In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of April 8, 2024

Blood donors sought

Vitalant is marking National Donate Life Month during April with a series of blood drives throughout the Pittsburgh region, including:

• 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 16: Penn Hills High School, 309 Collins Drive

• 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18: Redeemer Lutheran School, 121 Dawn Drive

Donors of every blood type are welcome, especially those with the most-transfused type O.

All donors who give with Vitalant through April 20 and opt-in to the Donor Rewards program will be entered in a drawing for 20 winners of $420 gift cards in the Blaze a Trail giveaway.

For details and to make an appointment, visit vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).

Library offering programs to boost health, wellness

Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, is offering a variety of programming for adults to boost health and wellness in April.

• Yoga Fridays: 2 to 3 p.m. April 12 and 26. Refresh your mind and renew your body with yoga in the library’s community room. No registration is required.

• Guided Meditation: 6 to 7 p.m. April 22. Monks from the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center will lead participants in a meditation session. No registration is required.

• Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 29. Participants will learn about the latest research in areas of nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Registration is required and can be made by visiting the events calendar online at pennhills.librarycalendar.com.

For details about any of the above programs, call the library at 412-775-4700.

Free smoke detectors available to residents

State Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, has teamed up with the American Red Cross to offer free smoke detectors to residents in Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona.

The American Red Cross also will install the smoke detectors in your home for free.

To sign up, call 412-263-5278. A Red Cross representative will ask for some information and then schedule a time to install the smoke detectors.

Tickets on sale for ‘Shrek’ musical

Penn Hills High School will perform “Shrek the Musical” at 7 p.m. April 25-27 and 2 p.m. April 28.

All seats are reserved.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. They can be purchased online at phhsmusical.com or at the door.

Opening night will include a meet-and-greet with the characters.

For details, visit the Penn Hills High School’s Spring Musical page on Facebook.

Free assistance available for veterans, spouses

State Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, offers free assistance to veterans from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month at his office, 77 Universal Road, Suite 1.

Help for veterans and their spouses is available on a variety of topics, including compensation and pension claims, education benefits, enrollment in the VA Health Care System, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits and obtaining military personnel and medical records.

McAndrew’s district covers Penn Hills, Plum, Oakmont and Verona.

To schedule an appointment for April, call 412-793-2448.

10th annual ‘Friends of Jupiter’ Pet Walk set

Registration is open for the 10th annual “Friends of Jupiter” Pet Walk, which will be held April 28 at Tanglewood Shelter at Boyce Park in Plum.

The event is named for Jupiter, a Maltese rescued from a puppy mill. It will start at 9 a.m., rain or shine, with the walk starting at 10 a.m. It includes a basket raffle, pet vendors and local rescues.

Proceeds will benefit various animal rescues.

For details, visit the Friends of Jupiter website at friendsofjupiter.wix.com/petwalk or email friendsofjupiter@gmail.com.

Workshop to explore centering prayer

Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish is sponsoring a Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 20.

The workshop will include a continental breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m., centering prayer experiences, discussion of the book “Open Heart, Open Mind” by Father Thomas Keating and follow-up sessions.

Registration is $20 and is payable in advance or at the door. Reservations are required by April 17.

Checks should be made payable to Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, in care of Irene Swackhammer, 200 Stotler Road, Penn Hills, PA 15235.

For details or to make a reservation, call 412-977-2721 or email irenes_2001@yahoo.com.

Stamp/postcard show on tap

The Wilkinsburg Stamp Club will hold its 74th annual stamp and postcard show in April at the Holiday Park Fire Hall in Plum.

The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13.

Dealers will provide a variety of items and will be available to appraise collections.

Admission and parking are free.

For details, visit wilkinsburgstampclub.com.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets Tuesday evenings

The local chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a support group to help those struggling with weight loss, meets Tuesday evenings at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave., in Oakmont. Meetings begin with a private weigh-in between 5:45 and 6:10 p.m.

Anyone interested in joining can attend a meeting and decide if TOPS is right for them. For details, call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.

Car club plans blessing ceremony

Members of the East Coast Motor Mafia car club will host a car-blessing ceremony April 20.

It will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Holy Grail Auto Storage & Clubhouse, 905 Main St. in East Pittsburgh.

The club’s house chaplain will bless cars for the 2024 season. Donations will be accepted.

For details, call 412-906-3682 or visit theholygrailgarage.com.

Car show benefit set for April 21

The Steel City Chapter of the Heavy Hitters Car Club will host a car show April 21.

It will be from noon to 5 p.m. at the CCAC Boyce Campus, 595 Beatty Road in Monroeville, with special guest host and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Louis Lipps.

The entry fee is $10 and the event will include food, music, a 50-50 and basket raffles along with awards in seven categories.

Proceeds will benefit Tiny Cause, a nonprofit dog rescue shelter in Vandergrift. For details, visit SCheavyhitters.com.

Venue changed for Class of 1974 reunion

The Penn Hills High School Class of 1974 will have its 50th reunion at 6 p.m. June 8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The venue changed from the Monroeville DoubleTree, which recently announced its closure.

The cost is $65. The gathering will include appetizers, food stations, dessert, nonalcoholic beverages, a photo booth and a DJ. There will be a cash bar.

To make a reservation, visit Penn Hills Class of 1974 on Facebook, email PHHS74Reunion@gmail.com or contact Deborah (Tedesco) Gathagan at dgathagan@verizon.net.

Household chemical collection scheduled

The Pennsylvania Resource Council will hold a household chemical collection from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 17 at Boyce Park in Plum.

Individuals can drop off automotive fluids, household cleaners, pesticides, paints and other household chemicals. A $20 fee covers disposal of up to 10 gallons or 50 pounds of material per vehicle. Loads exceeding 10 gallons and 50 pounds will be subject to additional fees.

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