The Stroller, April 17, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Sitting at home all day, many of us are asking ourselves how we can help others during this pandemic. Read The Stroller daily for announcements of how everyone can ease the pressure and stress of others, even while maintaining social distancing. Information for The Stroller should be emailed to vndnews@tribweb.com.

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Small Acts of Kindness

Tami Sudy would like to recognize Lori Miller of Natrona Heights, Harrison, for donating 73 Easter baskets to local needy families. “She’s a great fundraiser, spearheading the building of the playground at Fairmount Elementary School and constantly giving to needy families and local organizations.”

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 went out of their way to helped you , your family or organization to The Stroller at vndnews@tribweb.com.

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Community encouraged to contribute ideas and drawings for New Kensington community mural

The Community Arts and Reintegration Project, a program of the Center for Applied Research at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, in collaboration with Westmoreland County Community Action, is seeking community members to help create a mural on the side of the Walt’s Deli building, 453 Ninth St., New Kensington.

Current and past residents are encouraged to upload a memory, favorite picture, suggestion or drawing here: greensburg.pitt.edu/cfar/carp/new-kensington. Thoughts and images that are sent in will be discussed in a virtual town hall meeting to be scheduled later and will be used in the design of the mural.

Community members will be invited to help to paint the panels that will make up the mural. Send questions to Timothy Holler at tjb67@pitt.edu.

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Emergency food available at New Kensington Salvation Army

The Salvation Army in New Kensington is distributing food to residents through its pantry at 1101 Fifth Ave.

Anyone in need should ring the bell to the door by the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and food will be given out safely. Appointments are encouraged.

Donations of non-perishable food can be taken to the pantry during the same hours. To make an appointment and for details, call 724-335-7221.

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St. Margaret Brian Demchak Hope Run/Walk Q5K changes to virtual event

The annual St. Margaret Foundation Brian Demchak Run/Walk Q5K, originally set for May 17, will be held virtually this year.

Participants may run or walk anytime between now and May 17 and post their photographs on social media with the hashtag #hoperun5Q or on the St. Margaret Foundation Facebook page at facebook.com/St.MargaretFoundation.

The entrance fee is $30. To register, visit stmargaretfoundation.org/5k by April 30. Those who register by April 30 will receive a race t-shirt in the mail.

If you can’t run or walk you can support the event by creating a fundraising page at facebook.com/St.Margaret Foundation or at charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/brian-demchak-hope-run-walk-5k and ask your friends to donate.

Runners and walkers who raise at least $50 on their fundraising page will have their registration fee waived. Those who raise at least $100 will receive a quarter zip long-sleeved shirt.

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Calendar

Allegheny Township

Monday: Allegheny Township Municipal Authority will meet at 5:30 p.m. electronically via Zoom. For sign on information, email maat@windstream.net with “Meeting Request” in the subject line. Questions: 724-842-4641

Harrison

Harrison Township Water Authority has begun to flush water hydrants in the township. The project will take several weeks. Customers may experience low pressure and should test water before doing laundry or making coffee because it may be discolored. Details: call the authority at 724-226-2500, ext. 2.

Oakmont

Monday: Oakmont Council will meet at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Sign on information will be posted on the borough website, oakmontborough.com. Public comments with the sender’s name and address should be sent to boroughmanager@oakmontborough.com by noon Monday.

Pittsburgh

Tuesday: The Allegheny Valley chapter of the Women’s Business Network will meet online at 8 a.m. Those attending can learn how the group supports the success and growth of women in business. Reservations and sign-on information: Susan Kinger, 412-782-4848 or skinger607@dollarbank.com

Springdale

April 20 to May 8: Springdale Borough will conduct the hydrant flushing program. Customers may experience discoloration of water and should test water before doing laundry or making coffee. If the discoloration persists for a long period of time, call the water department at 724-274-9414.

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Cancellations and changes

Allegheny Township

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: Worship 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.

Monday: 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.

Indiana Township

June 6: The annual Rural Ridge Community Reunion is canceled.

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.

• 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. 12: Springdale Volunteer Fire Department has rescheduled the May Cash Bash to be Sept. 12. Current tickets will be honored in September and the Progressive 50/50 will be drawn. Please hold on to your tickets. The fire department thanks you for your understanding and support and urges everyone to stay safe.

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.

• 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.