In brief: Author talk at Penguin Bookshop, fall play and more in the Sewickley area

Penguin Bookshop Writers Series

Columbus, Ohio, bookstore owner and novelist Linda Kass will be at Penguin Bookshop 7 p.m. Nov. 9 to talk about her new novel, “Bessie,” about the early life of Bess Myerson. She will be joined by author Sherrie Flick to engage in a discussion about Kass’s experiences in writing the book. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A with the audience. Guests will also have the opportunity to have copies of “Bessie” signed afterwards. RSVP online at penguinbookshop.com.

Fall play

Sewickley Academy Senior School students present “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” a clever retelling of the classic tale that asks the audience to confront the ideas of good, evil, what it means to be truly honest with yourself and others, and the possibilities that lie therein.

Showing 7 p.m. Oct.19-21 in the Gregg Theater, the event is free and open to the public but tickets may be reserved in advance at sewickley.org/tickets. If you require accessible seating, email tickets@sewickley.org.

The production contains mature themes and violence and is not suitable for young audiences.

Fern Hollow Nature Center

Lunch and Learn programs are offered in partnership with the Nature Center’s neighbor, The Sewickley Heights History Center and include a 45-minute presentation, a question and answer period, and lunch from a local restaurant. On Nov. 14, Yvonne Hudson will present and perform “Ring in the Vote,” the story of Jennie Bradley Roessing, a Pennsylvania women’s suffrage leader, known for her activism and inspiration during the campaign to gain the right to vote for American women.

Evening programs are also being offered and will include light snacks and cocktails. On Oct. 20th from 6 to 8 p.m., Mary Fabian, the founder of the online discussion group Pennsylvania Bigfoot Project, will discuss her research and experiences for the program, “Beer and BIGFOOT.” Beer will be provided, guests must be 21 years or older to attend.

For more details and to register for programs, visit fhnc.org.

Library events

Sewickley Public Library will host a Booktacular Pumpkin Patch Oct. 20-31 at the library. Families are invited to decorate pumpkins and put them on display at the library. They can be dropped off at the library Oct. 20 and be displayed through Oct. 31. Registration is required and it is limited to one pumpkin per family.

Call 412-741-6920 for more information about library programs.

Halloween parade

Leetsdale’s Halloween parade is planned for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Participants will meet at the borough building at 373 Beaver St. and walk to Henle Park for candy and fun. Go to leetsdaleboro.net for more information.

Business Connection

Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, a referral group of business professionals, will meet at the Eat N’ Park on Route 60 in Robinson Township for breakfast from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25. Speakers will be James Stossel of LPL Financial and Bernie Slutiak of Insurance Consultants of Pittsburgh. To attend, become a member, or, for more information, visit gpbc-pgh.org or call 412-364-6446 ext. 302.

Senior men’s club

An affiliate of the Sewickley Valley YMCA, the Senior Men’s Club will host Andrew Loomis, pastor of t. John’s Lutheran Church in Ambridge Oct. 13. His discussion will be “From the cockpit to the pulpit.” For more information, visit smensclub.org or Facebook.com/smensclub.

Sewickley walking tour

History, notoriety, and happenstance merge to form a quilt pattern as American as apple pie with DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh’s Sewickley Secrets walking tour. Join former librarian and amateur historian Meghan Snatchko as we unravel some secret history on a one-mile loop. Tickets are priced at $20. Beginning at 2 p.m. Oct. 21, the tour duration is 90 minutes and begins at 200 Broad Street. All DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh tours require tickets to be bought online prior to a tour. Ticket sales close at 5 p.m. the day prior to each tour. For additional event information, and to purchase tickets, visit doorsopenpgh.org.

Nature festival

The Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, Bell Acres Firehall and local environmental organizations invite the community to join them at a free festival focused on the rights of nature. The festival will be held 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Big Sewickley Creek Fire Hall, 1850 Big Sewickley Creek Road.

There will be three movie screenings of “Hellbent,” the story of local Pennsylvanians fighting to save a creek with a rare salamander inhabitant, the Eastern Hellbender. The film is 20 minutes long and will be shown at noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Between screenings, visit with folks from the Allegheny Land Trust, Fern Hollow Nature Center, Beaver County Conservation District and more. Purchase hot dogs and popcorn from the Bell Acres Ladies Auxiliary, and children can enjoy activities such as rock painting.

To have your event or information listed in our briefs section, email Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.