The Stroller, April 27, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Did your neighbor call and check on you, or bring a mask or groceries? 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.

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VCA Valley Veterinary Hospital to host blood drive

VCA Valley Veterinary Hospital, 853 Falcon Park Road, Lower Burrell, will host a Vitalant blood drive – for humans – from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the hospital.

The blood mobile will be on site and all donors must wear a face mask.

Appointments are required. No walk-ins will be accepted.

To make an appointment, call 412-209-7000 or visit Vitalant.org and use group code P915.

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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 Thursday 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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Feeding our neighbors in need

Leechburg Food Bank

The monthly distribution of the Leechburg Food Bank will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 6 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, 251 Main St.

New clients will be registered under a canopy in front of the church. The north side of Main Street will be closed to parking to create a lane for recipients to drive through for their pickup.

The food bank board of directors would like to thank those who have made financial contributions during the health crisis.

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Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank

The Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open to anyone in need from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

Food will be bagged in advance and placed into vehicles. To make a donation, visit avaoc.org/donate/financial-support/.

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Feeding Freeport lunch distribution

The Dynamic Community Foundation, a 501C3 organization that supports local families in need, is sponsoring the Feeding Freeport project that continues to distribute free lunches to anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays in the parking lot across from the Freeport Post Office.

To contribute to this cause, checks made out to Dynamic Community Foundation, can be sent to c/o NextHome Dynamic, 235 Fifth St., Freeport PA 16229. Please put “Feeding Freeport” in the memo line. Credit card donations can be made by searching for Feeding Freeport at gofundme.com. 100 percent of donations go directly to the cause.

Non-perishable food donations of vegetables, soup, beans, pasta, sauces, cookies, canned meats and individually wrapped snacks as well as brown or white paper lunch bags and 9 x 9-inch Styrofoam containers are welcome.

To volunteer your time, post contact information at facebook.com/events/1563579820471568/

Calendar

Apollo-Ridge School District

Today: Apollo-Ridge School Board will conduct the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. online via Zoom. To join the meeting, visit Zoom.us or call 646-558-8656 and use the meeting ID 983-2782-9377 and password 732306. Phone toll charges may apply.

Harmar

Thursday: Harmar Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public hearing via Zoom at 7 p.m. to consider a dimensional variance request from SP IV Harmar LL. Instructions for joining the meeting will be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting at the township website, harmartownship-pa.gov/.

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.

Lower Burrell

Tuesdays through Fridays: The kitchen at the American Legion will be open for takeout orders from members and guests from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. For a menu, visit facebook.com/post868/

New Kensington-Arnold School District

Tuesday: New Kensington-Arnold School Board will conduct the committee of the whole meeting electronically at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting. Instructions on how to join the meetings online will be posted at NKASD.com.

Plum School District

Wednesday: Plum School Board will meet at 7 p.m. online. Instructions for how to join the meeting electronically will be posted 24 hours before the meeting at pbsd.net/meetingagendaandminutes.aspx.

Springdale

Through 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.

Bell

June 20: The craft and vendor fair planned at Bell Township Volunteer Fire Hall is 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, the sausage sale and Mother’s Day rose sale.

Freeport

May 25: The Freeport Memorial Day observance is canceled.

Lower Burrell

Monday: The Lower Burrell Parks Commission meeting is canceled.

Harrison 

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

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.

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.

New Kensington

Sunday: The Ladies Afternoon Tea planned at Knead Community Café is postponed and will be rescheduled. Tickets already purchased and sponsorships will be honored on the new date. Ticket holders who want a refund should call Paula at 878-847-7997.

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

Saturday: 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

Saxonburg

May 21: The Mingle On Main event is canceled.

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 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

May 9: The Age of Aquarius show planned at the Casino Theater has been rescheduled to be at 2 p.m. Aug. 30 at the theater. Tickets already purchased will be honored in August. For refunds, email jlo129@live.com.

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.

West Deer

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

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.