In brief: Plant sales, polar plunge and more in the Shaler area

Plant sale

Add some fresh flowers and plants to spruce up your garden affordably this Spring at the Shaler Garden Club’s 69th annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m.-noon May 6 at Kiwanis Park in Glenshaw. A variety of hardy perennials from members’ gardens will be offered at bargain prices, along with herbs, vegetables, houseplants, bulbs and potted arrangements for perfect Mother’s Day gifts. A basket raffle and a bake sale will add to the fun. The sale will take place rain or shine. Proceeds benefit community projects and philanthropic donations of the Shaler Garden Club. For more information, visit shalergardenclub.com.

Polar Plunge

Shaler Township invites residents to start the pool season early from 1-3 p.m. April 29 by jumping in to Crawford Pool for charity. Participants pay $3 that will go towards the Shaler Area School District Backpack Initiative.

Block party

North Hills Community Outreach will gather with hundreds of supporters ofrom 1-4 p.m. May 13 to host the Eighth Annual Neighborhood Block Party. This family-focused event offers unlimited fun and activities for children including games, a kid’s auction, dunk tank, balloon artist, caricaturist, face painting, bounce house, delicious food from Wheelfish, and live music featuring The Variety Pack. Additionally, the event falls over Mother’s Day weekend, and NHCO will be celebrating moms by providing individual bouquets with the help of local florist Lilac & Fawn. The festivities will be hosted at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church under several large tents. All the funds raised from the event support the critical services provided by NHCO. For tickets or more information, visit nhco.org/block.

Crisis Center North benefit

Foodies who care will gather again under the stars to support Crisis Center North’s at its signature fundraiser, Cocktails & Cuisine. The outdoor tasting event marks its 16th year from 6-10 p.m. May 12 at The Woodlands. Court TV’s Julie Grant, a member of CCN’s Paws for Empowerment Advisory Board, returns as event emcee. Pittsburgh jazz vocalist Lisa Bleil is joined by Benny Benack Jr. on horns and pianist John Burgh as the evening’s entertainment. Throughout the evening, guests graze and sip their way through the region’s best cocktails and cuisine from leading restaurateurs, spirit purveyors, and dessert creators. For tickets or more information, visit crisiscenternorth.org.

Longvue Acres Garden Club

Longvue Acres Garden Club will host its 73rd spring perennial plant sale from 9 a.m.-noon May 20 in the lower parking lot of Northmont United Presbyterian Church, 8169 Perry Highway, McCandless. The cash only sale will feature more than 600 perennial plants, including Pennsylvania natives and pollinators. Club members, some of whom are Penn State Master Gardeners, will be available to answer gardening questions and to help with plant selections. Plant sale proceeds fund monthly educational programs for the public and support the maintenance of the UPMC Passavant chapel garden. Longvue Acres Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at Northmont U.P. Church. For more information about the plant sale or Longvue Acres Garden club, email longvueacresgardenclub1950@gmail.com.