In brief: Knit and crochet group, food drive and more in the Sewickley area

Knit and crochet group

Sewickley Yarns invites crafters to a free knit and crochet group from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays at 435 Beaver St. For October, the group is making Knitted Knockers, prosthetics to donate to breast cancer survivors. Approved yarns are available for purchase in shop. For more information, email info@sewickleyyarns.com or call 412-741-8894.

Turkey Trot registration open

Registration is open for the Sewickley Turkey Trot 5K on Nov. 27 at War Mem­orial Park. Perfect for runners, walkers and families, the scenic 5K through Sewickley supports the YMCA’s Faith in Action program, helping neighbors in need.

The race begins at 8:30 a.m. and awards will take place at 9:20 a.m.

Register at sewickleyymca.org/5k.

Food drive

Bell Acres officials have recently launched a food drive.

People are encouraged to drop off nonperishable goods, paper products and baby supplies between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the borough building, 1153 Camp Meeting Road.

Items most in need include canned fruit, soups, pasta, sauce, peanut butter and jelly, oatmeal cereal, condiments, toilet paper, paper towels, dish and laundry soap, baby food and diapers.

The drive continues through the end of the year. Items will be donated to the Families Matter Food Pantry in Monaca, which distributes about 75,000 pounds of food per week and serves 2,000 Western Pennsylvania families monthly.

More information is available at familiesmatterfoodpantry.org.

Cochran Hose holiday events

Cochran Hose Company is working with Sewickley Police to collect toys for local families in need as part of the Western PA Police Athletic League’s drive.

There are three ways to donate new, unwrapped toys:

• Drop off toys during normal business hours at The Ultimate Pastry Shop, Fun Buy the Pound, Bridgeside Market and Village Coffee until Dec. 5

• Bring toys to the fire truck parked on Beaver Street during Sewickley Light Up Night on Dec. 5

• Take toys to Cochran Hose Company’s Santa at the Station event from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Dec. 7

Cochran Hose Company’s annual Santa at the Station event will be held on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. at 601 Thorn St. Join us for crafts, snacks, fire truck rides and photos with Santa. This is a free community event, but new and unwrapped toys will be collected for local families in need as part of the Western PA Police Athletic League’s toy drive.

Leaf collection to stop

Edgeworth’s leaf collection program is expected to wrap up in early December.

Officials said public works will collect the last batches of leaves Dec. 5.

Call 412-741-2866 for more information.

Senior party planned

A senior Christmas party is planned for 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at the high-rise on Spencer Street in Leetsdale.

It is open to all borough seniors. There is a signup sheet in the building’s lobby.

People can also register by contacting Mayor Sandra Ford at 724-266-4820 or by emailing mayorford@gmail.com.

Luminaria fundraiser

Sewickley Boy Scout Troop 243 is continuing the tradition of selling luminaria kits for the holiday season. Each kit contains 10 five-inch candles, 10 white paper bags and a bag of sand, with delivery to local homes on Dec. 20. The price is $14/kit, by check or PayPal. Order deadline is Dec. 15. Proceeds will fund camping and safety equipment, transportation and scholarships for local scouts. To support this fundraiser, email BSTroop243 Sewickley@gmail.com or call/text Jennifer Nastasi at 708-829-8734.

Child Health Association Ball & Play

The Child Health Association of Sewickley’s biennial Ball & Play will take place Nov. 21-22 at The Edgeworth Club in Sewickley.

A hallmark of CHA’s history, the Ball & Play combines theatrical performance, fine dining and elegant celebration. Written and performed by community and Child Health members, the original play is a lighthearted Sewickley satire, poking fun at local life and traditions while bringing the community together for laughter and fun.

The Ball & Play has been a cherished Sewickley event for generations, blending artistry, community and philanthropy. Proceeds benefit the Child Health Association of Sewickley’s mission to improve the quality of life for children throughout Western Pennsylvania through health, education and charitable initiatives.

Tickets for the play only (Friday) are $65. For the Ball & Play on Saturday, tickets are $225 per person. Attire is formal/black-tie optional. To purchase tickets, visit childhealthassociation.org.

Dazzling Nights

Tickets are now on sale for the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s Dazzling Nights Pittsburgh holiday light show.

This is the fourth year for what has quickly become one of Pittsburgh’s most highly anticipated holiday light experiences, this year boasting 20 distinct worlds that guests will explore as they walk through the immersive, mile-long path. Dazzling Nights opens Nov. 28 and runs through Jan. 3, with entry times beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance for a specific time and date, and are available exclusively at DazzlingPittsburgh.com. Tickets are $28-34.75 for adults and $25-$33.75 for children (prices listed include fees) plus tax. Children 3 and under enter free. Active Garden members enjoy 20% off up to 8 tickets in a single transaction using their member discount code (exclusions apply). Memberships are available at pittsburgh botanicgarden.org/membership.

Leaf collection

Glen Osborne’s pilot leaf collection program runs through Dec. 8.

Collections will be made on Mondays and Wednesdays by the borough’s new public works contractor, Brian’s Property Maintenance.

Residents do not need to register or contact the borough to have their leaves collected.

Those who want their leaves collected should rake them in rows, no more than five feet from the curb, and not into the street, either the night before or early in the morning of collection.

Do not mix in grass clippings, mulch, sticks or other yard waste, as this can clog the vacuum equipment.

Residents should also avoid on-street parking on leaf pickup days and avoid piling the leaves around mailboxes, street signs, telephone poles, fire hydrants or under shrubs and low trees.

Resident trash collection and recycling are covered by the borough through real estate taxes. There is no additional fee for leaf collection.

Business Connection

Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, a referral group of business professionals, will meet at Eat’n Park on Route 60 in Robinson Township for breakfast from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 26. Speakers will be Bill Forde with Keller Williams Commercial and Nick Hollinger of Victorian Finance. To attend, become a member or for more information, visit gpbc-pgh.org or call 412-364-6446 ext. 302.

SMC Club

SMC Club, an affiliate of the Sewickley Valley YMCA, will host Bob Ferguson, who will talk about opening the Ohio River for navigation on Nov. 21. There will be no meeting on Nov. 28 because of Thanksgiving. Gary Augustine will speak Dec. 5 and the Christmas party is set for Dec. 12. On Dec. 19, the North Allegheny High School Choir will sing Christmas songs. There will not be a meeting on Dec. 26 because of the holiday. For more information, visit smensclub.org or Facebook.com/ smensclub.

Leaf collection

Leetsdale leaf collections are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Borough officials said residents should rake their leaves to the curb the night before and not in the road. Leaves also should not be put into bags for collection.

Leetsdale is also hosting a fall leaf cleaning through November for all disabled and low-income senior citizens in the borough. DeGori Lawncare is donating services.

Those interested in the service can contact Mayor Sandra Ford at 724-266-4820 or email mayorsford@gmail.com for more information.

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