In brief: Happenings across the Penn Hills area

Holiday House Tour to raise money for sports court resurfacing

The Crescent Hills Civic Association is hosting a Holiday House Tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13.

Participants will start the tour at the Steel Goat Marketplace, 200 Jefferson Road, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to pick up your tickets and enjoy a cookie sale, gift basket raffle and 100-plus local vendors; Arsenal Cider will be on-site from noon to 3 p.m.

After picking up their tickets, guests are welcome to visit each home on the tour for holiday decor inspiration and community cheer.

Everyone who completes the full tour will earn an extra raffle ticket.

Tickets are $30 online at crescenthills.org through Dec. 12. Tickets will be available, cash only, on the day of the event for $35. The tour will take place regardless of the weather, and tickets are nonrefundable.

Proceeds will go toward resurfacing the Crescent Hills sports court for tennis, deck hockey and, coming soon, pickleball. The association is hoping to raise $7,000 for the project.

Seasonal events set

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department continues to spread cheer in the community with a few more seasonal events.

• Letters to Santa: Letters to Santa can be dropped off at the Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, beginning Dec. 1 until Dec. 18. Letters also can be mailed to the Penn Hills Government Center, 102 Duff Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235; or emailed to santa@pennhillspa.gov. Please include a return address.

• Christmas Lights Display Contest: Homeowners interested in entering the annual contest should call 412-798-2147 or email John Scaglione, assistant superintendent of Public Works and Parks and Recreation, at jscaglione@pennhillspa.gov. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated homes.

• Kids in the Kitchen: The classes are held from 10 to 11 a.m. at Rolling Hills Church, 120 Gernert Drive. The final session is Dec. 13. Registration is required by calling 412-798-2147.

Firefighters selling 2026 lottery calendars

The Rosedale and North Bessemer volunteer fire departments are selling 2026 lottery calendars.

Calendars are $30 each and can be purchased by stopping by either fire department.

Rosedale is located at 5806 Verona Road, and North Bessemer is at 1701 Leechburg Road.

With winners every night, they make excellent holiday gifts.

All proceeds benefit the fire departments.

AARP seeking tax-prep aides

The AARP Foundation is seeking volunteers to be trained for its tax aide program, the nation’s largest free volunteer-based tax preparation program.

Volunteers can be trained as tax return preparers or as client facilitators. Anyone interested in volunteering can call 724-374-3780.

For details, visit AARPfoundation.org/taxaide.

Upcoming meetings

Upcoming municipal and school district meetings include:

• Council: 7 p.m. Dec. 15 (voting meeting) in Council Chambers at the government center, 102 Duff Road;

• Zoning Hearing Board: 7 p.m. Dec. 17 in Council Chambers;

• Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 in Council Chambers;

• Library Board: 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road;

To check for cancellations, agendas or other changes to the municipal meeting schedule, scroll down to the bulletin board section of Penn Hills’ homepage at pennhillspa.gov or sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts.

To sign up for Savvy Citizen alerts, visit savvycitizenapp.com/signup or download the app on your mobile phone.

Municipal, school district meetings viewable online

Want to stay informed about the municipality and school district you live in and the decisions made by people you elect to office?

Both entities livestream their meetings online.

• Penn Hills Council livestreams its monthly meetings on YouTube @PennHills TVONLINE. Past livestreams of meetings also are available to view. Check them out at youtube.com/@PennHillsTVONLINE/featured.

• The Penn Hills School District livestreams its monthly school board meetings on its website at https://www.phsd.org/our-district/school-board/live-stream-and-video-archive. Past meetings also are available. Among the videos are the school board’s regular public voting meetings, HR/Policy and Finance Committee meetings, and Athletic Advisory, Safety/Buildings & Grounds and Curriculum Committee meetings.

Pavilion rentals being accepted for 2026

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting reservations for pavilions for the 2026 parks season.

Penn Hills offers several pavilions at its four parks in the community:

• Duff Park Pavilion at Duff Park, 120 Duff Road;

• Maple, Red Oak and Sycamore pavilions at Penn Hills Park, 120 Colorado St.;

• Turner-Friendship Park Pavilion at Turner-Friendship Park, 1340 Hunter Road;

• Connolly, Crawshaw and Schrott pavilions at Universal Park, 1 Memorial Drive.

For details about the amenities available at each pavilion and park, visit pennhillspa.gov/parks-recreation/reserve.

The cost to rent a pavilion is $75 per day for residents and $100 for nonresidents; an alcohol permit costs $25.

To check availability, call 412-798-2147.

Rotary scholarships available for seniors

The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program has scholarships available for the 2025-26 academic year.

In recent years, the program has awarded at least eight need-based scholarships at $5,000 each.

High school seniors in Allegheny and Beaver counties are eligible to apply.

Those attending New Kensington-Arnold, Kiski Area and Burrell Area high schools and The Kiski School in Westmoreland County also are eligible. Vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools also are eligible.

Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade-point average and must complete an essay highlighting their community/school service.

Complete application and criteria materials are available on the Rotary District 7305 website at rotarydistrict7305.org by clicking on Scholarship Opportunities. Applications also are available through area high school counselors.

Applications postmarked after Feb. 28 will not be accepted.

For details, contact Dr. Robert Arbuckle, committee chairperson, at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.

Scholarships available for aspiring journalists

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is accepting applications for its 20th annual Bob Fryer Memorial Scholarship ($5,000) along with the club’s annual $2,500 for aspiring journalists.

The awards are designed to encourage outstanding undergraduate journalism students in print, broadcasting and multimedia. Candidates must be sophomores or juniors enrolled in an accredited college or university in one of Western Pennsylvania’s 29 counties which include Allegheny, Westmoreland, Armstrong and Butler.

Applications are available at WesternPApressclub.org or by calling 412-281-7778.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 9.

Winners will be awarded at the club’s annual Golden Quills Awards Dinner.

Course available to drivers 55 and older

Seniors for Safe Driving is offering an upcoming course for motorists 55 and older from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. March 24 at the Penn Hills Senior Center, 147 Jefferson Road.

The PennDOT-approved course is an opportunity for older motorists to refresh their driving skills and their knowledge of the rules of the road.

There is no testing or behind-the-wheel driving. Participants who complete the course can receive a three-year discount of no less that 5% on their auto insurance.

Course highlights include one’s health and driving performance; effects of medication and alcohol on driving; yielding and intersections; strategies for safe passing and managing one’s speed; keeping up with vehicle technology; preventive ways to reduce driver distractions;, proper use of safety belts, air bags and anti-lock brakes; defensive driving tactics and sharing the road; dealing with aggressive drivers and road rage situations; and the latest information on traffic laws and regulations.

The cost is $17.

To register for a class, call 800-559-4880 or 724-283-0245 or go online at SeniorsForSafeDriving.com.

Group offers support for weight loss

All are welcome to join the men and women at Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) who are learning how to lose weight.

With in-person meetings, rewards, support and encouragement, we gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise.

You may visit with no obligation Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. in Oakmont. Weigh-in is private followed by a brief business meeting, sharing time, and educational program all ending by 7:15.

There is well-lit parking, wheelchair accessibility and security.

For details, call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.

Firefighters sought

Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Company No. 7, 125 Universal Road, is accepting applications for its live-in program, bunk-in program, junior firefighters program and home response team.

Eligible candidates will get free college tuition through Allegheny County’s FireVEST program. The program provides full scholarships for an associate degree or certificat program at CCAC, as well as training at the Allegheny County Fire Academy. Penn Hills residents who become firefighters also receive a tax credit.

The department, which averages as many as 1,000 calls each year, operates a 100-foot ladder truck, a heavy-duty rescue pumper and a Class A pumper.

To learn more, visit phvfd227.com.

Station 225 seeks junior firefighters

Station 225 of the Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department is accepting applications for its new Junior Firefighter Program.

The program is open to 16- and 17-year-olds.

For details or to apply, call the station at 412-731-2222, email pennhillsvfd225@gmail.com or stop by the station from 7 to 9 p.m. any Tuesday.

In 2024, Station 225, located at 2997 Robinson Blvd., responded to 600 calls. The department encourages members of the community to join in its lifesaving efforts.

Verona seeks firefighters, junior members

The Verona Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applictions for active firefighters as well as junior members 16 and 17 years of age.

Interested individuals can stop by the fire station, 465 Parker St., from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays.

Training is provided through the Allegheny County Fire Academy.

Cub Scout Pack 817 open to new members

Cub Scout Pack 817 is looking for new members.

Boys and girls in grades K-5 are welcome to see what the fun is all about. Pack 817 meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday, September through May, at the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department, 5806 Verona Road.

Cub Scouts offers members many opportunities to try new things, provide service to others, build confidence, develop leadership skills and make new friends.

Members of Pack 817 participate in pinewood derby races, crafts and cooking, Cubmobile challenges, rocket launches, camping and more. There also are summer activities.

For more information about Pack 817, contact Cubmaster Randy Ford at 412-852-5840 or pack817.verona@gmail.com.

Free clothing available

Mt. Hope Community Church, 12106 Frankstown Road, operates a free Clothesline to people in need from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday.

Parking is available behind the church, and there is a bus stop nearby at Frankstown Road and Parkridge Drive.

Clothing for women, men and children of all ages is available, as well as some shoes and accessories.

Bags are provided, but visitors also are encouraged to bring their own.

The church also is accepting and loaning gently used children’s books.

For details, call 412-793-0227 or visit mthopepcusa.org/youth-ministries.

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