In brief: Happenings in the Penn Hills area

Trick-or-treat time

Trick-or-treating will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in Penn Hills.

Residents who plan to participate are asked to leave their porch lights on.

Motorists are advised to stay off the roads during this time and to drive with caution if they must navigate the municipality between those hours.

PALS to meet, collect items for military overseas

The Plum Area Ladies Society (PALS) will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Plum Community Center, 499 Center New Texas Road.

The speaker will be Lynn Cass, a disability advocate from East Suburban Citizen Advocacy. Members are welcome to offer monetary donations to this organization, if desired.

The service project will be to fill 100 Christmas stockings for members of the military overseas. Suggested items are granola bars; five-hour energy drinks; mints or gum; Pop-Tarts; lollipops; Skittles; Starburst; Rice Krispies treats; individual bags of trail mix; Cheez-its; fruit snacks; individual bags of nuts; power bars; single-serve powdered Gatorade; Slim Jims; individual bags of cookies, crackers or snacks; chocolate candy; pretzels; and Christmas candy and snacks. There can be no expiration dates before Dec. 31.

The theme for the refreshments at the meeting will be “Grateful and Blest.”

The Ladies Day Out event will be dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Golden Goblet. Sign-ups will be taken at the meeting. The annual banquet will be from 5 to 8 p.m. May 6 at a local venue in Monroeville.

PALS is a service and social organization open to women from Plum, Penn Hills and surrounding areas. Newcomers are welcome to attend a regular meeting, which are held on the first Wednesday of the month, September through April, at the Plum Community Center.

For details, call Mary Lou Spohn-Meyers at 724 327-8265.

Recreation scheduled for fall, winter months

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department has announced a variety of fall and winter events to spread cheer in the community, including the annual tree-lighting ceremony, letters to Santa, a Christmas lights contest, as well as classes for children.

• Light Up Night: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Penn Hills Goverment Center, 102 Duff Road. The tree lighting will be at 6:45 p.m. followed by a visit with Santa, a performance by the Penn Hills Big Red Marching Band, arts and crafts vendors, children’s crafts, free refreshments and more. To register, call the Parks and Recreation office at 412-798-2147.

• 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.

• Lunch With Santa: Two sessions will be held on Dec. 6 — 11 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — at Rolling Hills Church, 120 Gernert Drive. Join us for a visit from Santa, arts and crafts and a pizza lunch. Registration is required by calling 412-798-2147.

• Kids Painting Class: The classes are held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rolling Hills Church, 120 Gernert Drive. The next sessions are Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. Registration is required by calling 412-798-2147.

• Kids in the Kitchen: The classes are held from 10 to 11 a.m. at Rolling Hills Church, 120 Gernert Drive. The next sessions are Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. Registration is required by calling 412-798-2147.

• Family Trivia Night: 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Rolling Hills Church, 120 Gernert Drive. Join us for family-themed trivia. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. A pizza dinner will be provided. Registration is required by calling 412-798-2147.

Holiday Craft Show to feature 100-plus vendors

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its 27th annual Holiday Craft Show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at Linton Middle School, 250 Aster St.

There will be more than 100 spaces of handmade arts and crafts.

Admission is free.

There also will be door prizes and gift card raffles.

Concessions will be available in the cafeteria.

For details, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 412-798-2147.

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.

6 leaf collections set

The Penn Hills Department of Public Works released a schedule for its fall leaf collection.

Crews will collect paper leaf bags on six Mondays: Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 24 and Dec. 1 and 8.

All bags should be placed curbside Sunday evening. Any leaves not in an approved paper bag will not be picked up. Bags also must weigh less than 30 pounds. Do not use staples or tape to close the bags, but fold over the tops to prevent leaves from spilling.

Also, do not rake leaves to the curb, in keeping with ordinance No. 2012-2548.

The collection is for intact leaves only, not ground-up leaves, and no yard waste.

Residents also can drop off their bags of leaves at the municipal compost site by appointment through the Public Works department. A minimum 24-hour notice is required. To make an appointment, call 412-798-2151.

For additional details about the annual fall collection, visit penhillspa.gov.

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, including application deadline, 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.

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

Oakmont Elks to serve free dinner for vets

Oakmont Elks Lodge No. 1668, 106 Washington Ave, Oakmont, will serve its annual Veterans’ Day dinner at 5 p.m. Nov. 11.

The dinner is free for area veterans, reservists and active military members. Guests are welcome to accompany them for $10.

Reservations are requested and will be taken until 4 p.m. Nov. 9. To reserve a spot, call 412-828-1668.

RCAC plans open house

Riverview Community Action Corporation is hosting an open house from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at its center, 501 Second St., Oakmont.

Attendees can mingle with community leaders and chat with members of the RCAC team.

There will be live keyboard entertainment by Janet Knapp Graham, a charcuterie from Pickles & Pancetta and cookies from Oakmont Bakery.

No reservations are required, and everyone from the surrounding communities is welcome to attend.

Parking is available at St. Paul Baptist Church, 180 Delaware Ave.

RCAC’s activity center offers a monthly lunch menu as well as fitness, education and social activities to adults 60 and older.

For details about the organization, visit rcacorp.org.

Charter school recognized for breakfast efforts

Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship once again was named a Governor’s Breakfast Champion for successfully completing a challenge to boost its breakfast participation over the previous year.

This year, 59 schools across Pennsylvania completed the challenge to incorporate more nutritious and local foods in their meal offerings, including prioritizing low-sugar and locally sourced options.

PHCSE was among the top 10 schools with the greatest increase in participation.

Under Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s 1.7 million students have had universal free breakfast for the past two years. The 2025-26 budget includes a $10.8 million increase to continue that program.

During the past school year, 92.9 million breakfast meals were served in schools, an increase of more than 11 million meals since the 2022-23 school year. More than 70 million of those breakfasts were served to students at risk for hunger or from low-income families.

Point Breeze station shares safety tips

The Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department Station 224 Point Breeze recently shared on its Facebook page four safety tips for residents to help prevent house fires during the colder months:

1. As the weather starts to get colder, please have your furnaces checked and filters changed before turning the furnace on for the season.

2. Please make sure to clean your dryer vent after every load as a heavy build up of lint can cause a fire.

3. Please do not use an extension cord or power strip to power space heaters as they can over heat the cord and cause a fire. Please don’t leave space heaters run overnight. Keep space heaters 3 feet from any object. Also, don’t overload a power strip or extension cord with Halloween decor, Thanksgiving decor or Christmas lights even if inside or outside.

4. When burning candles for the holiday seasons, please be sure to keep candles in an area away from curtains and keep in an open space. Please make sure the candle is out before leaving the room or area.

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.

Upcoming meetings

Upcoming municipal and school district meetings include:

• Council: 7 p.m. Nov. 10 (nonvoting meeting) and Nov. 17 (first budget hearing andc council meeting) in Council Chambers at the government center, 102 Duff Road;

• Zoning Hearing Board: 7 p.m. Nov. 19 in Council Chambers;

• Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Council Chambers;

• Library Board: 7 p.m. Nov. 26 at Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road;

• Penn Hills School Board: 6 p.m. Nov. 25 (regular public voting meeting) and Dec. 3 (reorganization meeting) in the Sen. Jay Costa Media Center at Linton Middle School, 260 Aster St.

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.

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. Dec. 2 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.

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 seeks 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.