In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of April 15, 2024
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Shade Tree Commission plans Arbor Day event
The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission invites the community to participate in a family-friendly Arbor Day Celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. May 4 in Universal Park. The rain date is May 5.
The group is celebrating Penn Hills being recognized as a Tree City USA for the fifth year in a row.
To mark the occasion, 18 native trees and shrubs will be planted. The event will include a giveaway of native tree and shrub seedlings, nature crafts and face-painting for the children and refreshments.
Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission hats and T-shirts will be for sale.
If you want to help plant, bring your own chair and a shovel.
For details, visit PennHillsSTC.org.
Free cooking classes for kids coming up
Penn Hills Parks and Recreation is offering cooking classes for kids at Rolling Hills Church, 120 Gernert Drive.
The first session, set from 10 to 11 a.m. April 20, will feature a take-and-bake pizza. A take-and-bake dessert is on the menu for the second session from 10 to 11 a.m. May 18.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis up to about 50 participants.
To sign up, call Penn Hills Parks and Recreation at 412-798-2147.
PennDOT plans hiring event next week
PennDOT is hosting a hiring event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23 at its Allegheny County office, 51 Fox Chapel Road, in O’Hara.
On-the-spot interviews and conditional job offers may be offered, so applicants should bring two valid forms of identification. Driving skills tests also will take place throughout the day. CDL operators must have a valid state CDL Class A or B license with no restrictions and a current medical examiner certificate.
There are full-time opportunities as well as seasonal opportunities for highway maintenance, summer students, transportation equipment operation and an engineering internship.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, as well as sick and annual leave.
For those who are unable to attend the event, PennDOT lists available positions at tinyurl.com/4epyk6js. For a list of all state jobs, visit careers.employment.pa.gov.
Library offering programs to boost health, wellness
Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, is offering a variety of programming for adults to boost health and wellness in April.
• Yoga Fridays: 2 to 3 p.m. April 26. Refresh your mind and renew your body with yoga in the library’s community room. No registration is required.
• Guided Meditation: 6 to 7 p.m. April 22. Monks from the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center will lead participants in a meditation session. No registration is required.
• Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 29. Participants will learn about the latest research in areas of nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Registration is required and can be made by visiting the events calendar online at pennhills.librarycalendar.com.
For details about any of the above programs, call the library at 412-775-4700.
Free smoke detectors available to residents
State Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, has teamed up with the American Red Cross to offer free smoke detectors to residents in Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona.
The American Red Cross also will install the smoke detectors in your home for free.
To sign up, call 412-263-5278. A Red Cross representative will ask for some information and then schedule a time to install the smoke detectors.
Veterans, spouses can get free help with forms, benefits
Free assistance is available to veterans from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month at state Rep. Joe McAndrew’s office in Penn Hills, 77 Universal Road, Suite 1.
Help for veterans and their spouses is available on a variety of topics, including compensation and pension claims, education benefits, enrollment in the VA Health Care System, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits and obtaining military personnel and medical records.
McAndrew’s district covers Penn Hills, Plum, Oakmont and Verona.
To schedule an appointment for April or other months, call 412-793-2448.
10th annual ‘Friends of Jupiter’ Pet Walk set
Registration is open for the 10th annual “Friends of Jupiter” Pet Walk, which will be held April 28 at Tanglewood Shelter at Boyce Park in Plum.
The event is named for Jupiter, a Maltese rescued from a puppy mill. It will start at 9 a.m., rain or shine, with the walk starting at 10 a.m. It includes a basket raffle, pet vendors and local rescues.
Proceeds will benefit various animal rescues.
For details, visit the Friends of Jupiter website at friendsofjupiter.wix.com/petwalk or email friendsofjupiter@gmail.com.
Car club plans blessing ceremony
Members of the East Coast Motor Mafia car club will host a car-blessing ceremony April 20.
It will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Holy Grail Auto Storage & Clubhouse, 905 Main St. in East Pittsburgh.
The club’s house chaplain will bless cars for the 2024 season. Donations will be accepted.
For details, call 412-906-3682 or visit theholygrailgarage.com.
Car show benefit set for April 21
The Steel City Chapter of the Heavy Hitters Car Club will host a car show April 21.
It will be from noon to 5 p.m. at the CCAC Boyce Campus, 595 Beatty Road in Monroeville, with special guest host and former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Louis Lipps.
The entry fee is $10 and the event will include food, music, a 50-50 and basket raffles along with awards in seven categories.
Proceeds will benefit Tiny Cause, a nonprofit dog rescue shelter in Vandergrift. For details, visit SCheavyhitters.com.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets Tuesday evenings
The local chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a support group to help those struggling with weight loss, meets Tuesday evenings at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave., in Oakmont. Meetings begin with a private weigh-in between 5:45 and 6:10 p.m.
Anyone interested in joining can attend a meeting and decide if TOPS is right for them. For details, call 412-828-3854 or email jmjkwj@gmail.com.
Class of 1974 to gather June 8
The Penn Hills High School Class of 1974 will have its 50th reunion at 6 p.m. June 8 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downtown Pittsburgh.
The venue changed from the Monroeville DoubleTree, which recently announced its closure.
The cost is $65. The gathering will include appetizers, food stations, dessert, nonalcoholic beverages, a photo booth and a DJ. There will be a cash bar.
To make a reservation, visit Penn Hills Class of 1974 on Facebook, email PHHS74Reunion@gmail.com or contact Deborah (Tedesco) Gathagan at dgathagan@verizon.net.
Household chemical collection scheduled
The Pennsylvania Resource Council will hold a household chemical collection from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 17 at Boyce Park in Plum.
Individuals can drop off automotive fluids, household cleaners, pesticides, paints and other household chemicals. A $20 fee covers disposal of up to 10 gallons or 50 pounds of material per vehicle. Loads exceeding 10 gallons and 50 pounds will be subject to additional fees.
Participants must register in advance at prc.org/collectionevents or by calling 412-488-7490.