In brief: Sports physicals, VOPP trail meeting and more in Penn Hills, Verona

Sports physicals

Penn Hills School District offers free sports physicals for students entering grades 7-12 who want to play a fall sport. Physical forms must be completed entirely online at planeths.com in order to attend the first practice or tryout date. Aug. 7 is the first practice date for varsity and junior varsity football and golf. Aug. 14 is the first practice date for all other fall sports.

Toys for Tots

The Verona Volunteer Fire Company is ramping up for its third annual Christmas In July Toy Drive event benefitting the Allegheny Valley MCL 827 Toys For Tots. It will be collecting toys at the station July 8, 15 and 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and Aug. 5 from 4-7 p.m. A spaghetti dinner and open house is scheduled for Aug. 5, so toys can be collected that evening as well. For more information, visit veronavfc.org.

VOPP public trail meeting

Friends of the Riverfront is currently assisting Verona, Oakmont, Plum, and Penn Hills develop a safe, accessible and sustainable multi-purpose trail stretching from the Allegheny Riverfront in Verona, through Oakmont and Penn Hills along Plum Creek, to Boyce Park in Plum Borough. The design and engineering work is being conducted by TranSystems through December 2024. A public meeting to provide information and updates on the trail will be held from 6-8 p.m. July 13 at the Penn Hills municipal building. For more information, visit pennhillspa.gov.

Council meeting

The next Penn Hills council meeting is 7 p.m. July 17 at council chambers in the municipal building. An agenda will be posted online at pennhillspa.gov closer to the date.

New website launched

Penn Hills School District recently launched its new website, phsd.org. It is designed to help parents and the public navigate easier. Updated features include more mobile-friendly content and features, social media integration and user-friendly drop-down menus. District officials said they will be making enhancements and updating information and materials on the website throughout the summer. A link to a feedback survey is on its front page.