In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of Sept. 2, 2024

Insurance fair planned at senior center

Penn Hills is hosting a health insurance fair for seniors from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Penn Hills Senior Service Center, 147 Jefferson Road.

Anyone 60 and older is invited.

Representatives from Humana, UPMC, Highmark, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna Healthcare and WellCare Health Plans will be in attendance to help seniors decide whether to change providers.

Phyllis Paciulli, director of the senior center, emphasized that this event will be strictly informational and insurance focused. Medicare open enrollment doesn’t start until Oct. 15, and it runs through Dec. 7.

“It is not going to be an in-home service, hospice, assisted living, nursing home type of thing,” Paciulli said. “And the vendors know they’re not allowed to sell during that time.”

Seniors also will be able to book a private room at the center to meet with insurance representatives between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays from Oct. 23 to Dec. 4.

For additional details, call 412-244-3400 or 412-244-3407.

Love Your Library Month fundraiser underway

September is Love Your Library Month.

People are encouraged to donate to Penn Hills Library in person; via mail at 1037 Stotler Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235; or online through the Allegheny County Library Association link at https://aclalibraries.org/explore/library-finder/penn-hills/.

All donations will be partially matched and are tax deductible.

Explore fall planting, jazz, poetry at library events

Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, has a few special programs planned for September, including:

Fall Is for Planting, 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 9: Join members of the Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission as they share information about planting and maintaining trees, as well as how the group got its start and some of its projects. For adults; registration is required.

End of Summer Jazz Concert, 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11: Join Calvin Stemley & Stemtecs Band for a performance on the outdoor patio, weather permitting. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. All ages; registration is required.

The Words I Speak Are Plentiful, 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 14: Join Kim A. Robinson, a Pittsburgh native, for a poetic experience. Robinson’s creative works have been heard and seen at numerous venues throughout the city. For adults; registration is required.

To register for any of the above programs, call the library at 412-775-4700 or visit pennhillslibrary.org and click on the respective event.

A complete list of programs for all ages, from birth through adult, is available on the library’s website.

History Week to feature variety of topics

Penn Hills Library, 1037 Stotler Road, is marking History Week with a variety of educational programs for adults.

• Galileo — The First Optical Astronomer, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16: Attendees will learn about the life of the Italian Renaissance man who helped to propel the science of astronomy into the Age of Enlightenment. Weather permitting, a small telescope will be set up outdoors for observing.

• The History of the Hollywood Blacklist, 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17: Film historian Melanie Novak will discuss the 1950s Red Scare and how it divided Hollywood and ruined the careers of many prominent writers and actors.

• Fort Pitt, 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18: This presentation and question-and-answer session will cover the history of Fort Pitt and its role in Western Pennsylvania. Constructed during the British French and Indian War, the outpost served as a cornerstone in the region for several decades including during the American Revolution.

• The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Origins of Christianity, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19: Dr. Tucker Ferda, a New Testament scholar from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, will discuss the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls and what scholars are continuing to learn about Jesus and Christianity.

To register for any of the above programs, call the library at 412-775-4700 or visit pennhillslibrary.org and click on the respective event.

Plum AARP kicks off new season Sept. 10

The Plum AARP chapter will hold the first business meeting of its new season at noon Sept. 10 at Unity Community Church.

Cake, coffee and tea will be served after the meeting. The program will be by Ron Soltis, who will sing and play the keyboard.

Plum AARP is a social/service organization open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and the surrounding communities. Meetings are held at noon on the second Tuesday of each month, from September through August (except June), at Unity Community Church.

Each meeting features a program such as a speaker, entertainment or games. The Plum AARP hosts a Christmas Party, May Luncheon and a Summer Social, as well as 2 Hot Dogs with Fixings luncheons. Day trips and overnight trips are offered by Thomas Tours and Louise Grassi Tours.

For details, call Mary Lou at 724-327-8265.

Free replacement event planned for those with peeling license plates

State Reps. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-24th District, are hosting a free peeling license plate replacement event from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 28 at Petra Ministries Church, near U-Pull-&-Pay, at 235 Eastgate Drive in Penn Hills.

Local police officers and legislative team members will assist motorists in submitting PennDOT paperwork to replace illegible license plates.

Motorists with illegible plates face a $100 fine, according to Section 1332 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

Participants must bring their current vehicle registration to this event.

Note: Replacement plates will not be issued during the event but will be available for pickup once the paperwork is processed. The new license plate will have a new number. Vanity plates cannot be accommodated at this event.

For questions about this event or other state services available at McAndrew’s office, call 412-793-2448 or email RepMcAndrew@PAHouse.net.

Rosedale Beach Club requests donations for festival

Rosedale Beach Club in Verona has put out a call for donations for the pool’s annual festival.

The donation wish list includes various types of soda and paper products such as napkins, paper towels, plates, aluminum pans and Ziploc bags. Festival planners also are accepting food donations such as individual bags of Fritos, taco meat, haluski, pierogies and sweet and hot sausage.

Monetary donations also are being accepted. The festival is scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 12-14. The event will include games, rides, food and music.

Any questions can be directed to 412-616-2132 or italianmamadani@yahoo.com.

Free flea market held Sundays

Looking to declutter?

The Steel Goat Marketplace, 200 Jefferson Road, invites residents to participate in and attend its Outdoor Flea Market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday.

Setup from 9:30 to 11 a.m. is free of fees and hassle — community members can just show up and start selling.

The business also offers more than 100 specialty vendors, crafters and artisans inside.

Class of 1984 to gather in November

The Penn Hills High School Class of 1984 is celebrating its 40th reunion in November.

Members are invited to mark the occasion from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Comfort Inn & Suites RIDC, 180 Gamma Drive in O’Hara.

The cost is $58 per person and includes a buffet dinner and two drink tickets.

The itinerary includes cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7, dancing until 11 and a karaoke afterparty from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the hotel bar.

Tickets can be purchased via Venmo at https://venmo.com/u/Kristy-McGowan-1 through Kristy (McGill) McGowan.

For attendees who prefer to stay at the hotel, a block of rooms with king-size beds have been reserved for $87 a night. The hotel offers free breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, and has an indoor heated pool that’s open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. To reserve a room, call the hotel at 412-963-0600 and ask for the Penn Hills High School 40th reunion rate.

For questions, email ph84reunion@gmail.com or visit the Penn Hills Class of 1984 Facebook page.

‘Garfield Movie’ to be shown in Friendship Park

The Penn Hills Parks and Recreation Department is winding down the summer with a showing of “The Garfield Movie” on Friday, Sept. 13, in Friendship Park.

The PG-rated movie will begin at dusk.

There will be free admission and snacks.

Flutist to perform Caribbean sounds at library

Flutist Gemma Stemley is scheduled to perform music from the Caribbean region from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 31 at Penn Hills Library.

Selections will cover calypso, reggae and soca — (so)ul of (ca)lypso.

Stemley, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, will teach audience members about the differences in the rhythmic sounds of the music of Harry Belafonte, who was credited with popularizing calypso in the U.S.

She also will share the history of the steel pan and Native American flute.

Registration is required and can be made by calling 412-775-4700 or visiting pennhillslibrary.org and clicking on the events list.

All-class Penn Hills reunion set for Sept. 14

The Penn Hills High School alumni group is planning its fourth all-class reunion from noon to dark Sept. 14 at Penn Hills Park.

The event, which will occupy all three pavilions in the park, brings Penn Hills alumni together from the 1950s through the 2000s.

There will be a food truck, a DJ, raffles and basket giveaways. This year, the Class of 1973 is planning a bake sale fundraiser.

The cost to attend is $10 per person, and family and friends are welcome. Tickets can be purchased through Lee Adams, a chairperson for the gathering, via Zelle at aceadams25@hotmail.com.

For details and other ways to purchase tickets, visit the Penn Hills High School Alumni group on Facebook.

Assistance available for veterans, spouses

State Rep. Joe McAndrew’s office, 77 Universal Road, Suite 1, in Penn Hills provides free assistance to veterans and their spouses from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month.

A veteran service officer from the American Legion will be on hand to help with a variety of needs, including compensation and pension claims, education benefits, enrollment in the VA health care system, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits, and obtaining military personnel and medical records.

There are limited appointments available for August. To make an appointment, call 412-793-2448.

McAndrew’s 32nd District covers Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona.

Free clothing available

Mt. Hope Community Church, 12106 Frankstown Road, operates a free Clothesline to people in need from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday.

Parking is available behind the church, and there is a bus stop nearby at Frankstown Road and Parkridge Drive.

Clothing for women, men and children of all ages is available, as well as some shoes and accessories.

Bags are provided, but visitors also are encouraged to bring their own.

The church also is accepting and loaning gently used children’s books.

For details, call 412-793-0227 or visit mthopepcusa.org/youth-ministries.

Station seeks firefighters, junior members

The Verona Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applictions for active firefighters as well as junior members 16 and 17 years of age.

Interested individuals can stop by the fire station, 465 Parker St., from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays.

Training is provided through the Allegheny County Fire Academy.

Verona Farmers Market sets up Thursdays

Verona’s seasonal farmers market has kicked off into full swing. Hosted every Thursday until Nov. 21, each market features a list of local vendors.

For special announcements about the market, visit the Verona Farmers Market Facebook page.

Association of University People seeks members

The Association of University People (AUP) invites singles 50 and older, who are four-year college graduates, to join them for activities and to meet new people.

Activities include monthly dinners, social gatherings, concerts, meeting up at local wineries and day trips. Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.

For details or to become an AUP member, call 412-353-9088 or email aupsingles@gmail.com.

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.