In brief: Herald area events for the week of Sept. 2, 2024

Hearing planned on zoning changes in Sharpsburg

Sharpsburg officials have scheduled a public hearing to discuss proposed zoning ordinance amendments.

The hearing is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at the borough building, 1611 Main St.

Councilwoman Sarah Ishman said the borough is “cleaning up the code” so it is in alignment with how properties already are in town.

One change is reducing minimum lot depth from 100 feet to 60 feet because there are few lots that big in the borough.

If someone wanted to rehab an empty lot for housing, they would have to request a variance under the current ordinance.

Ishman said the revisions have been reviewed by the planning commission and Allegheny County.

Aspinwall continues to assess water lines

Aspinwall’s water line inventory efforts continue as part of a state Department of Environmental Protection requirement.

Borough Manager Melissa Lang O’Malley said public works crews are looking to see what pipe is coming from a house to the water meters.

The inventory project began in June and is expected to conclude at the end of September.

There are about 1,150 properties in the borough including apartments.

Residents and property owners are to schedule an appointment for an inspection by calling the borough office at 412-781-0213.

The appointment is at no cost to the resident or property owner.

Wiggle Time open to youngest library patrons

Sharpsburg Community Library hosts Wiggle Time, a storytime for babies and toddlers with their caregivers, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Thursdays. The program is designed for children from birth to age 2.

Registrations are recommended. Drop-ins are welcome as space permits.

For details, call 412-781-0783.

Library comedy night to feature Brittany Alexis

Cooper-Siegel Community Library invites the community to Season Two of its popular comedy series “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Library” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 22.

The show for patrons 18 and older will feature headliner Brittany Alexis.

Alexis is an up-and-coming comic on the Pittsburgh comedy scene. She has performed on stages across the city, including at the Improv, Arcade Comedy Theater and Byham Theater, and has opened for the likes of Maria Bamford, Joe Pera and Zainab Johnson. She began her journey in comedy to become a better public speaker but fell in love with the craft.

Emcees for the evening will be Mike DiGuglielmo and special guest Stacey Fleurime.

Dancing Gnome Beer returns as a sponsor. Doors will open at 6.30 p.m.

The cost is $20, and there are a limited number of seats available.

To register, call the library at 412-828-9520 or visit online at coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org and click on the respective event under Events and Classes.

Caper Part 2 fundraiser set Sept. 21

Roots of Faith is presenting its Great Heinz Caper Part 2: Murder on Main at staggered 15-minute intervals from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in Sharpsburg.

The live game of “Clue” will begin and end at Roots of Faith, 800 Main St. The clues are spread throughout borough businesses.

The story: At last year’s caper, Gino from Gino Brothers Pizza Bar was arrested for stealing the renowned Andy Warhol painting of ketchup bottles from the Heinz factory. Gino says he was framed, and Katie from Love, Katie Distilling and Nanci from Ketchup City Creative were seen exchanging money when Gino was arrested. Now a murder on Main Street and a clue at the murder site has the whole town abuzz. Who really stole the painting? Who committed the murder? Who is the mastermind behind this dark scheme?

Participants can sign up as an individual or team to try to solve the mystery in the shortest amount of time to win $500. Participants have three hours to solve the mystery.

The winner will be announced and the “murderer” will be arrested at 5 p.m. at Roots of Faith. There also will be prizes awarded for best costume for a team and best costume for an individual.

Tickets are free for Sharpsburg residents and $10 each for nonresidents. Roots of Faith, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is asking everyone to bring a birthday card for its birthday wall and, if you can, to donate $10. (Participants should bring their birthday card and donation with them.)

Residents can register at https://tinyurl.com/yps99nt9, and nonresidents can purchase tickets through Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/ytaukuve.

All proceeds benefit Roots of Faith.

Dorseyville named an Apple school

Dorseyville Middle School has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for the 2024–27 program term.

Schools apply and are selected for the distinction based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to inspire, imagine and impact teaching and learning.

Since the program’s inception, 889 schools in 37 countries have been named an Apple Distinguished School.

Twenty-four of those schools are in Pennsylvania.

Touch-A-Truck event to benefit Blawnox pantry

The Fox Chapel Police Department invites the community to “see, touch, explore, honk” during its second annual Touch-A-Truck event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21 behind the borough building, 401 Fox Chapel Road.

The event is for all ages and will include emergency vehicles, construction vehicles, tow trucks and more.

Admission is free with a monetary or nonperishable food item for the Blawnox Community Food Pantry, which serves the Fox Chapel Area School District.

There also will be activities for children.

Garden club’s fundraiser slated for Oct. 16-18

The Garden Club of Allegheny County is celebrating its 110th anniversary and the 28th year of Pizzazz, a boutique shopping benefit set for Oct. 16-18 at the Fox Chapel Golf Club, 426 Fox Chapel Road.

The event has raised more than $2 million to fund environmental and conservation projects throughout the Pittsburgh region.

This year’s event will feature more than 30 boutiques from across the country and Scotland. Merchandise will include men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, jewelry, leather goods, gifts, home décor, linens, personalized stationery and specialty food items.

There will be a preview party from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16. Tickets are $150.

Shopping hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 17 and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 18. Admission each day is $10 or $45 for admission and lunch at the club’s Tavern Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 17-18. Advance ticket purchase for lunch is advised.

For details, visit https://www.gcacpgh.org/pizzazz or call 412-967-9081.

AAUW, CCAC team up to boost women’s careers

The Fox Chapel Area affiliate of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is announcing a new partnership with Community College of Allegheny County as the two organizations work together to help launch young women on new or expanding careers.

The AAUW meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at the pavilion in Allegheny River Trail Park, Aspinwall. The speaker will be Kristina Zuccarelli, manager of scholarships and alumni affairs for CCAC.

Zuccarelli will discuss the benefits of the partnership and how she believes the Career Launching Awards from AAUW will be received by older or returning female students at the school.

Attendees will learn how CCAC is changing and helping students manage the cost of higher education. The college’s current demographics will offer a glimpse into what the student body looks like today as well as its projected outcomes. Zuccarelli, in cooperation with the enrollment department, also will share the number of students who could be eligible for the AAUW awards in the spring.

Sharpsburg flea market runs Sundays through October

Sharpsburg Community Flea Market is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays through the end of October along North Canal and Tenth streets.

The cost is $5 per spot for vendors.

For details, call Chas Smith at 412-927-9221.

Celebration of Recovery set; game room opening soon

Addiction Recovery Ministry invites the community to its third annual Celebration of Recovery from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 21 at the John Paul I Center, 201 Ninth St. in Sharpsburg.

The legacy of the Rev. Michael Decewicz, who died in November at 72, will be celebrated. Decewicz, a recovering alcoholic, founded Addiction Recovery Ministry and served as its director.

There will be music, art and light refreshments.

To RSVP by Sept. 10, call Rosemarie Haas at 412-378-9290.

In addition, the ministry has announced the Sept. 27 opening of the Michael Decewicz Sober Game Room for people in recovery.

The game room will be open from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the John Paul I Center.

Help available for people grieving loved ones

Are you grieving the loss of a loved one or know someone who is?

Consider joining GriefShare for hope, healing and guidance.

GriefShare is a 13-week Christian faith-based support group that will be offered weekly from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays, starting Sept. 12 through Dec. 12, at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road.

For details or questions, contact Kim Power at 412-965-8794 or kimfpower@gmail.com.

Visit griefshare.org/findagroup to register directly.

Fall Fabric Fair set for Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is hosting its Fall Fabric Fair from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Salvation Army Pittsburgh Temple Worship and Service Center, 1060 McNeilly Road, Mt. Lebanon.

The popular one-day sale is made possible by the Salvation Army’s Greater Pittsburgh Women’s Auxiliary

For more than three decades, the twice-a-year fundraiser — held in the spring and fall — has offered bargains on rare fabrics, unique patterns and a variety of materials and equipment needed for crocheting, knitting, quilting and “sew” much more. The fabric fairs have raised nearly $750,000 over the years, with all proceeds providing critical assistance to individuals and families throughout Allegheny County.

Shoppers are advised to come early for the best selection. After exploring indoors, visitors can enjoy a $10 bag sale outside, which will be stocked with a variety of materials.

Admission is free and complimentary parking will be available on-site, with free shuttles running from two satellite parking locations at Keystone Oaks High School and Keystone Oaks Middle School. Snacks and lunch items also will be available for purchase.

Carts and strollers are prohibited, and reusable shopping bags are highly encouraged.

The Fall Fabric Fair is a community-driven event made possible thanks to donations of all the items for sale. There is always a need for donated items, as well as additional volunteers to measure and sort fabric in preparation for the fair.

Donations are being accepted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays (February through October) at the Salvation Army’s warehouse in Green Tree, rear of 820 Parish St.

Fabric donations will not be accepted during the actual Fabric Fair event.

For details, call 412-446-1500 or visit salvationarmywpa.org/fabricfair. For a peek at items for sale, follow the Salvation Army Greater Pittsburgh Women’s Auxiliary on Facebook and @salarmypgh on Instagram.

The Spring Fabric Fair is set for Saturday, April 12.

Pantry items wanted

Sharpsburg Community Library needs items for its Little Free Pantry at 1212 Main St.

Items needed include tomato sauce, pasta, tuna, cereal, mac and cheese, fruit snacks, peanut butter, snack packs and shelf-stable milk.

Items not needed include applesauce, pretzels, fruit cups, pudding, canned soup, canned beans and toiletry products.

Donations can be made during library hours from 1 to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The pantry is stocked three times weekly and is completely supported through donations.

For details, call the library at 412-781-0783.

Sharpsburg seeks volunteers for bicentennial events

Sharpsburg will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2026.

Residents interested in planning or volunteering to help with any events are invited to sign up for the borough’s Bicentennial Committee.

To access the signup form, visit sharpsburgborough.com and scanning the QR code under the header “Want to help plan the bicentennial events?”

The borough anticipates having multiple events throughout the anniversary year and will need lots of help.

Group offers support for weight loss

All are welcome to join the men and women at Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) who are learning how to lose weight.

With in-person meetings, rewards, support and encouragement, we gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise.

You may visit with no obligation Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. in Oakmont. Weigh-in is private followed by a brief business meeting, sharing time, and educational program all ending by 7:15.

There is well-lit parking, wheelchair accessibility and security. For details, call 412-828-3854 or e-mail jmjkwj@gmail.com.

Categories: Fox Chapel Herald | Local