The Stroller, Feb. 16, 2023: 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.

Come and count the birds!

Friends of Harrison Hills Park will sponsor a Great Backyard Bird Count Saturday and Sunday at the park, Natrona Heights, Harrison.

The event engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. To participate, stop in from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the park Environmental Learning Center. Observers can stay inside the center or take a short hike with a park ranger to view the birds. Stay for as little as 15 minutes or the entire time. No reservations are required.

Binoculars and identification guides will be available and rangers and Friends of the Park will help out. For details, call Dave at 724-487-3586 or davbrooke@gmail.com.

Tickets available for St. Joseph HS cash bash

St. Joseph High School is selling tickets for a cash bash planned for 6 p.m. Feb. 18 in Patterson Hall at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1526 Union Ave., Natrona Heights, Harrison.

The winner need not be present. Tickets are $10 and include admission, lottery, dinner and drinks. For tickets, call Patricia Carman at 724-226-7877. Proceeds will benefit the school.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

Friday: Alle-Kiski Day Quilters and Sewers will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Allegheny Township municipal building, 136 Community Building Road. Bring your project. No dues or fees. Free parking, lighting, tables and electrical outlets available. Bring a lunch and drinks. The group meets the first and third Friday of each month. Details: Pat, 724-601-3089.

Apollo

Wednesdays and Saturdays: Apollo Area Historical Society Museum, 317 N. Second St., is closed for the season. Visits are available by appointment. Appointments: 724-478-2849 or 724-212-9255.

Saturday: Apollo United Presbyterian Church, 401 First St., will offer a story time, craft and small snack for children at 11 a.m. on the front steps of the church, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, the event will be indoors.

May 20: Apollo Events Committee is accepting reservations from vendors and food trucks for its annual May Daze celebration set for noon to 6 p.m. in Apollo Plaza. Cost: vendors, $25; food trucks, $50. Flea market spaces are available for $10. Rain date: May 21.

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.

Saturday: The Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave., will serve a free brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. GriefShare will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Brackenridge

Today: Bingo will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the American Legion, 845 First Ave.

Today: The Allegheny Valley Salvation Army and Community Center offers free grab and go lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in parking lot at the center, 917 Brackenridge Ave. Free grocery items from Walmart and Aldi will be available. Everyone welcome.

Feb. 25: The American Legion Auxiliary will sponsor a soup cook-off from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the post, 845 First Ave. Bring your best soup in a slow cooker or roaster by 12:30 p.m., and your recipe if you wish to share it. Soup will be sold as a fundraiser for the auxiliary, takeout or dine in. Prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m. to the top three soups, as voted by people sampling. Public welcome to sample, vote and purchase soup. Entrant registration required. Details and registration: Anita, 412-860-6351.

Buffalo Township

Feb. 26 and March 5: The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will sponsor a pancake and maple program at 10 a.m. at Buffalo Creek Nature Park, 154 Monroe Road. Attend either session. Learn the process of making maple syrup and enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, fruit and maple syrup. Cost: $15; $12 for Audubon Society members. Reservations required. Reservations: aswp.org/events or call 412-963-6100.

Freeport

Saturday: Freeport Kiwanis will sponsor a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $10; younger than 10, $5. Proceeds will benefit the club scholarship program.

March 2: St. Mary Mother of God Church will offer the free ALPHA program at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays for 12 weeks beginning March 2 at the church, 608 High St. The program will explore life, faith and meaning. There is no requirement to be a Catholic or Christian to attend. There will be a meal, a video presentation and a discussion each week. Details and reservations: stmaryfreeport.com.

Gilpin

Today: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7:15 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road.

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.

Tuesday: The Who Knew? program at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will present, “Remembering Fred Rogers,” at 6 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Online participation available. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or visit the calendar tab at alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Feb. 22: The Kitchen Sink Book Club at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. The selection will be, “Carnegie’s Maid,” by Marie Benedict. Copies are available at the circulation desk. Details: 724-226-3491.

March 11: A comedy and magic show with dinner will be at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 894 Veterans Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6. The show featuring Michael Misko will begin at 8 p.m. There will be a cash bar, pull tabs and a 50-50 raffle. Cost: $35. Tickets: Deb, 412-298-6175, or Michelle, 724-889-7136.

Jefferson

Today: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Under new management with higher payouts. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.

Leechburg

Today: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum, 118 First St. Basic computer skills required. Ancestry.com and Newspaper.com are available. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154.

Today: A New Path Al-Anon Family Group, a free, confidential program for anyone whose life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, will meet at 7 p.m. online for the winter months. Details: tinyurl.com/yp6hd8zn.

Saturday: Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church will have its free takeout monthly Pot Love Dinner at noon at the church, 271 Main St. Reservations required by noon Friday. There is a one dinner per family member limit. Those with reservations will be served first. Line-up will be outside and everyone is welcome. Reservations: 724-845-1901 or church@crcpc.org.

Saturday: 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. Please bring a bag. Donations welcome.

Lower Burrell

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

April 16: Tickets are on sale for a super bingo planned for 2 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road. Doors open at 11 a.m. There will be regular games, specials and a $4,000 fill-up jackpot game. All 300 tickets must be sold or money will be refunded. Cost: $90 in advance; $95 at the door. Tickets: stop in at the regular Tuesday night bingo at the post.

New Kensington

Today: New Kensington Eagles Auxiliary Bingo will be at 7 p.m. at the aerie, 2134 Freeport Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Public welcome. Details: 724-448-7403.

Today: The Secular Organization for Sobriety/Save Our Selves (SOS), a support group for people recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, will meet at 7 p.m. at Lost Dreams Awakening Recovery Community Center, 408 Eighth St. Details: 724-556-0737.

Saturday: Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St., will offer a STEM program for children of all ages at 11 a.m. Details: 724-339-1021.

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

Feb. 24: Arnold Volunteer Engine No. 2 will host a night of wine or beer cupcake pairings from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Eagles, 2134 Freeport Road. Cost: $20, includes four cupcakes from Cora Lee Cupcakes and four 4-ounce beers from local breweries or four 4-ounce wines from Pa. and New York wineries. Advance tickets required by Feb. 17; no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets: square.link/u/HmH18HQi.

March 1: St. George Orthodox Church Fellowship Committee is accepting orders for spinach pies. Pick up will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 12 in the church hall, 1150 Leishman Ave. Cost: $55 a dozen; $30, half dozen. Order deadline: March 1. Orders and details: 724-337-3918.

Parks 

Today: Parks Township Sportsman Club Association will meet at 7:30 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. New members welcome.

Springdale 

Feb. 22: The Wacky Wednesday program for children in kindergarten through sixth grade will meet at 6 p.m. at Springdale Free Public Library, 331 School St. The evening will be a movie night featuring the film, “The Princess and the Frog,” rated G. Registration required. Registration: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum

Today: The free diaper bank at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One distribution per child per month is available. Details: 724-224-9006.

Saturday: A fish fry will be from noon to 5 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 250 Seventh Ave. Menu: fish, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, bread and dessert, $12; fish sandwich and coleslaw, $9.

Saturday: The Clothing Closet at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be a dollar breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. Details: 724-224-9220.

March 21, 22 and 23: Ss. Peter & Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 339 E. 10th Ave., is taking orders for its annual Easter nut roll sale. Nut, apricot and poppy seed rolls will be available. Cost per roll: $14. Orders: Lisa,724-230-6504, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vandergrift

Saturday: Bingo will begin at 7 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 141-143 Sumner Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

February: Vandergrift Public Library, 128C Washington Ave., will have a $3 per bag book sale through the end of February at the library. Bags will be provided. Audio books, DVDs and puzzles are excluded from the bag sale and will be sold buy one, get one free.

March 31: Vandergrift Public Library is raffling a quilt made and donated by library patron Jane Strohm to benefit the library. Cost: $1 each; 5 for 10; and $10 for 25 tickets. The drawing will be March 31. Cash, check or PayPal accepted. Details and a photo of the quilt: Vandergriftpubliclibrary.org. Tickets: stop in at the library, 128C Washington Ave.

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

March 1 to 29: Good Samaritan Hospice, a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, will host a grief support group from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays March 1 to 29 at Highpointe at Rebecca, 1871 Highpointe Lane. A virtual group will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays March 3 to 31. Reservations required by Feb. 24. . Reservations: Brittany Foy, 800-720-2557, ext. 4428.