The Stroller, Feb. 15, 2025: 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. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller.

Burrell Bucs Hockey raising funds for trip to California tourney

A bingo fundraiser to benefit Burrell Bucs Hockey will be at 2 p.m. March 8 at the Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road.

Doors open at noon. Tickets are $45. There will be 15 regular games that pay $100, four specials that pay $200, a $1,500 jackpot game, games of chance and 50-50s. No seats will be reserved and smoking is not allowed.

Proceeds will help to finance the team’s trip to the USA Hockey High School Nationals competition in California. This is a coop-team with players from Valley, Highlands, Penn Hills, Riverview and Burrell school districts.

For tickets, contact Bambi Simmons at 724-980-7313.

Lenten fish fry listings wanted

Lent begins March 5 on Ash Wednesday and The Stroller is compiling the annual big list of fish fries.

If your nonprofit would like to have your fish fry listed in the newspaper and online at TribLIVE.com, send complete information to Carol Pinto-Smith, TribLIVE, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com as soon as possible. Please indicate if you will have your event on Good Friday. Ash Wednesday event information must be received by Feb. 24.

Calendar

Apollo

March 8: Apollo Area Athletic Association will sponsor a night of all-you-can-eat wings and fries from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Oak Hill Firehall, 707 N. Fifth St. Cost: $25. BYOB. Must be at least 21. There will be a DJ, strip tickets, a basket raffle and 50-50. Details: fundraising@aaaaboard.com. Tickets: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and March 1; and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 25, at the firehall.

March 14: St. James Parish, 109 Owens View Ave., is accepting reservations from vendors for an indoor monthly flea market planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning March 14 in the upper level of the parish activities center. Details: Linda, 724-882-8776.

Apollo/East Vandergrift

March 12: St. James and Our Lady, Queen of Peace parishes will sponsor a bus trip to Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh. The bus will leave at 9 a.m. from the St. James parking lot, 109 Owens View Drive. The group will be at the casino for five hours. Must be 21. Cost: $30, includes $20 in free play. State-issued photo ID required to receive free play. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-478-4958.

Arnold

Sunday: Speed Family Blessing Box & Pantry will sponsor a bingo fundraiser at 2:30 p.m. at the pantry, 1826 Freeport Road. Cost: 25 cents per game. There will be specials, a basket auction, pull tabs and 50-50. Drinks and snacks will be sold.

Buffalo Township  

April 13: A Sarris candy sale to benefit Buffalo Elementary PTA is being conducted online at sarriscandiesfundraising.com. Candy is available for Easter. Use group number 10-1588.

East Franklin

Monday: Armstrong County Republican Committee will meet at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Complex banquet room, 415 Butler Road. Details for the upcoming school board and municipal elections and the spring Lincoln Banquet will be discussed. Details: Darlene Smail, 724-902-2244 or dsmail2244@windstream.net or Anthony Shea, ashea247@comcast.net.

East Vandergrift

Sunday: Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish will have bingo at 2 p.m. in the church social hall, 411 McKinley Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. There will be a 51-number jackpot game, a 45-number picture frame game and a magic number game. Details: 724-478-4958.

Freeport

March 1: St. Mary Mother of God Parish will host a Mardi Gras evening with wine tasting and light fare from 6 to 10 p.m. in the church fellowship hall, 608 High St. There will be music and a basket raffle. Cost: $35; table of eight, $240. Tickets: 724-448-9645 or 724-596-0503.

Hampton

Monday: The Greater Pittsburgh Civil War Roundtable will host a free program, “Capt. Thomas McConnell and Freed Slave Mose Wharton” by Bill May at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Community Center, 3101 McCully Road. Public welcome.

Harrison 

Sunday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary will host a spaghetti dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Drive. Menu: spaghetti, salad, rolls & butter and dessert, $10. Cash bar. Dine in or take out. Public welcome.

Tuesday: The Who Knew? program at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will present “Birding in Western Pennsylvania” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. This program was rescheduled from January. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or visit the calendar tab at alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Leechburg   

Today: The Clothing Closet at First Lutheran Church, 358 Main St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All items are 20 cents each. Bring your own bag. Donations welcome.

Today: The Leechburg Museum is closed for the season. Visits are available by appointment. Details: 724-845-8914 and leave a message or email lamahs@windstream.net.

Monday: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

March 1: A spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit Leechburg Public Library will be from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Marconi Club, 135 River Ave. Menu: spaghetti, salad and bread. Ticket: $10; 10 and younger, $6; takeout orders, $12. There will be desserts for sale, a basket raffle, DJ bingo, a cash bar and 50-50. Tickets: stop in at the library, 139 Market St.

Lower Burrell

Today: An all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to noon at Braeburn Community Church, 4146 Arnold Ave. Tickets: Marie, 724-448-0841 or Cheryl, 412-715-3833 or at the door.

Today: A luncheon bingo will be at 1 p.m. at the Moose, 499 Reimer St. Doors open at 11 a.m. Plan to arrive by 12:15 p.m. Admission: $20, includes lunch, 15 games that win $20 each; four specials that win $30 each; and a $100 must-go jackpot. Details: 724-335-4131.

Today: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will feature the Cool Change Band from 8 to 11 p.m. at the post. Members and three guests welcome.

Sunday: The Knights of Columbus will host a pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the social hall at St. Margaret Mary Church, 3055 Leechburg Road. Menu: scrambled eggs, pancakes, breakfast sausage links, ham, toast, coffee, hot tea, orange juice and milk. Cost: $10; children $5.

Sunday: A breakfast fundraiser to benefit Burrell Varsity Hockey will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the American Legion, 1100 Wildlife Lodge Road. Proceeds will benefit the team’s expenses to travel to Irvine, Calif., for the national championships. This is a coop-team with players from Valley, Highlands, Penn Hills, Riverview and Burrell school districts. Donations: Venmo @BurrellHockey

Monday: The Material Girls sewing group will meet at 1 p.m. at Grace Community Presbyterian Church, 3751 Grant St. There will be a demonstration about how to make a microwave popcorn bag. New members welcome. Details: Dee Shaffer, 724-335-6645 or shaffer37@comcast.net.

Tuesday: Peoples Library will offer a free online talk with journalist and author Lee Hawkins at 2 p.m. Hawkins will discuss his memoir, “I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free.” Recordings will be available to watch on demand. Registration required. Registration: libraryc.org/peopleslibrary.

March 8: Lower Burrell Police Department will sponsor a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Moose, 499 Reimer St. Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: Sharon Crawford, 412-600-4333; 877-258-4825 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and use account code 10055683.

New Kensington 

Monday: Peoples Library will host “Construction Crew,” an hour of play with building supplies, at 1 p.m. at the library, 880 Barnes St. Details: 724-339-1021.

April 19 to Oct. 25: The Downtown New Kensington Farmers Market is accepting vendor applications for this year’s market season. Local vendors who sell fresh local produce, meat, poultry, dairy products, juice, cheese, bread and baked goods welcome. Details: downtownnkmarkets@gmail.com.

Parks Township 

Sunday: Parks Township Sportsman’s Club will have a country music jam night from 5 to 8 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. Bring your favorite stringed instrument and sing along. Refreshments available. Public welcome. Details: 724-845-2390.

March 8: A purse bash to benefit Kiddies Korner Nursery School will be from noon to 4 p.m. at Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Cost: $30, includes appetizers, dessert and non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets: 724-478-1420.

Saxonburg

Wednesday: South Butler Community Library will offer a free workshop, “How to Declutter and Organize to Eliminate Stress,” at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 240 W. Main St. Registration preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration: 724-352-4810 or director@southbutlerlibrary.org.

South Buffalo

March 8: Freeport International Baseball Invitational will sponsor a cornhole tournament at 5 p.m. at South Buffalo Firehall, 100 Hill Road. Doors open at 4 p.m. Must be 21. Cost: $50 per team; spectators, $15 each; includes food and beverages. There will be cash prizes, a basket raffle and 50-50. Registration: rtoy98@yahoo.com.

Springdale

Wednesday: Springdale Free Public Library, 331 School St., will host craft workshops to make a St. Patrick’s Day wreath at 1 and 6 p.m. Attend either session. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Feb. 25: The Tuesday Night Book Club at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. The selection will be “Whale Fall” by Elizabeth O’Connor. Copies available at the library. New members welcome. Details: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum 

Today: The Clothing Closet at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The monthly dollar breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to noon. Menu: pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice. Details: 724-224-9220.

Today: Bethel AME Church, 250 Western Ave., will have a fish fry from noon to 4 p.m. at the church. Menu: fish dinner, $15, includes coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, bread and dessert; and fish sandwich and coleslaw, $12.

Today: A Valentine’s dance featuring the 56 East Band will be from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Elks, 219 E. Sixth Ave. Cost: $10, includes select beverages and snacks. Tickets: stop in at the lodge.

Feb. 22: The Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society will sponsor an all-day scrapbook and papercraft event from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the museum, 224 E. Seventh Ave. Cost: $30, includes large tables, breakfast pastries, water, coffee and tea. Bring a snack to share. Order lunch with the group or bring your own. Details: kimschneidsu@gmail.com.

Feb. 24: Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will host a free women’s book discussion group at 11 a.m. and the last Monday of each month through May 2025. Each session includes a time of discussion and learning, followed by a light lunch and fellowship at noon. The book is “Boundless Compassion: Creating a Way of Life” by Joyce Rupp. All women are welcome and attendance is not required at every meeting. Reservations required by noon the Friday before each session. Reservations: 724-224-9220 or centralpresoffice@verizon.net.

Vandergrift

Tuesday: Vandergrift Public Library will have a family game night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212.