Fire departments collecting cases of water

The Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department is in need of cases of bottled water and electrolyte drinks to benefit the firefighters of the municipality’s six stations.

During the summer months, fire departments can quickly deplete their supply of bottled water.

Everyone is welcome to donate, and some residents have scheduled deliveries through Amazon.

Donations will be distributed equally to Station 221 (Lincoln Park), Station 222 (Rosedale), Station 223 (North Bessemer), Station 224 (Point Breeze), Station 225 (Thad Stevens) and Station 227 (Penn 7).

The centralized drop-off site is located at the rear of Station 227, 125 Universal Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.

To schedule a time to drop off donations, message Penn Hills No. 7 VFC on Facebook or call the station at 412-247-1892.

Summerfest Carnival set for July 2-5

Penn Hills is gearing up for its annual Summerfest Carnival from July 2-5 at Turner Friendship Park, 1340 Hunter Road.

This year’s bash will include food, rides, games, local vendors, live entertainment and fireworks.

Bring your friends and family.

Free summer meals available for children

The Penn Hills School District serves free breakfast and lunch during the summer for children 18 and younger in the community.

The meals, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are served Mondays through Fridays, except July 4.

• Penn Hills High School, 309 Collins Drive: Breakfast is served from 8 to 9 a.m., and lunch is served from 11 to 11:45 a.m. through Aug. 15.

• Penn Hills Elementary School, 1079 Jefferson Road: Breakfast is served from 8:25 to 9:30 a.m., and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Aug. 8.

Families can use the USDA Summer Meals Site Finder to find free meal sites near them. The tool provides directions, hours of operation and contact information for each location.

If you need help finding food for your child, you also can call the USDA National Hunger Hotline:

• English: 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)

• Spanish: 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273)

The hotline operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Free summit to cover Black mental health

NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania will host its 2025 Black Mental Health Summit from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 24 at Commonwealth Charter Academy, 162 East Bridge St. at The Waterfront in Homestead.

The summit is a free event, but registration is required.

The event will address the challenges that members of Pittsburgh’s Black community are facing, how stigma can be a barrier to seeking treatment and the obstacles experienced when getting help.

This year’s summit, Mental Health and the Black Family, will feature keynote presenter Dr. James Huguley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Huguley serves as chair of the Race and Youth Development Research Group at the Center on Race and Social Problems. His research focuses on school and family-based interventions that promote positive mental health and academic outcomes for African-American youth.

His presentation, “The BlackPrint: Lessons from Black Parents on Thriving in Challenging Times,” will highlight the leading research and indigenous practices that propel wellness in Black families despite adverse historical and contemporary contexts, including what they have learned and accomplished through the Parenting While Black program.

The summit also will feature a panel discussion and resource fair.

In addition, attendees can choose between two workshops: “Seeing Clearly Through a Trauma Lens” with Darnell Drewery, trauma education and wellness facilitator at the Center for Victims; and “Advocating While Black: Empowering Black Men in Mental Health Spaces” with Courtney Fulton, founder of Courtney J. Fulton Coaching.

To register, click on the respective link at namikeystonepa.org.

Free boxed lunches will be provided with choice of a turkey, ham or vegan wrap or a gluten-free option.

Sponsors for the summit currently are being accepted with ads due June 30. For details, visit tinyurl.com/4y7xe784.

Residents welcome to join cleanup day

The Penn Hills Rotary and Penn Hills Community Development Corporation invites residents to register for a Community Cleanup Day from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. July 12.

A free picnic with food and drinks will be held afterward at 11 a.m. at Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department’s Memorial Park, 5806 Verona Road.

Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including most litter picked up, most unique item found, “dirtiest” volunteer and more.

Individuals and groups can select their own road or neighborhood to clean up. For those unsure where to start, the Rotary will provide a list after registration showing where other groups will be working so you can join in.

To details and to register, visit pennhillsrotary.org/events/community-cleanup-day-2025.

Gloves, trash bags and safety vests will be provided, and the Rotary and CDC will coordinate the pickup of trash bags and large debris.

Optional red “Penn Hills Community Cleanup Day” T-shirts are available for purchase. The cost is $11 or $13 for sizes 2X to 4X.

Ginny’s Carniv-Alz to raise money for Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association will host an afternoon carnival June 29 in Murrysville as part of its “The Longest Day” initiative.

“The Longest Day” is a campaign the association undertakes annually during the summer solstice, the day of the year with the longest amount of daylight.

Ginny’s Carniv-Alz will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. June 29 at Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint, 5549 Old William Penn Highway.

The event aims to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. It will include music, food, drinks, entertainment, games and children’s activities, to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association. The cost for a play-all-day pass is $20 and includes access to vendor carnival games, a video gaming trailer, dunk tank and more.

Parking will be at Murrysville Community Park, 4056 Wiestertown Road, with free shuttle service to the event. On-site handicap parking will be available.

Movies scheduled for local parks

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department is showing family-friendly movies during the summer with free admission and snacks.

Next up in the lineup are:

• “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”: July 11, Turner Friendship Park, 1340 Hunter Road

• “Mufasa”: Aug. 22, Penn Hills Park, 120 Colorado St.

• “The Minecraft Movie”: Sept. 19, Turner Friendship Park

All of the movies are rated PG and will start at dusk.

Park offers free activities for adults, children

The Crescent Hills Civic Association hosts free weekly events during the summer months at Crescent Hills Community Park, 141 Sycamore Drive. Everyone in the community is invited to participate.

• Adult Volleyball: 6 p.m. Mondays, June through August. All skill levels are welcome.

• Yoga in the Park: 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, June through July

• Reading in the Park: 11 a.m. Saturdays, June 21 through July 26. There will be books, crafts and activities for children ages 3 to 7.

Community center plans golf fundraiser

The Riverview Action Community Center is planning an 18-hole, four-person golf scramble fundraiser on Aug. 22 at Hill Crest Country Club in Lower Burrell.

Registration is now open, and eight packages are available. The price is $550 per foursome or $150 for an individual.

Check in starts at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start following at 9.

Sponsors also are being sought for the event. Pricing ranges from $150 for hole sponsors to $1,500 for an event sponsor. For information about sponsorships, visit tinyurl.com/p4rsb3mr.

Proceeds benefit the programs and services that Oakmont-based RCAC offers to men and women in the surrounding communities.

Donations are always welcome.

For details about the community center, visit rcacorp.org.

Deadline looms for impact award nominations

Nominations for the 2025 Linda Thornhill Community Impact Award are being accepted through June 27.

Linda Thornhill, a longtime and highly regarded mental health community leader in Pittsburgh, passed away in September 2020. The award aims to continue to advance the community impact around mental health in the Black and brown community that she led for many years with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and through the Systems of Care initiative.

Nominees should follow Thornhill’s example:

• Exhibit leadership abilities and a passion for mental health.

• Have a compassionate spirit and a desire to help others.

• Champion improvements to the mental health system.

• Promote acceptance and understanding as a way of life.

• Believe that recovery is possible for those affected by mental illness.

• Strive to eliminate stigma.

• Have a passion to educate and advocate for the Black and brown communities around mental health.

• Serve as an advocate for, and offer comprehensive support to, families impacted by mental illness.

The nominee can be an individual living with a mental illness, a family member or loved one, a mental health professional, or anyone who tries to improve the lives of those affected by mental illness. The nominee must be a resident of Pennsylvania.

This is not a cash award but an acknowledgment in the form of a trophy and public recognition as an advocate who is part of NAMI’s advocacy movement to end stigma, to change society’s attitude and to create a culture of knowledge and understanding about mental illness.

The award will be presented on July 24 during NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s fourth annual Black Mental Health Summit in Homestead.

To nominate someone, complete the form at tinyurl.com/2tmj3ypm.

The form and nominee’s bio can be emailed to abarnett@namikeystonepa.org; mailed to NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania, 105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15237; or faxed to 412-366-3935.

For questions, call NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania’s office at 412-366-3788.

3 Rivers Psychic Fair coming up July 19

The 3 Rivers Psychic Fair, featuring more than 55 vendors, will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 19 at the Comfort Inn, 699 Rodi Road.

Workshops available range from manifesting, authenticity, feminine rising and telepathy.

The 3 Rivers Psychic Fair occurs three times a year in and around the city of Pittsburgh. The fair offers psychic, intuitive and medium readings; Reiki healers; energy healers; and various holistic products.

The mission of the fair is to connect, heal and educate — helping people to expand their minds, learn about their bodies and kindle their inner flames.

Admission is $5, payable by cash or credit card. There also will be a 50-50.

For details, visit 3riverspf.com. A list of readers and vendors is available on Facebook at facebook.com/3RiversPsychicFair.

Activities set to help with kindergarten transition

The Penn Hills School District is planning several summer activities to ease the transition for youngsters to kindergarten.

• 1 to 2 p.m. June 17: Kinder Story Time at Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road;

• 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 8: Kinder Readiness With Pete the Cat at Penn Hills Elementary School, 1079 Jefferson Road;

• 1 to 2 p.m. July 22: Kinder Story Time at Penn Hills Library;

• 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 5: Popsicles on the Playground at Penn Hills Elementary School.

The events offer incoming kindergartners, as well as their parents and caregivers, to meet the teachers, make new friends and become familiar with their new school environment.

Singles invited to join Association of University People

The Association of University People invites singles 50 and older who are four-year college graduates to join them for activities and to meet new people. Activities include spring/summer picnics, monthly dinners, a book group, Scrabble, meeting up at wineries and local outdoor concerts.

Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.

For details about AUP or to become a member, call and leave a message at 412-353-9088 or email aupsingles@gmail.com.

Verona Farmers Market underway

The Verona Farmers Market, in place since 1998, is in full swing and is held rain or shine.

The market runs from 2 to 7 p.m. every Thursday, June through November, at 736 E. Railroad Ave.

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. Sept. 9 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.

Upcoming meetings

Upcoming municipal and school district meetings include:

• Council: 7 p.m. July 21 in Council Chambers at the government center, 102 Duff Road;

• Library Board: 7 p.m. July 30 at Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road;

• Zoning Hearing Board: 7 p.m. July 23 in Council Chambers;

• Planning Commission: 7:30 p.m. July 24 in Council Chambers;

• Penn Hills School Board: 6 p.m. June 25 and Aug. 20 (regular public voting meetings; there is no meeting in July), 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.

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.

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.

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