WHAT’ S NEWS IN FOX CHAPEL AREA
FOX CHAPEL POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTS ANNUAL‘ PAINT PUMPKINS WITH POLICE’ EVENT
The Fox Chapel Police Department( FCPD) held its annual Paint Pumpkins with Police event on Oct. 18 at the Fox Chapel Borough Building. Families stopped by between 11 a. m. and 2 p. m. to paint pumpkins, enjoy crafts, join a costume contest and grab refreshments. In place of an admission fee, FCPD collected monetary and non-perishable food donations for the Blawnox Community Food Pantry.
A highlight of the afternoon was the swearing-in of Gus— a 7-year-old terrier mix from Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley— as the department’ s third K9 Officer for a Day.
Magisterial District Judge Matthew Rudzki administered the oath at noon, and attendees had the chance to meet Gus, take photos, and learn about pet adoption. Representatives from Animal Protectors were also on-site with information and additional adoptable animals.
RED CROSS CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS
The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania issued an urgent call for volunteers as disaster response demands continue to grow.
LONGTIME ST. MARGARET FOUNDATION PRESIDENT MARY LEE GANNON RETIRES
After 16 years of service, Mary Lee Gannon announced her retirement as president of the St. Margaret Foundation at UPMC St. Margaret, effective at the end of 2025. She has coordinated major fundraising efforts totaling $ 19 million, and oversaw the creation or expansion of numerous facilities and programs that significantly strengthened patient access, education and overall experience.
Gannon’ s leadership helped build the Van Horn Pavilion and the Helen and Miles Colwell Garden of Hope, renovate the Lawrenceville Family Health Center, and establish a new home for the New Kensington Family Health Center. She also helped create the $ 2.7 million Patient Crisis Care Endowment, which she considers her most meaningful legacy— ensuring long-term support for underresourced patients.
The foundation also expanded essential services, including shuttle transportation for seniors, food and clothing pantries, mental health support, addiction treatment programs, health fairs, and pediatric and women’ s wellness initiatives. Colleagues praised Gannon’ s strategic vision, collaborative leadership and unwavering commitment to patient dignity. She has instilled a lasting culture of generosity, support and compassionate care at St. Margaret.
Prior to joining St. Margaret, Gannon led major campaigns at Forbes Health Foundation and served in various leadership roles at Ohio Valley Hospital Foundation. She plans to spend her retirement with family, continue to coach and consult, and pursue creative and volunteer endeavors.
Brigid Dykstra— the foundation’ s director of partnership giving— will step into the role as president in 2026.
With volunteers making up 90 % of its workforce, the organization is seeking help to respond to both local emergencies, like home fires, and large-scale disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires.
Key opportunities include serving on Disaster Action Teams to support families after local emergencies, working in local shelters, or traveling nationwide to assist after major disasters.
For more details, visit redcross. org / volunteer or send email to gparecruitment @ redcross. org.
MOLINARI’ S NEW BOOK CAPTURES PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ LEGACY
Just in time for hockey season, Reedy Press released“ The Pittsburgh Penguins:
An Illustrated Timeline” by veteran sportswriter Dave Molinari.
This hardcover, photo-rich volume traces the team’ s journey from its rocky beginnings in 1967 through decades of highs and lows, culminating in five Stanley Cup victories and the rise of superstars like Mario Lemieux, Jaromír Jágr, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
Molinari, who covered the Penguins for more than 40 years and has been honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame as a journalist, captures both the legends and the lesserknown figures who shaped the franchise.
The book is available wherever books are sold, and you can also look online for interviews and local appearances by the author. n
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