In Brief: Winter art show, Valentine's food drive and more in the North Hills

Winter Show

The annual Winter Show at the North Hills Art Center runs through Feb. 26 and will include a virtual display of pieces for people who want to avoid in-person gatherings.

The show, titled “Where Love Dwells,” benefits the non-profit group Hello Neighbor, which helps refugee families with children settle in the Pittsburgh area.

The virtual show kicked off Feb. 6 on the art center’s YouTube channel, with a juried exhibition in the gallery through Feb. 26.

“This show visually depicts the meaning of ‘home’ across different countries and cultures and shows what is important to us and what makes a house a home,” said Kim Freithaler, the art center’s executive director. “In addition to our 79 local artists’ entries, we have 16 pieces created by refugee family members who come from Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Nepal/Bhutan.”

Hello Neighbor helps refugee families assimilate in their new homes in the Pittsburgh area by assigning them a mentor.

The gallery is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

The art center is located at 3432 Babcock Boulevard in Ross.

Valentine’s food drive benefits needy families

McCandless residents can show a little love to mark the Valentine’s Day holiday by participating in a food drive sponsored by the North Allegheny Women’s Association.

A variety of items are needed including nonperishable food and personal care items including shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, unscented bar soap and shower gel.

The items collected will benefit the North Hills Community Outreach.

Collection boxes are in the lobby of McCandless Town Hall. The items will be collected from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 8 to 12 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Feb. 16 and 19.

The town hall is located at 9955 Grubbs Road.

Church offering ashes to go

Northmont Presbyterian Church in Ross hasn’t been holding in-person worship services since the spring because of the coronavirus pandemic. But, worshipers can still mark the start of Lent with the imposition of ashes during the church’s virtual service on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., which is being live-streamed in conjunction with the Wexford and Hiland Presbyterian churches.

Small cups with enough ashes for a family are located inside the church entrance near the wheelchair ramp weekdays from 8 to 5 p.m.

The church is located at 8169 Perry Highway.

Send us your fish fry info

To get your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the Pine Creek Journal and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com.

Franklin Park seeks applicants for finance position

Franklin Park is accepting applications for an immediate opening for the position of treasurer/finance director.

A description of the job requirements is available on the borough’s website. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Applicants should send a cover letter and resume by email to Borough manager Regis Ebner at rebner@franklinparkborough.us. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Block Party To Go charity fundraiser

Participants in North Hills Community Outreach’s annual block party fundraiser won’t be able to gather in person this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the North Hills charity and social service agency is still planning to party.

Have fun at home with a “Block Party To Go” party bag. The adult bags include a do-it-yourself pizza kit, wine, dessert, a game and more. The children’s bag includes a craft kit from Dots and Doodles, snacks and other items.

Some of the bags will include a “bonus” gift card to a local restaurant or business. The first 300 party-to-go kits will include a link to play BuzzWorthy Pub Trivia.

More information and an order form for party bags are available online at NHCO/Block-Party.

Free tax prep

A free tax preparation service is being offered by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania through April 10.

The service is available virtually or through a combination of online and in-person meetings.

Clients can upload their materials and tax experts will prepare and review the return. The hybrid tax preparation will require two brief appointments in a safe environment, following covid-19 guidelines, to provide information and review the return.

The service is available to residents in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Assistance from a volunteer tax preparer is available for people and families with a total annual income of up to $57,000.

A free, do-it-yourself online tax assistance program is available at myfreetaxes.com.

McCandless deer management discussion

McCandless has invited three experts to present information and answer questions about efforts to develop a program to address the town’s growing deer population. The virtual meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. The speakers will be state Game Warden Madison Kyle, Jeannine Fleegle, a deer biologist for the game commission, and Ken Allshouse, a forest scientist and member of the McCandless Environmental Advisory Committee.

Space is limited and advance registration for this Zoom event is required. Sign up online to participate.