The Stroller, Dec. 8, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number.

Springdale students to present, ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’

The Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School Drama Club will present the play, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday in the high school Marshall Auditorium.

The play is a prequel to the story of Peter Pan. Tickets are $10; students, $8. District Senior Gold Cards will be accepted.

All-star volleyball games to feature local high school players

The We Serve First Foundation will host the We Serve First All-Star Volleyball Classic game Saturday at Kiski Area High School gymnasium, Allegheny Township.

The game will feature the skills of 38 high school seniors who play volleyball at 19 Alle-Kiski area schools. Doors open at 3 p.m. and player and coach introductions will be at 3:30 p.m. Games will begin at 4:15 p.m. Tickets are $5; students, $3; and younger than 5, free.

Proceeds will benefit the We Serve First Foundation founded in memory of the late Ellen Toy who was a high school and club volleyball coach. The foundation will provide scholarships to high school volleyball players to play on club teams or attend volleyball camps.

Calendar

Apollo

Dec. 31: Tickets are on sale for a New Year’s Eve bingo set for 8 p.m. at Apollo Hose Company No. 2, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cost: $25 before Dec. 22; $30 at the door, includes hot dog and sauerkraut. Full kitchen will be available. There will be 17 regular games, four early birds, four specials, pull tabs and door prizes. Tickets: Shelby, 724-549-1601 or Gina, 724-594-6187.

Arnold

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. Cost: $12 per dozen. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Avonmore

Saturday: A super bingo will begin at 1 p.m. at the Avonmore Senior Citizen Center, 458 Railroad Ave. Cost: $25 by Friday; $30 at the door. There will be a $100 early bird jackpot and a $200 final jackpot. Includes dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, tossed salad and garlic bread and a door prize ticket. Public welcome. Tickets and details: 724-697-4014.

Brackenridge

Dec. 15: Allegheny Health and Physical Medicine and Trinity United Methodist Church will have a Vitalant blood drive and Christmas cookie party from 1 to 6 p.m. at the medical office, 825 Freeport Road. Details: 724-224-2224 or dspale@alleghenyhealth.com.

Buffalo Township

Saturday: The clothes closet at Evangel Heights Church, 120 Beale Road, will distribute free clothing in sizes infant through adult from 9 a.m. to noon.

Saturday: Alle-Kiski Pickleball Inc. will sponsor a Pickleball is Coming to Freeport Park holiday fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. at Smokin’ Toad’s, 110 S. Pike Road. Cost: $25, includes buffet dinner. There will be music, gift card giveaways and a 50/50. BYOB. Proceeds will be used to bring dedicated public pickleball courts to the Alle-Kiski Valley. Tickets: stop in at Smokin’ Toad’s. Details: allekiskipickleball@gmail.com.

Dec. 17: Amethyst Cheerleaders is selling tickets for a Santa is Coming to Town event planned for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the White Star Club, 401 Shuster Drive. There will be music, a bake sale, hot cocoa bar, raffles and a selfie station. Cost: $10 per child, includes digital photo with Santa, a cup of cocoa, reindeer food and a Santa letter writing station. Reservations: Santacomestosarver.com.

East Franklin

Saturday: The Armstrong High School Educational Activities for Special Education (EASE) will sponsor a holiday craft and vendor show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the high school, 300 Buffington Drive. There will be over 100 vendors and crafters and food. A silent auction will benefit Orphans of the Storm animal shelter, Rayburn.

Fawn

Saturday: Center United Methodist Church, 1575 Donnellville Road, will host a bluegrass and country Christmas concert, “Christmas with Echo Valley,” at 6 p.m. at the church. Donations will be accepted.

Harrison  

Friday: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at 6 p.m., and there will be specials, a 50/50 raffle and final game jackpot.

Saturday: The Diaper Pantry at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church, Harrison, will distribute diapers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 926 Painter Ave., and at Sheldon Park, both in Natrona Heights. Recipients must drive up and remain in their vehicles. First-time recipients must provide their own identification, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card.

Dec. 16: Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary will sell tickets for a lottery ticket raffle from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and Dec. 15 and 16 in the Carlisle Corner of the hospital cafeteria, 1301 Carlisle St. Cost: $1 each, cash only. Two winners will each receive a sealed package of 100 $1 Pennsylvania Lottery scratch-off tickets. The drawing will be at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Proceeds benefit auxiliary projects for the hospital.

Kiski Township

Saturday: New Beginnings United Methodist Church, 1559 Route 56, will have a live Nativity from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the church. Rain date: Sunday.

Leechburg

Saturday and Sunday: A Christmas craft and vendor show will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. Details: Melissa, 724-332-9090 or allermelissa@comcast.net.

Lower Burrell

Saturday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will feature Marshal and the Deputies from 8 to 11 p.m. at the post. Members and three guests welcome.

Saturday: Peoples Library will host a family arts and crafts hour for all members of the family at 1 p.m. at the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Details: 724-339-1021.

Saturday: The ClothesLine Ministry at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 3084 Leechburg Road, will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clothing, shoes and purses will be 25 cents each or five for $1. The jewelry room will be open.

Friday: The American Legion will have karaoke with DJ Brian at 8 p.m. at the post, 206 Wildlife Lodge Road. Members and two guests welcome.

New Kensington

Saturday and Tuesday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Items available include clothing for all members of the family, shoes and linens. First-time customers receive 15 free items. Winter clothing donations accepted during business hours.

Dec. 14: The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a Christmas sweets sale. Pickup: noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church, 1150 Leishman Ave. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece wedge; and sambosic, $2.50 each. Quantities are limited. Order deadline: Friday. Orders: 724-337-3918.

Oakmont

Saturday: A children’s holiday party will be at 1 p.m. at Oakmont Carnegie Library, Allegheny River Blvd. There will be crafts, free books and pizza. No reservations required.

Saxonburg 

Wednesday : An American Red Cross Blood community blood drive will be from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Saxonburg Veterans of Foreign Wars, 572 W. Main St. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Saturday and Sunday: Saxonburg Memorial will present a free Christmas cantata with orchestra, band and choir at 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, 100 W. Main St.

Tarentum  

Weekdays: Free food and hygiene items are available at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., suite 12. Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Details: 724-224-9006.

Friday: Tarentum Book Club will meet for lunch at the Meredith Inn, Kittanning, to celebrate the holidays.

Saturday: Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will have a Christmas cookie sale and Clothing Closet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cookies can be purchased a la carte or on premade trays. Details: 724-224-9220.

Saturday: Tarentum Masons will sponsor a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the lodge, 307 Lock St., second floor. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $10; children, $5. Public welcome.

Upper Burrell

Dec. 24: Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Department and Vigilant Hose Company of Portvue are selling tickets for a $15,000 Christmas Cash Giveaway. Cost: $20 per ticket, includes eight numbers. The winning number will be taken from the 7 p.m. Dec. 24 Pennsylvania Pick 4 number. Details and tickets: ubvfc11training@gmail.com.

Vandergrift

Thursdays and Fridays: Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society will feature a display of photographs and memorabilia from Parks Township through Dec. 16 at the museum, 84 Sherman Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Details: 724-568-1990.

Washington Township

Friday: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 4078 Route 66. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and sales start at 6 p.m. Free coffee. The kitchen will be open. Players must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult.

West Deer

Saturday: Deer Lakes Band Boosters will have its ninth annual craft and vendor show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school. There will be a basket raffle, a visit from Santa, and performances by the high school choir and band and middle school band. Admission: $1, includes one basket raffle ticket; 4 and younger, free. Proceeds will benefit the school band program.

Friday and Saturday: Bull Creek Women’s Association Christmas bazaar will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church, 224 Tarentum Culmerville Road. There will be food and a bake sale. Dine in or takeout.