News briefs: Ash Wednesday services, Shaler Area accolades, blood drive and more

Hampton Presbyterian Church will observe the first day of Lent on Feb. 17 with an Ash Wednesday worship service at 7:30 p.m.

Ashes will be distributed, pending restrictions.

The nursery is not available during covid-19 but small children are welcome to be with their families in the service. There are also locations throughout the building where the service will be live-steamed. The church is at 2942 East Hardies Road in Gibsonia.

Shaler Superintendent earns doctorate degree

Shaler Area Superintendent Sean Aiken successfully defended his dissertation, “Lived Experiences of Authentic Leaders during the covid-19 Pandemic Crisis: A Qualitative Study of Superintendents.”

Aiken studied authentic leadership of K-12 superintendents in response to crisis, specifically the current covid-19 pandemic. He explored how school superintendents developed as leaders and how their leadership has impacted their school district during the crisis.

A Doctorate in Education will be conferred on Aiken at Point Park University’s commencement ceremony on May 1.

Aiken has served as an educator for 27 years in a variety of roles, including teacher, coach and athletic director before transitioning to an administrative role. He has served as Shaler Area’s Superintendent since 2015.

Aiken holds a bachelor’s degree from Malone University and master’s degree from Regent University. He received his Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from the University of Pittsburgh.

Shaler alumni make dean’s list at Clarion

Several Shaler Area alumni were inducted to the dean’s list at Clarion University.

The following students earned at least a 3.5 GPA to be named to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester: Lexi Bruner, Ryleigh Bruner, Gary Latuszewski Jr and Sandra Thompson.

Blood drive in works

Millvale Community Center will have a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 29.

To make an appointment, visit vitalant.org and search with group code C5300067 or call 412-209-7000 or contact Cyndi Funk at cfunk@vitalant.org.

This drive will also help fight hunger, as contributions will be made on behalf of the North Hills Community Outreach to help feed as many as 25 families in need. Funding for the partnership is made possible by the Blood Science Foundation.

The community center is at 416 Lincoln Ave.

Glass collection/recycling event on tap

A glass collection/recycling event will be Jan. 30 to Feb. 4 at Hampton Community Park.

People can place glass in bins from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the swimming pool parking lot, 3101 McCully Road.

Items accepted include clear and colored glass bottles, jars and jugs. Windows, drinking glasses and dishes will not be taken.

Items should be rinsed but caps and labels are OK to be left on.

Street closure in effect

Kittanning Street in Etna is closed between Greismere and Snyder streets.

Work to relocate storm sewer lines is expected to take at least one month.

Detours are posted.

Part of Mt. Troy Road closed to fix landslide

A portion of Mt. Troy Road in Reserve is closed for up to three months for landslide remediation.

Work will target the section from Fornof Lane to Lonsdale Street.

The cost of the project is about $690,000. Carmen Paliotta Contracting will perform the work.

Traffic will be detoured by using Spring Garden Road, Chestnut Street, Phineas Street, Troy Hill Road, Lowrie Street, Ley Street, Rialto Street and Pittview Avenue.

In addition, the northbound lane of part of the 3200 block of Mt. Troy Road is closed. Traffic at the single-lane closure will be controlled using temporary signals.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Nonperishable items needed for food drive

Donations of nonperishable food items for the Shaler Area Backpack Initiative are accepted at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 66 Grant Ave., from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays.

The food program provides weekend meals to more than 100 children in kindergarten through eighth grade, dishing out easy-to-prep meals and single-serving snacks to ensure nutrition isn’t missed when kids are away from the classroom.

Financial donations can be made payable to Shaler Area School District with “Backpack Initiative” in the memo line and mailed to 1800 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw, PA 15116.

Lottery calendars available as fundraiser

The Etna Economic Development Corp. is fundraising with 2021 lottery calendars.

They are available for purchase at Winschel Hardware, Porky’s, Tony’s Auto, Allegheny Motors and the borough office, as well as the Blue Goose Saloon on Mt. Royal Boulevard in Shaler. The cost is $20.

The borough office is closed to the public but anyone who wants to buy a calendar should ring the buzzer near the side door and wait for assistance.

Library offers meditation program

A virtual meditation program is available for free through the Shaler North Hills Library in January.

Classes are 9:30 to 10 a.m. Fridays via Zoom. Participants must commit to the four-week session and register at shalerlibrary.org.

Teacher Cynthia Ballard is a certified yoga teacher specializing in meditation, relaxation, hatha yoga and others.

She has been volunteering at Our Clubhouse, a cancer support center, for more than 13 years.

Trib journalism scholarships available

Trib Total Media is still accepting applications for both the Scholarship for Diversity in Media and the Jim Borden Memorial Scholarship.

The Scholarship for Diversity in Media is open to high school seniors who are culturally, ethnically or racially diverse and are planning to study journalism, communication or English writing at a four-year college or university.

The scholarship will include financial assistance of up to $7,500 per year for four years, a guaranteed annual internship with Trib Total Media and an offer for full-time employment upon graduation.

The Jim Borden Memorial Scholarship is offered to high school or college students attending — or planning to attend — a four-year college or university to study journalism, English writing or communication. The recipient will earn up to $30,000 in scholarship money awarded in annual installments of up to $7,500, an annual internship with Trib Total Media and an offer for full-time employment upon graduation.

Applicants can apply online under the Career & Scholarship Opportunities tab at tribtotalmedia.com.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 31.

Women’s Business Network meetings set

The Cranberry Chapter of the Women’s Business Network meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:30 a.m. in Cranberry United Presbyterian Church, 2662 Rochester Road, Cranberry. Guests are welcome to attend at no cost. Some meetings are held virtually. For details, call Nancy Wood at 724-316-3427.

The Criders Corners Chapter meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at noon at The Sports Grille, 1294 Freedom Road, Cranberry Township. For details, call Sherri at 412-760-9601.

The All-Virtual Chapter meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. For details, call Jennifer at 412-908-1663.