In brief: Bethel Park area happenings, week of June 26, 2023

Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club

The Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club met at St. Clair Country Club in May for their annual spring luncheon to honor Joanne Koller, club president. She took the opportunity to present the club’s donation of $2,105 to Bethel-St.Clair Meals on Wheels manger Dorothy Vandruff.

Officers for 2023-24 were installed: Koller as president; Kim Long, vice president; Barbara Marinac, secretary; and Susan Wesolowski, treasurer. The club welcomed new members Dorothy DePaolo and Susan Loeffert.

Joan Morton, who has been with the club for 61 years, recognized two members who reached 50 years: Joyce Niedzwecki and Patricia Moore. All three are now known affectionately as the RAWC Exhausted Hens.

The Ruthfred Acres Woman’s Club is a philanthropic organization dedicated to doing charitable deeds and supporting the needs and efforts of the community, along with enriching the objectives of its members through social and educational opportunities. For membership information, call Joanne at 412-951-1283.

Dean Streator concert series

The Dean Streator Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Bethel Park Community Foundation, begins on July 9 at the Bethel Park Community Center, 5151 Park Ave.

Concerts start at 2:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30. Parking is limited.

On the schedule:

• July 9 — Community Band South will present a program featuring marches, Broadway tunes, and concert pieces.

• July 16 — New Vintage Big Band will transport the audience back to the dance and swing era.

• July 23 — Pittsburgh Banjo Club will perform a selection of toe-tapping favorites.

• July 30 — Allegheny Brass Band will entertain with a diverse range of musical styles.

• Aug. 6 — Keystone Chorus will conclude the series with barbershop harmonies and sing-alongs.

Admission to the concerts is free, although contributions to the community foundation are encouraged. The foundation uses the funds to support scholarships and projects that benefit Bethel Park residents in the areas of arts and culture, health and recreation, education, and safety.

Lions host book sale

Bethel Park Lions Club will host a book sale from 9 a.m. to p.m. on July 7 at the pavilion in Lions Park on Irishtown Road.

Used book donations will be accepted at the park on July 5 and 6. In case of absence, books can be left at the pavilion.

5 viewing areas for fireworks

The second year of Bethel Park’s “Park & Play” continues through October, offering free programs for people of all ages while showcasing many of the municipality’s neighborhood parks.

On June 30 is a Summer Spectacular fireworks display, starting at 9:40 p.m. with five viewing areas: St. Germaine Church, 7003 Baptist Road; Cool Springs Sports Complex, 3001 Cool Springs Drive; Lowe’s Home Improvement, 5775 Baptist Road; Hamilton Presbyterian Church, 4500 Hamilton Road; and Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, 1524 Hamilton Road.

Food trucks are scheduled to be at all sites except Lowe’s. The rain date is July 1.

Also on the “Park & Play” schedule:

• Band performance by Identity Crisis from 6 to 8 p.m. July 8 at Millennium Park.

• National Night Out, Aug. 1 at Miners Memorial Park

• End of Summer Bash, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 12 fat Simmons Park

• Battle of the Bands, Sept. 2 at Millennium Park

• Star Party, 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Millennium Park

• Wine Festival, 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Bethel Park Community Center.

For more information, visit bethelpark.net/community/community-events/park-and-play or call 412-851-2910.

Food Assistance Match at market

The Bethel Park Farmers’ Market has joined the nonprofit Food Assistance Match program, which aims to enhance access to fresh and nutritious food from local farmers and small businesses for individuals and families facing need.

Through the match, food assistance programs like SNAP, WIC and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program can stretch their purchasing power, allowing beneficiaries to obtain up to three times more locally sourced food and goods.

FAM patrons visit the market and select their eligible items. Non-food purchases, alcohol and food truck selections are not eligible. Shoppers will receive a receipt for their selections and proceed to the Bethel Park Farmers’ Market tent to check out, rather than at individual vendor stalls.

The market operates from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, rain or shine, through the end of September in the parking lot near the South Park ice-skating rink, off Corrigan Drive. For more information, visit www.bethelparkfarmersmarket.com or call 412-851-2910.

To learn more about FAM, visit foodassistancematch.org.

Vacation Bible school

South Hills Church of the Nazarene, located at 5601 Library Road in Bethel Park, will host a “Keepers of the Kingdom” vacation Bible school on July 17-21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Attendees will be offered a complimentary light meal at 6 o’clock, before the start of VBS. Children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade in the 2022-23 school year are encouraged to participate.

Registration is free at shcn.org/vbs-2023.

‘Timeless Treasures’ flea market

The Labouré Ladies Guild of St. Catherine Labouré Parish will host its annual flea market, “Timeless Treasures, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 21 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 22 in the LeGras Parish Center, on the lower level of 320 McMurray Road, Upper St. Clair.

A variety of items will be available for sale, including jewelry, gently used children’s clothing up to size 6, toys, decorative items, kitchen items, holiday decorations, linens, tools, books and some furniture. A boutique will offer higher-quality items.

Because of fire restrictions, strollers are not permitted inside the LeGras Parish Center.