The Stroller, April 20, 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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Community blood drive planned at Zion United Methodist Church

Zion United Methodist Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. April 30 at the church Family Life Center, 438 Bear Creek Road, Buffalo Township.

Appointments are required. Bring ID.

For an appointment, call 412-209-7000 or visit Vitalant.org, click on the orange “Make An Appointment” button and enter group code C664. For more information, call 877-258-4825.

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Vandergrift Public Library announces Teen Poetry Contest

Vandergrift Public Library is sponsoring a poetry contest for students in sixth through 12th grade in observation of National Poetry Month.

Students should submit their original work by April 30 to vandergriftlibrary@gmail.com. For rules and instructions, visit the library webpage: vandergriftpubliclibrary.org.

The winner will receive a $5 gift card to Sweetlane Chocolate Shop in Vandergrift.

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Penn State Extension offers free online classes

The Penn State Extension is offering over 50 free online courses through the end of April.

Subjects include food safety, nutrition, agricultural practices, healthy families, community involvement and many more. Some offer certificates and/or continuing education credits.

For details, click here.

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PHEAA to stream webinar about student financial aid

A webinar about the financial aid process will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

Topics will include how to apply for all types of financial aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, which is required to determine eligibility for most student aid programs. A question and answer period will be afterward.

The application deadline for the Pa. State Grant program has been extended from May 1 to May 15 for the 2020-21 academic year.

Registration is required. To register, click here.

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Animal Protectors open by appointment

Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley in New Kensington is now conducting adoptions by appointment. To make an appointment, call 724-339-7388. If there is no answer, please leave a message. Animal intakes will still be accepted for as long as room is available.

Donations of food, money and cleaning supplies are especially needed to cope with the upcoming kitten season. The wish list for most-needed items includes clay kitty litter, Purina kitten chow, Purina puppy food, six-foot leashes, Purina One Dog formula, HE laundry detergent, dryer sheets, white copy paper, garbage bags, toilet paper, throw rugs with rubber backing, Lupine Martingale collars, blankets and towels. To make an online monetary donation, visit animalprotectors.net/donations.html.

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Calendar

Allegheny Township

Today: 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

Burrell School District

Tuesday: Burrell School Board will conduct the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. online. For instructions on how to join the meeting, visit the district website: burrell.k12.pa.us/.

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.

Kiski Area School District

Today: Kiski Area School Board will conduct the voting meeting at 7 p.m. electronically. For information on how to view the meeting, email john.tedorski@kiskiarea.com or call 724-842-0457.

New Kensington

Today: New Kensington Municipal Authority will meet at 7 p.m. at the authority, 120 Logans Ferry Road. Due to social distancing requirements and space limitations, a limit of five members of the public may attend.

Wednesday: New Kensington Redevelopment Authority will meet at 7 p.m. via teleconference for a work session. An executive session to discuss personnel matters will be afterward. Audio may be accessed by calling 515-604-9300 and using access code 291483. For questions, email newkendevelopment@gmail.com or call 724-594-4218.

Oakmont

Today: 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.

Washington Township

Thursday: Washington Township Municipal Authority meeting will be closed to the public. The agenda will be posted next week at washingtontownship.com/municipal-authority-agenda. Questions and comments: 724-727-5881 or mawt@comcast.net

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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.

Apollo-Ridge School District

Today: Apollo-Ridge School Board agenda meeting is canceled.

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 

Today: 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.

June 20: The Burtner House Strawberry Festival is canceled. Burtner House Restoration Society meetings are canceled until further notice.

• 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.

Lower Burrell

Today: The Lower Burrell Zoning Commission meeting is canceled.

McCandless

Sunday: 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

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.

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

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

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

Springdale Township

May 8: The Bingo Bash planned for May 8 by Allegheny Valley Volunteer Fire Co. is postponed. Tickets will be honored when the event is rescheduled. Refunds will be issued to those who can’t attend when it is rescheduled. The fire company thanks you for your understanding.

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.

West Deer

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