In brief: Happenings in the Shaler area
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Students to stage ‘Guys and Dolls’; senior citizens invited to free show Feb. 20
Shaler Area High School thespians will present “Guys and Dolls” as their spring musical at 7 p.m. Feb. 21, 22, 28 and March 1 and 2 p.m. Feb. 23.
Local senior citizens 65 and older are invited to a free dress rehearsal performance at 5 p.m. Feb. 20. No tickets or reservation is required for this special performance. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and light refreshments will be served during intermission.
Tickets for the regular performances cost $15 for the front section and $13 for the back section.
They can be purchased online at https://cur8.com/18303/project/129182 for an additional service fee or by stopping at the high school’s Activities Office between 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ticketing kiosks also will be available one hour before each performance.
The Golden Age romantic comedy classic will transport audiences from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, and even into the sewers of New York City.
Cash bash to benefit Millvale, Reserve firefighters
The Millvale and Reserve volunteer fire departments are hosting their Annual Cash Bash from 6 to 10 p.m. May 3 at the Mt. Troy Ballroom, 33 Lonsdale St.
Tickets are $25 each for one number and includes free food and refreshments.
Tickets must be presented for entry, and only 1,000 of them will be sold.
Winners do not need to be present to win, and all winners will be notified of their prizes.
Doors will open at 5 p.m., and there will be additional raffles throughout the evening.
To purchase tickets, reach out to any fire department member, stop by Millvale’s borough office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or go online at https://square.link/u/RfJygoT3.
Church to offer ‘Ashes to Go’
Glenshaw Presbyterian Church will offer “Ashes to Go” from noon to 1 and 5 to 6 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, March 5.
Participants will be able to drive through the church’s portico at 300 Glenn Ave. and receive the cross of ashes.
In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a cross of ashes on their forehead at the beginning of the Lenten season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive God’s forgiveness.
“Ashes to Go” aims to bring the tradition of Ash Wednesday out from behind church walls and into the places that people go every day. As people become busier and busier, many appreciate that the church is offering the receiving of ashes in a new, nontraditional and convenient way.
Night at the Races to benefit Cherry City firefighters
The Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company will host its fourth annual Night at the Races on April 5 at the station, 309 Davis Ave. in Shaler.
The fundraiser is for 21 and older.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the first race will start at 7.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. The ticket price includes general admission, food, beer and soda.
Attendees can purchase a horse and name it for $10 during a race.
The ticket price includes general admission, food, beer and soda. Beer and mixers will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages and snacks.
There will be a 50-50, auctions, pull-tab games and more.
To purchase tickets, see any Station 260 member or call 412-822-7000.
Trail users can learn how to ID winter trees
Friends of the Riverfront is hosting its first Train on the Trail session of 2025 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at Millvale Riverfront Park, 70 Riverfront Drive.
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will lead an in-person training session on Winter Tree Identification. Participants will learn how to identify winter trees based on bark, twigs, buds, shape and even smell.
The Train on the Trail enrichment series provides opportunities throughout the year for volunteers and trail users to gain introductory knowledge and skills to add to their trail experience, including learning about native and invasive plants, watercraft safety, tree pruning and identification.
To register, visit friendsoftheriverfront.org/event/train-on-the-trail-winter-tree-identification.
For questions, email Angela Valotta, Trail Stewardship AmeriCorps member, at trailstewardship@friendsoftheriverfront.org.
Military garden flags available for purchase
Shaler is selling personalized military garden flags for residents to honor a loved one who served our country.
The flags will be displayed throughout the township on three occasions: Memorial Day at the site of The Wall That Heals, the Fourth of July in Kiwanis Park and on Veterans Day at the Memorial at Shaw Place.
The flags will then be returned to the purchaser.
Each flag costs $40 and includes one flag and holder.
Proceeds will benefit The Wall That Heals display, which is coming to Shaler over the Memorial Day weekend.
To purchase a flag, visit the township website at shaler.org and click on the Veteran Recognition Flag item.
Shaler Garden Club gearing up for annual plant sale
Members of the Shaler Garden Club want to help you jump-start your garden this spring with its 71st annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to noon May 3 at Kiwanis Park, 300 Wetzel Road.
A large selection of native plants and hardy perennials from members’ gardens will be offered at bargain prices, along with herbs, vegetables, houseplants, bulbs, hanging baskets and potted arrangements perfect for Mother’s Day gifts.
A basket raffle and bake sale will add to the festivities.
Are your garden tools dull? Bring them to be sharpened for a voluntary donation. Cash or credit cards will be accepted.
The event will be held rain or shine.
Proceeds will benefit community projects and philanthropic donations of the Shaler Garden Club.
For details, visit shalergardenclub.com.
Vendors sought for Mother’s Day Market
The Elfinwild Volunteer Fire Company is planning its second annual Mother’s Day Market & Flower Sale from 4 to 8 p.m. May 9 at the station, 2807 Mt. Royal Blvd. in Shaler.
Applications currently are being sought for vendors. The market is indoors and space is limited.
Participants will receive a 6-foot-by-6-foot space for $35; tables are not provided. If you need to rent a table, it will cost an additional $15. Note that tables are provided in the order of requests made.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Applications can be accessed online at tinyurl.com/2y5e8jb9.
The fire company plans to make its vendor selections by March 7.
For details, call 412-670-5203 or email EVFCfundraising@gmail.com.
Nominees sought for Community Champions initiative
WQED, in partnership with Giant Eagle, recently announced the third season of its Community Champions initiative — a collaboration that celebrates and supports local people and nonprofit organizations that are doing good in their communities.
This year, the initiative is taking a new approach by asking community members to nominate nonprofit organizations that are making a difference.
The deadline to nominate is March 16.
From these nominations, one organization will be selected as the 2025 Community Champion and will be featured in a video profile airing in June.
In past seasons, WQED and Giant Eagle selected a monthly champion that was then featured in an inspiring video profile. Community Champions has showcased 10 organizations in diverse areas of focus, including health care, food insecurity, sustainability, and accessibility and supportive services.
The 2024 Community Champion was Best Buddies, a local nonprofit that aims to end the isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Whenever I tell people that I work for Best Buddies, they automatically go, ‘Thank you so much for doing this,’ ” said Samantha Mildner, Western Pennsylvania Area director for Best Buddies. “Everybody should be including people with disabilities. And I just happen to love what I do. I’m so lucky that I get to create friendships for a living.”
To ecnourage everyone’s participation in nominating, WQED is showcasing a different past Champion each week on its social channels.
To nominate an organization, visit wqed.org/champions.
Free tax help available through AARP Foundation
Through April 14, the AARP Foundation will provide free tax assistance and preparation in Allegheny County through its Tax-Aide program.
Volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS each year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. and Pennsylvania Tax Code. The program e-files individual Federal, Pennsylvania and local EIT income tax returns and makes sure its clients claim the tax refund, credits and deductions earned.
Income tax returns will be prepared during one visit by appointment only, generally lasting an hour to 75 minutes. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Here is list of nearby sites, schedules and contact information to make an appointment:
• Shaler Undercliff Volunteer Fire Department, 700 Mt. Royal Blvd.: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 6 through April 14; contact state Sen. Lindsey Williams’ office at 412-364-0469 (there is no Tax-Aide contact number at the fire station).
• Ross Municipal Building, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 4 through April 10; contact state Sen. Lindsey Williams’ office at 412-364-0469 (there is no Tax-Aide contact number at the center).
• State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer’s office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Suite 100, Wexford: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 3 to April 14; contact Shaffer’s office at 412-369-2230.
• State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer’s office, 4375 Gibsonia Road, West Deer: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 4 to April 10; contact Shaffer’s office at 412-369-2230.
More information, including an update on tax code changes affecting 2024 tax returns and documents needed for return preparation, can be found online at taxaide-pittsburgh.com.