Norwin area: Food pantry fundraiser, purse auction planned

Fundraiser set for area food pantries

A fundraiser to support food pantries in the North Huntingdon-Irwin community will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 at Moment’s Hall, 231 Jennie Drive, North Huntingdon.

Tom’s Turkeys is sponsoring the Gobble Gala, which will feature a dinner catered by Twin Oaks Catering at 5 p. m., followed by a performance by Two Broke Country Girls.

The price is $30. There will be a basket raffle in addition to the dinner and concert.

Tickets are available at Luehm Candy Company, 46 Buttermilk Hollow Road, North Huntingdon, or Tom Hempel at 724-961-3186.

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Ardara church to hold benefit luncheon, auction

New and slightly used purses filled with mystery items will be auctioned to the highest bidder at the Ardara United Presbyterian Church’s annual Ladies Luncheon & Mystery Purse Auction at 1 p.m. Oct. 9 at the church on Nehrig Hill Road near the Ardara Post Office.

The cost is $5 and includes lunch, dessert, a drink and games.

All proceeds will go to Ministry and Mission Fund.

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Election registration deadline looms

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 2 election is Oct. 18.

Registered voters have until Oct. 26 to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot. The county must receive those ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information on how to register to vote, check your voter status or other election-relation information, visit www.vote.pa.gov.

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Come, Talk Inc. to host LGBTQ+ advocate

A LGBTQ+ advocate will present a free program at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Come, Talk Inc., a suicide prevention and emotional support center inside the Norwin Chamber of Commerce office, 321 Main St., Irwin.

John Herrmann, a volunteer with Ray of Hope Westmoreland and a LGBTQ+ advocate, will share his story about mental health, suicide and being a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The program is for teenagers and adults. Those interested are asked to RSVP to Amanda at come.talk15642@gmail.com by Oct. 10. Walk-ins will be welcome if seats are available.

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Commissioner plans virtual town hall meeting series

Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew plans to start a series of virtual “town hall” meetings to engage more county residents with local government.

“Our county’s public meetings are in the middle of the day, when a large fraction of the public can’t attend,” Chew said.

The first meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 on the Zoom platform.

Chew said the day and time of the meetings will shift “so residents with any work schedule will eventually have a time that is suitable for them.”

Each town hall will start with Chew highlighting one aspect of county government, followed by a discussion session. Guidelines will be published before the meeting so attendees know what is expected for a lively and civil discussion.

The topic for the first meeting is “Why is it important to check your voter registration in 2021?”

“I have a passion for delivering information and helping people understand what is going on,” Chew said. “I’m looking forward to starting these and meeting my neighbors.”

Red Cross says blood, platelet shortage persists

A drop in blood donor turnout has resulted in the lowest post-summer blood inventory level in six years, the American Red Cross office in Pittsburgh announced. As covid-19 cases increased in August, donations dropped by about 10%.

Donors of all blood types — especially type O — and platelet donors are encouraged to make an appointment to donate. The Red Cross needs to collect an additional 10,000 blood products each week over the next month to end the emergency shortage in order to meet hospital and patient needs, the organization said.

Nationally, types O positive and O negative blood — the types most needed by hospitals — dropped to less than a half-day supply at times over the last month. The Red Cross prefers to have a five-day supply on hand.

Appointments can be made through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (733-2767).

Upcoming blood drives in Westmoreland County include:

• Oct. 8: Noon-4:30 p.m., Export Italian American Club, 5930 Kennedy Ave., Export

• Oct. 13: Noon-6 p.m., Greensburg Blood Donation Center, 351 Harvey Ave.

• Oct. 14: 11 a.m 4:30 p.m., Murrysville Education Center, 6707 Mellon Road

• Oct. 15: 12:30-5:30 p.m., North Huntingdon Town House, 11279 Center Highway

PennDOT holds statewide survey

Through Oct. 26, PennDOT is accepting construction and maintenance services feedback through an online survey.

The 20-question survey can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021PDConstruction. Survey questions pertain to how residents receive PennDOT roadway information, whether they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services, whether they feel PennDOT meets or exceeds expectations in construction and maintenance activities and past experiences with reporting concerns to PennDOT, among other things.

“Through collaborative efforts, we maintain our transportation network while also planning and executing statewide transportation improvements,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “This survey will help us understand needs measure public expectations and identify educational opportunities.”