The Stroller, April 15, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Small Acts of Kindness

The Stroller wants to recognize those around us who are performing small acts of kindness for others during this stressful time.

Send a short, one-paragraph note highlighting someone and how they helped you, your family or your organization to The Stroller at vndnews@tribweb.com. Read the Stroller daily at Triblive.com.

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Free food and personal care items to be distributed Saturday

Building Block of Natrona will host its free Veggies for All and Cosmetics Closet outreach for residents in need from 1 to 2:30 p.m. or as long as supplies last Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 28 Garfield St., Natrona, Harrison.

Free produce, and personal care and hygiene products will be distributed.

Extra hygiene steps will be taken. Income verification is not required and everyone is welcome. Please wear a mask.

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Free online course about farmers market food safety offered

Penn State Extension will offer a free online course for vendors to ensure food safety at farmers markets.

“Farmers Market Food Safety,” will take approximately four hours to complete and teaches farmers market vendors the basics of food safety and sanitation.

The course will be offered at no charge through the end of April. To register, click here.

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Goodwill opens no-contact donation areas

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania has opened no-contact, self-service donation areas at each of their local stores.

No-contact areas were developed to allow the public to make donations while still observing social distance guidelines and were approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Donors can drive up to a self-service area and place items in the specially marked bins or donations areas. A QR code that can be scanned will be posted at the site to request a donation receipt.

Local locations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and located at 1306 Pittsburgh St., Cheswick; 4612 William Penn Highway, Murrysville; and 4005 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

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Trinity United Methodist Church conducting face mask collection

Trinity United Methodist Church, Brackenridge, along with Allegheny Health Network, is coordinating a volunteer assistance effort for medical caregivers.

Anyone who would like to sew face masks or fanny packs in which to store them is welcome to make as many as they wish and drop them off at the church, 547 10th Ave., Brackenridge. The church will deliver the masks to Allegheny Health Network. Allegheny Valley Hospital, Harrison, is a part of Allegheny Health Network.

Fabric masks could be used for visitors to the facilities, caregivers who are not involved with direct patient care and are at low risk of catching COVID-19 from patients or transmitting to others or cover N95 masks for extra protection for caregivers on the front lines. Plastic fanny packs could be used for storing the masks or other personal protection items.

Drop off times are from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at the church office entrance and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the sanctuary entrance.

Patterns and instructions are available through the Rev. Greg Spenser at glspncr@gmail.com or contact Allegheny Health Network Director of Development Chelsea Thomas at 412-228-8454 or Chelsea.thomas@ahn.org. Inquiries about supporting COVID-19 needs should be sent to ahnheroes @ahn.org.

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Send information of charitable events to The Stroller

Is your company or organization making or collecting equipment for health professionals? Is your club or church going to sponsor a community blood drive?

The Stroller will publish information about community drives and collections at Triblive.com. Send information to vndnews@tribweb.com.

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Calendar

Kiski Area School District

Today: Kiski Area School Board hold its informational meeting electronically at 7 p.m. For information on how to view the meeting, email john.tedorski@kiskiarea.com or call 724-842-0457 by 11 a.m. Wednesday. Members of the public are invited to participate by submitting comments via email to chris.pastva@kiskiarea.com. Letters can be sent to KA Board of Directors, KASD, 200 Poplar St., Vandergrift PA 15690. All written comments should include the individual’s name, home address and topic. No anonymous correspondence will be accepted. To be included in the meeting record, comments must be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

New Kensington

Thursday: The Joint Operating Committee of Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center will meet at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Details: nwctc.k12.pa.us/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

Pittsburgh

Thursday: International Association of Electrical Inspectors Western Pennsylvania Chapter will hold its meeting electronically. Details: 724-274-0510

West Deer

Today: West Deer Supervisors will conduct the regular meeting at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The call-in number is 646-558-8656 and the meeting ID is 984 9235 6826.

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Cancellations and changes

Allegheny Township

Today: The Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority meeting is canceled.

May 17: The free Fishing Derby at Northmoreland Park that was planned by the Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation is canceled, as are all park facility reservations for April and May.

Apollo

Apollo Area Historical Society museum will remain closed until at least May 2. The April 5 program about trolleys will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St.

Arnold

Recycling collection has been suspended until further notice. All garbage and recycling items can be placed out for the garbage crew to collect. All items must be in a bag and tied up. No loose items will be picked up.

Thursdays: Services at Arnold Towers are canceled.

Arnold United Methodist Church: All meetings, activities and services are canceled.

Brackenridge

• The borough office is closed to the public, but is accepting telephone calls during normal business hours. Payments will be accepted by mail or through the mail slot.

Buffalo Township

Nar-Anon meetings at Generations House of Worship are canceled. Details: Laurie, 724-895-3385

Butler

Butler Lions Club has canceled the April membership and board meetings and the following events: the April 18 Adopt-A-Highway, the sausage sale and Mother’s Day rose sale. Membership meetings are tentatively scheduled to resume May 5.

Freeport

May 25: The Freeport Memorial Day observance is canceled.

Harrison 

Saturday: The Earth Day Clean-up is postponed.

April 20: The Community Library of Allegheny Valley Spring Tea is canceled. Ticket refunds will be issued after the library reopens.

May 16: The Touch A Truck event is canceled.

• Allegheny Valley Association of Churches office is closed. Anyone who needs assistance can call 724-226-0606. Tax appointments will be rescheduled.

Leechburg

May 9: The borough cleanup day is postponed and may be rescheduled. The borough crew will not pick up lawn waste because the roll off boxes used to put the waste in are not available at this time.

Leechburg Recycling Center is closed. There will be no pick-ups or drop-offs until further notice. No materials should be dropped off in front of the recycling center gate.

First United Methodist Church: worship services are canceled until further notice.

Mondays: The GriefShare group sessions at First Evangelical Lutheran Church are postponed and will be rescheduled.

McCandless

April 26: The Allegheny Health Network Esophageal Cancer Awareness 5K Walk and Run that was to begin at the North Park Boat House is canceled.

Lower Burrell

Saturday: The ClothesLine ministry at Bethesda Lutheran Church will be closed.

Today: The Lower Burrell Planning Commission meeting is canceled.

• Entertainment and events at the Veterans of Foreign Wars are canceled and the club is closed.

Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church: is closed for all activities and services.

May 9: The Burrellton Garden Club May Mart is canceled.

May 16: The Animal Protectors Hearts for Strays luncheon at Hill Crest Country Club is canceled.

New Kensington

Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church has canceled all Sunday services and church activities. Food bank service for April is canceled.

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church is closed for all services, fundraisers and activities.

Mondays, Tuesday and Saturdays: The Community Clothes Closet will be closed.

Parks Township

May 2: Parks Township Sportsman’s Association has canceled the Kids Fishing Day.

Plum

Saturday: The Community Cleanup day is postponed and will be rescheduled.

Plum Community Center is closed and all events canceled. Meals on Wheels will continue as scheduled. Those over 60 who are food insecure or rely on the daily lunch can continue to pick up Congregant Lunch provided by the county on a take-out basis only. Pick-ups will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Lunches must be ordered a day in advance by calling 412-795-2330.

Oakmont

Riverview Community Action Corp. is closed for all activities except home delivered meals. Questions: 412-828-1062

Springdale

Springdale High School Alumni Association meetings are suspended until further notice. The Monte Carlo night planned for April 25 has been rescheduled to Oct. 3.

Sept. 13: The Spring Fling Craft and Vendor fair planned for March 29 has been rescheduled to be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 13 in the borough building gymnasium, 325 School St. Vendor applications are available at springdaleborough.com or by emailing springdaleboro@hotmail.com

Tarentum

• BridgePoint Church: Activities at the church, including the grief support group, and the children’s food and fun event are canceled. A live stream of the Sunday church service will be on Facebook Live.

Today: The Produce to People distribution is canceled.

• Tarentum Eagles is closed.

• Tarentum Elks Lodge is closed. Entertainment, bingo and the May 2 cash bash are canceled.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars is closed and there will be no Friday night bar bingo.

• The Heritage Museum will be closed to visitors until further notice. Details: AKVHS.org or 724-224-7666

Vandergrift

St. Gertrude Church spaghetti dinners are canceled until further notice.

Vandergrift Public Library: the due date for all materials that have been checked out has been extended. If you log into your online account and notice an item with a different due date, please contact the library. The Book Drop is closed. Keep all materials until the library reopens. Tax forms have now been placed into the Little Free Library since the library is closed. AARP Tax Appointments have been postponed and representatives will contact clients directly who have an upcoming appointment.

Tuesday: The Miss Freddye and Musicians in Unity concert at the Casino Theater is canceled. For refunds, call 724-567-5049 if paid by cash or check. Credit card refunds will be issued to your card.

Washington Township

Saturday: The Star Party planned by the Amateur Astronomy Association of Pittsburgh is canceled.

West Deer

East Union Presbyterian Church: all services and activities are canceled, except for West Deer Food Bank and Meals To Go distributions.

West Leechburg

Saturday: The Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania at the West Leechburg Native Plant Preserve is canceled.