Hall of Fame athlete to speak
Former California University of Pennsylvania basketball star James Hairston will speak at 12:30 p.m. June 1 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 612 Chestnut St., Irwin.
The presentation by Hairston, who was inducted into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame in 2025, is open to the public and will be followed by a light lunch and a meet-and-greet session.
The program is sponsored by Antonette Dues, founder of Tajz’s Hope Foundation/Taj-Mahal Makerspace in Irwin.
Those interested in attending can register by contacting Dues at 412-944-7683.
Church burger bashes set
Immaculate Conception Church will host a series of monthly summer burger bashes inside Our Lady’s Plaza, located at 308 Second St. in Irwin.
The events are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on four upcoming Saturdays: June 13, July 11, Aug. 8 and Sept. 12.
All community members are invited to attend.
Library passes for museums
Westmoreland County Libraries has partnered with several regional museums to offer free general admission to library cardholders for up to two adults and four children.
Passes can be obtained for Historic Hanna’s Town, West Overton Village, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Fort Ligonier, the Lincoln Highway Experience, the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum and historic Bushy Run Battlefield.
Passes can be checked out for one week. Cardholders are advised to check availability with their local library.
See available passes online at WCL.link/museums.
For more information, or to obtain a library card, visit WCLibraries.org.
Trip planned to W.Va.
A bus trip and train ride are planned by the North Huntingdon AARP Senior Citizens for June 17-19.
The bus will leave St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church at 9:30 a.m. June 17 and arrive in Elkins, West Virginia, around 4 p.m. Participants will see a dinner show that evening.
A scenic train ride will take place June 18 and 19.
The price is $855 per person for double occupancy and $1,040 for a single room. The price includes two nights’ accommodations, two dinner shows, and two train rides.
To register, contact Janet Tatters at 412-841-8451.
Lyme disease support group
The PA Lyme Resource Network will host a monthly Lyme disease support group meeting.
Meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Monroeville Public Library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.
For more, see PAlyme.org.
Festival, poker run
The Westmoreland Heritage Trail is hosting its annual festival and poker run fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 6 at the B-Y park in Trafford.
The event, which raises money for trail maintenance and improvements, will be held rain or shine.
Each participant will stop at five checkpoints along the trail and choose a playing card from the deck. At the end of the event, each participant will have a complete poker hand. The best hands will receive a grand prize for first, second and third place.
This is not a race. Participants can choose a 10-mile bicycle ride or a 4-mile (round trip) run/walk/jog to the card stations. Everyone can adjust the distance they go according to their own needs.
Registration on the day of the event is $30, with T-shirts available while supplies last.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a Blessing of the Bikes at 9:30. Bicyclists will start at 9:45 a.m., and walkers will start at 10. All players must return their poker hand by 11:30 a.m. to the registration table. Awards and raffles will be distributed at noon.
There will be music, activities for kids, basket raffles, food vendors, beer and new Westmoreland Heritage Trail membership discounts.
For details, visit westmorelandheritagetrail.com and follow Westmoreland Heritage Trail on social media.
To become a sponsor or to donate a basket for the raffle, contact whtpr2017@ gmail.com.
Suicide prevention training
Penn State Extension is offering free webinars on evidence-based training aimed at saving lives and reducing suicidal behaviors.
Participants can choose from one of the following two-hour training sessions, each held from 1 to 3 p.m., on June 16, July 21 and Aug. 25.
Penn State Extension educators will lead the QPR Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention training. “Question, Persuade and Refer,” which was developed by the QPR Institute, teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to offer hope to someone in need and how to get help.
Designed for all people, regardless of profession, who are concerned about helping others, QPR is an emergency mental health intervention intended to interrupt a crisis and direct someone to proper care. Attendees will discuss potential scenarios and engage in active listening and persuasion techniques.
Penn State Extension offers the seminar free of charge, but participants must register by 11:59 p.m. the day before the event to receive the link to access the webinar. The recording link will not be available after the webinar.
Continuing education credits are available.
For details and to register, visit the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu/qpr-gatekeeper-suicide-prevention-training-webinar or call 1-877-345-0691.
New members sought
The Association of University People invites potential new members to join them at an event.
The association welcomes singles aged 50 and older, who are four-year college graduates, to join them for activities and to meet new people. Activities include picnics, monthly dinners, a book group and meetups at local concerts and wineries.
For more, call 412-353-9088 or email AUPsingles@gmail.com.
