In brief: Ole 5K returns, firefighter recruitment and more in Sewickley area

Ole 5K

Lace up your running shoes and be part of the Olé 5K Benefit Race on Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. in North Park. The family-friendly race starts at Harmar Grove Pavilion (behind the swimming pool) and 100% of the proceeds go to support the Clínica del Pueblo, a nonprofit hospital in Oaxaca, Mexico, and other charitable partners who work to bring hope and opportunities to Oaxaca’s underserved communities. And there’s a free Mexican Buffet after the race! For more information and to register, go to ole5k.com. The charity’s executive director and Quaker Valley alum, Pete Noll, and other Sewickley-based sponsors will be attending the event.

Firefighter for a Day

Big Sewickley Creek VFC in Bell Acres is among the participants in Franklin Park VFC’s Firefighter for a Day recruitment event on Sept. 21. It will take place at the fire station, 2360 Rochester Road in Franklin Park, and give attendees a sense of what it’s like to be a firefighter. Equipment will be available to try on and a live fire extinguisher exercise and forcible door entry will be among the activities. Register online at firefighterforaday.com.

Artist at library

Italian artist Fabrizio Gerbino has created eight paintings on paper and canvas for his solo exhibition “Italian Landscapes,” on view through Sept. 29 at the Sewickley Public Library. On Sept. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m., the library will host a casual meet and greet with Gerbino. Enjoy light refreshments and chat with the artist about his images of Tuscany. Drawn from his memories of the region and a connection to his early period of painting, these landscapes have a nostalgic quality.

Registration is suggested for this event. Reserve a space at sewickleylibrary.org/events.

Autism-friendly open mic

Band Together Pittsburgh is bringing yet another Autism-Friendly Open Mic to The Lindsay Theater and Cultural Center from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 29. Instruments, snacks and soft drinks will be provided. Everyone is welcome, regardless of musical experience. RSVP at thelindsaytheater.org.

International Day of Peace Festival

The 20th Annual North Hills International Day of Peace Festival is a free event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 22. The event will be at Point Grove on Lake Shore Drive in North Park. There will be song, personal stories, displays and activities celebrating different cultures and highlighting the goal of peace we share. Ethnic food sampling will be provided. The festival concludes with a flag procession of 195 United Nations flags. The event is for all ages. For more information, email diversity@laroche.edu.

Clothesline sale

Sewickley Academy’s Annual Clothesline Sale is set to take place Sept. 19-24 in Snyder Gym on campus. The event promises not only fantastic bargains on a variety of clothing, sporting goods, books and more, but also an opportunity to support the Sewickley Academy Home and School Association and the greater community of Pittsburgh. It will feature a diverse selection of new and gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories for people of all ages. Attendees can expect to find everything from name-brand golf clubs and sporting equipment to unique fashion pieces and sought-after designer items.

The sale will include a $10 cash doorbuster sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 19. Anyone wishing to shop before the sale opens to the public can do so by paying $10 at the door. Children 5 and under will be free. The traditions of the half-price sale on the second-to-last day and the $25 bag day on the final day also continue this year.

For more information, visit sewickley.org/clothesline.

Fire safety fair

The Quaker Valley Fire Safety Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 12 on Broad Street in Sewickley (between Beaver and Thorn). There will be fire trucks, emergency vehicles, equipment demonstrations, kids activities, food trucks and more.

This is a free community event that is hosted by the Quaker Valley Fire Safety Committee, which is made up of the Aleppo Township Volunteer Fire Company, Big Sewickley Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Cochran Hose Company, Emsworth Volunteer Fire Company, Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, Leetsdale Fire Department.

Sewickley Men’s Club

Sewickley Men’s Club, an affiliate of the Sewickley Valley YMCA, will host former Pittsburgh Steeler and exercise psychologist John Kolb on Sept. 20.

For more information, visit smensclub.org or Facebook.com/smensclub.

Architectural preservation grants

Sewickley Valley Historical Society is accepting applications for the 2025 preservation grant. Established in 2018, the grant annually awards funding for up to $5,000 to eligible non-profit organizations and public entities within the 11 boroughs of the Quaker Valley School District and the 15143 ZIP code. Requests for funds up to $5,000 with no match required are available for exterior preservation construction work only. The purpose of this grant is to support projects that rehabilitate, restore and preserve local historic resources. Applications must be complete and submitted by the deadline to receive consideration.

Grants provided by this program are not limited to historic buildings but may also be used for the improvement and restoration of outdoor public spaces with unique features that define the cultural landscape of the Sewickley Valley.

Applications are available online at sewickleyhistory.org, or may be requested via email or at the office. Only complete applications submitted via email and timestamped, or mailed and postmarked, by the deadline Oct. 15, 2024, will receive consideration.

Fashion show fundraiser

P.E.O., Philanthropic Education Organization, is excited to invite area residents to a Dollars for Scholars fashion show fundraiser. P.E.O. Chapter BN of Sewickley is sponsoring the event on Sept. 21 at Montour Heights Country Club in Coraopolis from 1 to 4 p.m.

Lane 51 Boutique in Evans City and Shop with Julz in Coraopolis will outfit the models for the fashion show with items available for purchase. Additionally, the event will offer light fare and refreshments, raffle baskets, a Chinese auction and a 50-50 drawing.

Tickets for the event are on sale through Sept. 16. Cost is $35 and can be purchased by contacting Delia at deliabattista@yahoo.com. Learn more about the organization at peointernational.org.

Business networking

BNI Village Connections will host an in-person business networking meeting at the Walter J. Brannon Community Center from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Oct. 3. All business professionals are welcome to attend. For more information, call 412-908-1388.

Fall StoryWalks

The Sewickley Public Library and community partners invite you to grab the family and take a stroll through any and all of the five Sewickley StoryWalk locations from Sept. 23-Oct. 13 — Allegheny Land Trust’s Audubon Greenway, Fern Hollow Nature Center, Henle Park in Leetsdale, Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park and the Ohio Township Nature Center.

A StoryWalk places pages from a children’s picture book along a walking path so that children and their caregivers may enjoy nature and reading together.

Visitors are invited to scan the QR codes at the end of each walk to enter to win copies of the StoryWalk books. Location details and featured titles are available at sewickleylibrary.org/storywalk.

Business Connection

Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection, a referral group of business professionals, will meet at the Eat N’ Park on Route 60 in Robinson Township for breakfast from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25. Speakers will be Nicole Sicilia of Piatt Sotheby’s Realty and Jason Henze of Overhead Door Company of Pittsburgh. To attend, become a member, or for more information, visit www.gpbc-pgh.org or call 412-364-6446, ext. 302.

To have your event or information listed in our briefs section, email Katie Green at kgreen@triblive.com.