West Deer.

• Noon to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at UPMC Passavant Hospital’s Passavant Annex, 9100 Babcock Blvd., McCandless.

• 7:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15 at Fox Chapel High School’s LGI Room, 611 Field Club Road, Fox Chapel.

• 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at St. Matthew’s lyceum, 106 North Ave., Millvale.

• 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at AHN-Wexford Hospital, 12351 Perry Highway, Pine.

Vitalant also regularly schedules collection dates at its Cranberry Donation Center, Butler Centre, Second Floor, 20421 Route 19; Pittsburgh Fox Chapel Donation Center at One Alexander Center, Suite 207, 2585 Freeport Road; and Pittsburgh North Hills Donation Center at McKnight North Professional Center, Suite 600, 9365 McKnight Road, McCandless.

To make an appointment and find other locations, visit vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Farmers Market runs through Sept. 25

The annual Farmers Market at The Block Northway 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.

The next special themed events will be:

• 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.

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