In brief: Happenings in the North Hills area
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Late Nite Catechism event to benefit Vincentian care fund
Vincentian is hosting a night of laughs with Late Nite Catechism from 6 to 9 p.m. April 11 in the auditorium of St. Vincent Hall, the former St. Louise Convent, 8200 McKnight Road, McCandless.
The interactive show is part catechism class, part stand-up routine. “Sister” will take you back to the days of Latin Mass, meatless Fridays and the crack of a ruler across your knuckles.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show will start at 6:30. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets for just the show are $7o each or $87 with the fish fry add-on.
The fish fry will be served from 4:30 to 6 p.m. downstairs in the Unconventional Kitchen Banquet Hall. The meal includes baked or breaded fish, with or with a bun; a choice of two sides: cole slaw, mac and cheese or hush puppies; a drink; and dessert.
Proceeds benefit Vincentian’s uncompensated care fund for older adults.
To purchase tickets, visit vincentian.us.
Registration under way for Senior Softball League
Registration is open for the Northern Allegheny County Senior Softball League (NACSSL).
This competitive, slow pitch league has two divisions: 50 and older for the silver division and 62 and older for the gold division.
Tryout evaluations are held March through April. Games are played May through August primarily at the North Park Senior Ballfield Complex at the Lodge in North Park.
To sign up or for more details, visit NACSSL.com or email nacssl@yahoo.com.
History Center, Fort Pitt Museum offering free admission for kids
Admission to the Senator John Heinz History Center and Fort Pitt Museum will be free for children 17 and younger during Black History Month and Women’s History Month, thanks to support from community partners UPMC and UPMC Health Plan.
Throughout February and March, youngsters will get free general admission to the Smithsonian-affiliated History Center, which includes the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, and the Fort Pitt Museum, located in historic Point State Park. Regular admission applies for all adult visitors and groups.
At the History Center, families can explore six floors of award-winning exhibitions and interactive learning spaces.
At the Fort Pitt Museum, families can explore the history and culture of American Indian tribes who once called Western Pennsylvania home through a new exhibit titled “Homelands: Native Nations of Allegheny.” Created in collaboration with federally recognized Delaware, Seneca, Seneca-Cayuga and Shawnee tribes, the exhibit illuminates the past, present and future of the region’s Native tribes with rare artifacts and new scholarship.
The History Center and Fort Pitt Museum are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For details, visit heinzhistorycenter.org.
Nominees sought for Community Champions initiative
WQED, in partnership with Giant Eagle, recently announced the third season of its Community Champions initiative — a collaboration that celebrates and supports local people and nonprofit organizations that are doing good in their communities.
This year, the initiative is taking a new approach by asking community members to nominate nonprofit organizations that are making a difference. The deadline for nominations is March 16.
From these nominations, one organization will be selected as the 2025 Community Champion and will be featured in a video profile airing in June.
In past seasons, WQED and Giant Eagle selected a monthly champion that was then featured in an inspiring video profile. Community Champions has showcased 10 organizations in diverse areas of focus, including health care, food insecurity, sustainability, and accessibility and supportive services.
The 2024 Community Champion was Best Buddies, a local nonprofit that aims to end the isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, exemplifies the core tenets of the initiative.
To nominate an organization, visit wqed.org/champions.
Free tax help available through AARP Foundation
Beginning Feb. 1 and continuing through April 14, the AARP Foundation will provide free tax assistance and preparation in Allegheny County through its Tax-Aide program.
Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest nationwide volunteer-based free tax preparation service. In 2024, the nearly 2 million taxpayers who used its services received more than $1 billion in income tax refunds. Income tax returns will be prepared during one visit by appointment only, generally lasting an hour to 75 minutes. Walk-ins cannot be accommodated.
Here is list of nearby sites, schedules and contact information to make an appointment:
• Shaler Undercliff Volunteer Fire Department, 700 Mt. Royal Blvd.: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through April 14; contact state Sen. Lindsey Williams’ office at 412-364-0469 (there is no Tax-Aide contact number at the fire station).
• Ross Municipal Building, 1000 Ross Municipal Drive: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 10; contact state Sen. Lindsey Williams’ office at 412-364-0469 (there is no Tax-Aide contact number at the center).
• State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer’s office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Suite 100, Wexford: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through April 14; contact Shaffer’s office at 412-369-2230.
• State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer’s office, 4375 Gibsonia Road, West Deer: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 10; contact Shaffer’s office at 412-369-2230.
More information, including an update on tax code changes affecting 2024 tax returns and documents needed for return preparation, can be found online at taxaide-pittsburgh.com.