Here is today’s dose of Small Acts of Kindness:

Jessica Meyer would like to recognize Dee Shaffer of Lower Burrell for making face masks and offering them at no cost. Initially, bags with masks were clipped to the mailbox of her home for those who had requested them and now she has placed a bin containing masks on her front porch for those who need them, all for free. “Dee is truly a helping hand in the midst of this pandemic.”

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

Mayors proclaim Sunday Bells Across America Day

The mayors of Freeport and New Kensington have proclaimed Sunday to be Bells Across America Day in their municipalities.

The three purposes of the initiative include:

• To recognize and honor first responders, health care workers and employees of grocery stores, pharmacies and other life-sustaining businesses who have maintained essential services while at risk of infection from COVID-19.

• To show solidarity with elected officials and residents across Pennsylvania, all of whom are fighting the virus on the front lines together.

• To demonstrate a collective resolve that Pennsylvanians will prevail over COVID-19 and work tirelessly to ensure that their businesses and civic life will thrive again.

At 7 p.m. all residents and churches are encouraged to ring bells for three minutes.

Mayors of other Alle-Kiski municipalities participating are encouraged to share their plans as soon as possible by emailing vndnews@tribweb.com.

Kiski Area Churches Food Bank to accept new clients

The monthly distribution of the Kiski Area Churches Food Bank will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Vandergrift Presbyterian Church, 195 Washington Ave., Vandergrift.

New registrations will be accepted at 11 a.m. Arrangements for social distancing will be in place.

Volunteers to assist with the distribution will not be needed this month because food boxes were already packed at the Delmont warehouse.

Hold the Phone!

The spaghetti dinner distribution at Deer Creek Diner in West Deer will be from 2 to 4 p.m. May 6.

The date was incorrect in Tuesday’s Stroller.

Calendar

Gilpin

Thursdays: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will serve takeout food from 5 to 7 p.m. at the fire hall kitchen, 113 Firehall Road. Menu: whole pizza, hot dogs, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich, hamburger, cheeseburger, chicken strips, nachos and cheese, fries, mushrooms, onion rings, cheese sticks and soft pretzels. Advance orders encouraged. Delivery available to the Leechburg area. Cash and checks accepted. Orders: 724-845-7200

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/

Fridays: Lower Burrell Volunteer Fire Department, Kinloch, will sell takeout food from 3 to 7 p.m. at the firehall, 916 New York Ave. Menu: chicken wings, fish sandwich, chicken sandwich, steak hoagie, pizza and more. For a complete menu, visit facebook.com/lowerburrellvfc1/. Orders: 724-339-7537 or 724-212-3120

New Kensington

Tuesdays: Mount St. Peter Church is holding its annual St. Anthony Novena virtually live online at 7 p.m. through mid-June on the church Facebook page, facebook.com/MSPParish/. Prayers for the novena are available on the Facebook page a few hours before the live event begins. This is a public page and anyone can view and participate, even those without a Facebook account.

Monday: New Kensington Council will meet at 7 p.m. via a remote platform. Public comments may be submitted in writing to City Clerk, City of New Kensington, 301 11th St., New Kensington PA 15068. Comments and questions must be received by 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

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.

Upper Burrell

Fridays: Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Department will sell takeout dinners from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the fire hall, 4370 Seventh Street Road. Menu: appetizers, sides and pizza. This week’s specials include a dozen whole chicken wings, $15; half dozen wings, $7.50 and fresh cut fries, $4. See the complete menu, click here. Advance orders encouraged by calling 724-339-2080 or order in person and wait.

May 6: Upper Burrell Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. partially by teleconference at the municipal building, 3735 Seventh St. Road. Physical attendance will be limited and those attending must wear a face mask and obey 6-foot physical distancing. Residents are asked to refrain from attending in person unless their issue needs immediate attention. Public participation through written comments is preferred. Written comments should be sent by 4 p.m. May 6 to ubtwp@upperburrelltwp.com or by mail. The agenda is posted at upperburrelltwp.com/.

Vandergrift

Fridays and Saturdays: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will sell takeout food with curbside pickup from 4 to 8 p.m. at the post, 141 Sumner Ave. Menu: dozen seasoned wings with large fries, $20; shrimp with fries, $8; four chicken planks with fries, $5; and pizza. Finger foods, all $4: mushrooms, cheese sticks, pizza logs, breaded cauliflower, fries, cheese balls, jalapeno poppers, broccoli cheddar bites, onion rings and breaded zucchini. Orders: 724-568-1427

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. The April 5 program about trolleys is rescheduled to 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.

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.

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

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.

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