In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of March 25, 2024
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State lawmakers plan document shredding event
Penn Hills residents can shred documents containing personal information such as Social Security, credit card and bank account numbers from 9:30 a.m. to noon April 6 at Linton Middle School.
The event is hosted by state Sen. Jay Costa and state Rep. Joe McAndrew. Individuals can bring up to three boxes per car, free of charge.
Organizers also will collect nonperishable food items for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Yard waste collection dates set for 2 Mondays
Penn Hills is planning a leaf and yard waste collection on April 1 and 8.
Bags must be set out Sunday evening before the Monday collection dates.
All material must be root-free and placed in approved paper leaf/yard waste bags that are folded closed; do not use staples or tape to secure the bags. Other types of bags will not be picked up.
Acceptable material includes leaves; garden residue such as flowers and plants with no roots attached; shrubbery and tree trimmings less than a half-inch in diameter.
The following material will not be accepted: grass, ground-up leaves, dirt, stones, roots, plastic bags, boxes and containers.
All yard waste bags must be under 30 pounds. Bags over that weight or containing inappropriate material will be left behind.
Bags also can be dropped off at the municipal compost site throughout the year by making an appointment with the public works department at 412-798-2151. A 24-hour notice is required when scheduling an appointment.
For details, visit pennhillspa.gov.
Library offering primer on total solar eclipse
Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, is planning a primer for adults from 1 to 2 p.m. March 30 on the upcoming total solar eclipse.
The program will offer an introduction to solar features visible on Earth’s nearest star, the sun, and provide tips on safe viewing of the April 8 total solar eclipse, using both white-light and H-alpha solar filters.
Weather permitting, a small solar telescope will be set up outdoors so audience members can safely observe the sun and any solar features visible that day.
Registration is required and can be made by visiting the events calendar online at pennhills.librarycalendar.com.
For details, call the library at 412-775-4700.
District students to work from home during eclipse
The Penn Hills School District is planning a Flexible Instruction Day on April 8 because of the solar eclipse.
Students will be learning from home to ensure their safety. Everyone is reminded to use special eclipse glasses to safely view the phenomenon.
The duration of totality, as the moon passes in front of the sun, is expected to last about 4 minutes and 28 seconds.
At science.nasa.gov, NASA shares the times that totality will begin as the eclipse passes over some cities in North America. In Erie, partial totality is expected to begin at 2:02 p.m.; followed by the start and end of totality, at 3:16 p.m. and 3:20 p.m., respectively; and the end of partial totality at 4:30 p.m.
The next total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States will take place on Aug. 23, 2044.
High school plans ice cream social with ‘Shrek’ cast
Penn Hills High School will perform “Shrek the Musical” at 7 p.m. April 25-27 and 2 p.m. April 28. Tickets can be purchased at phhsmusical.com.
The high school will host an ice cream social with the cast tentatively scheduled for April 5. For details, visit the Penn Hills High School’s Spring Musical page on Facebook.
Trinity Tower UMC plans Holy Week services
Pastor Greg Spencer of Trinity Tower United Methodist Church, 6729 Saltsburg Road, announces Holy Week worship services. The services also will be livestreamed on YouTube and can be accessed from the church’s website at trinity towerchurch.com. For details, call the church at 412-793-9000.
March 28: Maundy Thursday — 7 p.m.
March 29: Good Friday — 7:30 p.m.
March 30: Easter Egg Hunt — 10 a.m. to noon
March 31: Easter Sunday — 9 a.m., contemporary worship; 10:30 a.m., traditional worship
PALS to collect baby items at April meeting
The Plum Area Ladies Society (PALS) will have its next monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 3 in the Plum Community Center.
The meeting will include a baby shower for residents of the Roselia Pregnant and Parenting Support Facility. A member of the Roselia staff will speak about the mission and operation of the facility.
Suggested shower gifts include diapers sizes 3-7; onesies, sleepers and outfits, sizes 12 months to 2T; and baby wash, shampoo, baby wipes and pacifiers. Gift cards to Target and Walmart also are welcome.
After the shower, nominations for next year’s banquet chairman will be accepted and voted on. The top charities members voted on to receive cash donations will be announced, as well as the estimated amount of the donations pending expenses for the May banquet. Payment for the banquet, which is $30, will be accepted.
Also in April, the monthly Ladies Day out will be a miniature golf outing at Willows Golf & Ice Cream.
The date of the outing will be decided later, depending on the weather, and members who signed up will be notified.
PALS is a service/social club open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and the surrounding communities. Regular meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month, September through April, at the Plum Community Center. Newcomers are always welcome.
For details, call Mary Lou at 724-327-8265.
Luncheon, fashion show to raise money for Panhellenic scholarships
The Pittsburgh Alumnae Panhellenic, a chapter of the National Panhellenic Conference, will have its annual scholarship benefit luncheon at 11 a.m. April 13 at the South Hills Country Club in Whitehall.
For the past 107 years, this event has raised funds to support local collegiate members in their academic pursuits. The 2024 event is themed “Raising Strong Women” and will include a fashion show featuring girls through collegians.
The Pittsburgh Alumnae Panhellenic is a fraternal organization comprised of representatives of national sororities who live in and around the Pittsburgh region.
Sorority women, as well as their friends, are encouraged to attend to support the group’s fundraising efforts.
The April event will include a cash bar and raffle auction. Tickets must be purchased by April 1. The cost is $55 for adults, $35 for college students and $20 for children. Reservations can be made at https://tinyurl.com/mvtybh2h through Eventbrite.
For details, send an email to papbenefit@gmail.com.
Workshop to explore centering prayer
Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish is sponsoring a Centering Prayer Introductory Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 20.
The workshop will include a continental breakfast from 8:30 to 9 a.m., centering prayer experiences, discussion of the book “Open Heart, Open Mind” by Father Thomas Keating and follow-up sessions.
Registration is $20 and is payable in advance or at the door. Reservations are required by April 17.
Checks should be made payable to Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, in care of Irene Swackhammer, 200 Stotler Road, Penn Hills, PA 15235.
For details or to make a reservation, call 412-977-2721 or email irenes_2001@yahoo.com.
Stamp/postcard show on tap
The Wilkinsburg Stamp Club will hold its 74th annual stamp and postcard show in April at the Holiday Park Fire Hall in Plum.
The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13.
Dealers will provide a variety of items and will be available to appraise collections.
Admission and parking are free.
For details, visit wilkinsburgstampbluc.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.
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
The Steel City Chapter of the Heavy Hitters Car Club will host an April 21 car show.
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.
Venue changed for Class of 1974 reunion
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.