Top stories from around the Lower Valley for the week of Oct. 5

Here are some of this past week’s top stories:

• Federal program offers free meals for Fox Chapel Area students

Students in the Fox Chapel Area School District can receive free breakfast and lunch, likely through the end of the year. The free meals are available to all students — not just those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches — through a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program until Dec. 31, or until funding runs out.

• Sharpsburg demolition part of Route 28 project

Four Sharpsburg homes were razed by PennDOT as part of a landslide remediation project in conjunction with the Route 28 widening between Millvale and the Highland Park Bridge. The houses sat along Noble Street, which abuts the expressway.

• Fox Chapel Area Rotary donates to Sharpsburg food pantry

The Rotary Club of Fox Chapel Area donated $500 in groceries to the St. Juan Diego food pantry, run from the basement of St. Mary’s Church.

Barbara George, food pantry director, said the delivery is perfect timing since volunteers are working double-time to ensure the shelves remain stocked in preparation for winter.

• Pittsburgh Zoo front entrance slated for makeover

The parking lot at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will get a makeover with gaming money from Allegheny County.

The zoo was awarded $450,000 through the county’s Gaming Economic Development and Tourism grant program, which will pay to rebuild the parking area and front entrance along Baker Street.