In brief: Happenings in the North Hills area

Citizens can learn about police

The Ross Township Police Department is still seeking participants for its second annual Citizen’s Police Academy.

The academy, which is free for 18 and older, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, starting Sept. 3 until Oct. 22.

Participants do not have to be a resident of Ross. It also is open to juniors and seniors at North Hills High School.

The academy will feature scenario-based hands-on training, CPR certification and basic self-defense. Participants will learn about patrol operations, criminal and civil law, court process and procedure, use of force, crime scenes, forensic investigation, drug familiarization, traffic stops, DUIs and accident reconstruction.

The first meeting will be held at the Ross Municipal Center, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive, with details to follow.

To learn more about the program and to sign up for an email when additional details become available, visit https://ross.pa.us/FormCenter/Police-4/2025-Citizens-Police-Academy-73.

For questions, contact Officer Donald Sypolt at 412-931-9070, ext. 155, or email him at dsypolt@rosspolice.com.

Center’s 2nd annual backpack giveaway is this weekend

Genesis Medical Associates: Heyl Family Practice is hosting its second annual Backpack Bonanza from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 9 at the West View location, 1020 Center Ave.

Once again, backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to children of ages.

The free event will include food and fun activities with local first responders.

The practice currently is collecting donations at both of its offices in an effort to support as many families as possible. The McCandless location is at 9104 Babcock Blvd., Suite 3111. Anyone who would like to help is invited to drop off school supplies at either site during office hours.

Trinity church invites community to picnic, parking lot dedication

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church – Gibsonia is hosting a community picnic following the dedication of its newly paved parking lot at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10 at the church, 3832 Gibsonia Road, located at the intersection of Route 910 and Dickey Road in Richland.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The dedication will celebrate a new, safer parking lot to welcome our neighbors who gather there to worship, vote, donate blood, support the clothing ministry and celebrate special events in the fellowship hall.

The congregation will provide fried chicken, pulled pork, various sides and desserts. Trinity’s youths will provide beverages to raise funds for their mission. There is no charge for the meal, but a free-will offering will be accepted.

There will be fun and games for all ages.

The congregation also invites its neighbors to join in its outreach. We are collecting:

• Food items and snacks for the local food bank;

• Hygiene products such as toothpaste, bath soap, incontinence products and dish soap for Abiding Mission in Allentown;

• Fall and winter clothing, especially coats and socks, for children, teens and adults to support Christ Lutheran Church in Millvale.

For questions, contact the church office at 724-443-8110.

School supply collection benefits North Hills students

A Stuff the Bus school supply collection benefiting North Hills School District students will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Aug. 21 at The Block Northway, between DSW and Land’s End.

Supplies needed include pens and pencils, pencil boxes, sharpeners, highlighters, markers, binders, pocket folders, graphing calculators, loose leaf paper, notebooks, 24-pack crayons, erasers, glue sticks, new backpacks, rulers, scissors and colored pencils.

Those unable to participate in the collection but wanting to contribute to the North Hills School District can make a financial donation to the North Hills Foundation at nhsd.net/community/foundation.

West View hosting blood drive Aug. 7

West View is planning a blood drive from 12:30 to 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at the West View Fireman’s Banquet Hall, 398 Perry Highway.

To schedule an appointment to donate, visit vitalant.org and search with account code 100562165 or by ZIP code or call 877-25VITAL (877-258-4825).

As an added incentive, everyone who donates through Vitalant from Aug. 1-28 will receive a $10 gift card and be entered in a chance to win one of three $10,000 gift cards.

Celebrate summer with a free concert

There are plenty of concerts left in Allegheny County’s 2025 summer concert series.

The free concerts, which run through Aug. 31, take place either at the Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater in Hampton or the South Park Amphitheater.

Here is the remaining lineup:

Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater

• July 27: Mat Kearney

• Aug. 3: Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets

• Aug. 10: KT Tunstall

• Aug. 17: Smash Mouth

• Aug. 24: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

• Aug. 31: Monty Alexander

South Park Amphitheater

• July 25: Ashley Cooke

• Aug. 1: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone

• Aug. 8: Over the Rhine

• Aug. 15: Robert Jon & the Wreck

• Aug. 22: Pittsburgh Honky-Tonk

• Aug. 29: Tamburitzans

5K to raise money for Free Care Fund

St. Barnabas Charities is hosting its 34th annual Free Care 5K on Aug. 2.

Presented by CIBC Bank USA, the race will begin at 9 a.m. at the St. Barnabas Gibsonia campus on Meridian Road.

Proceeds from the event support the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which provides $6 million in care to patients and residents every year.

Everyone is invited to participate. Competitive and amateur runners, joggers, walkers, teams, stroller pushers and wheelchair racers of all ages will enjoy a rolling 3.1 mile out and back course.

No pets, smoking or inline skates are permitted.

The Free Care 5K will feature ChampionChip Timing, a start line corral, USA Track & Field certification, as well as medals awarded for all ages.

A post-race party will be held after the race featuring raffle prizes, food and the awards ceremony.

Registration is $30 per person before Aug. 2 and $35 per person on race day.

To register, visit FreeCare5K.com or call 724-625-3770. Volunteer opportunities also are available.

To donate to the Free Care Fund, TEXT the word GIVE to 41444.

Participants, sponsors sought for 5K/walk

The North Boroughs 5K and Walk benefiting North Hills Community Outreach and the Northgate Cross Country Team is scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 9 at Greenstone United Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Avalon.

The 1-mile walk will start at 8 a.m. and runners in the 5K will start at 8:15.

The cost is $35 for the 5K and $20 for the walk, plus a small transaction fee.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. on the day of the race for those who need to sign up or pick up their bib.

Participants are encouraged to stick around after the race for door prizes and giveaways.

This is a pet friendly event.

To view and download a course map and for details on how to become a sponsor, visit nhco.org/north-boroughs-5k.

For questions, email Angie at amspess@nhco.org.

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.

Here is the remaining lineup:

• July 23: The Rust Project, Acoustic Duo

• Aug. 6: Dan Styslinger

• Aug. 20: Samantha Sears

• Aug. 27: Scott Blasey

‘Snow White’ to be shown in Denny Park

Parks and Recreation officials in Ross will show the movie “Snow White” at sunset on Aug. 16 in Denny Park.

Bring your family and friends, as well as chairs, blankets and snacks, and enjoy a free night out under the stars.

Richland to screen family-friendly movies

Free family-oriented movies will be shown during the summer in Richland Township Community Park, 214 Estates Drive, at the pavilion area across from the barn.

The movies start at dusk, between 8:30 or 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Popcorn and bottled water will be sold. A small box of popcorn costs $1, and a large one is $2. Water is $1.

Here is the remaining lineup:

• July 24: “Moana 2”

• Aug. 14: “IF”

In the event of rain, movies will be canceled.

Local musicians sought for gallery openings

The North Hills Arts Center, 3432 Babcock Blvd. in Ross, is looking for local musicians to highlight at gallery show openings.

If you are interested in playing at one of our events, email execdirector@northhillsartcenter.org

Include information about who you are and what you do.

Discounted tickets available for area amusement parks

Discounted amusement tickets for several area parks are available at the Ross Township Community Center’s reception desk during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Call 412-931-7055 to confirm the ticket availability for Idlewild & SoakZone ($40, 3 and older), Kennywood ($43, 4 and older) Sandcastle ($35, 4 and older) and Waldameer & Water World in Erie ($42, combo pass, all ages and heights). Discounted tickets to these parks are available by clicking on the Discount Tickets link at ross.pa.us/223/Discounted-Amusement-Tickets.

The Ross Township Parks and Recreation Department is a member of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society. Through this partnership, residents can purchase discounted tickets additional parks, including Dorney Park, Hersheypark, Cedar Point, Diggerland, Legoland and Disney World. See the above website for details.

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 runs through September

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.

There will be special themed events each month:

• 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.

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