The Stroller, Feb. 18, 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.

Children’s bereavement workshop offered online

Good Samaritan Hospice, a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, will sponsor a free virtual youth bereavement care seminar from 9:30 to 11 a.m. March 4 online on Zoom.

The event, “The Music in Me,” will be a music-themed workshop for youngsters who are younger than 21 who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Reservations are required by Feb. 20. For reservations and more information, call Brittany Foy at 800-720-2557, ext. 4428.

Free class offered by Butler National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Butler County will offer its free Family-To-Family educational course from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays March 1 to April 19 at the office, Holly Pointe Building, 220 S. Main St., Butler.

The course is for family members, significant others and friends of people who have a mental health condition. Topics will include current treatments and therapies, finding local support services, handling crises, solving problems and managing your own stress.

Reservations are required by Feb. 28. To register, visit namibutler.org. For details, call 724-431-0069.

Religion News

• St. James Church, Apollo, will have distribution of ashes Wednesday at a 7:30 a.m. communion service and a 6:30 p.m. Mass at the church, 109 Owens View Ave. Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 7 p.m. Fridays through March 31 at the church.

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, East Vandergrift, will have Mass with distribution of Ashes at noon Wednesday at the church, 420 McKinley Ave.

• United Presbyterian Church of Freeport, 411 High St., will have a covered dish dinner at 6 p.m. Ash Wednesday at the church. Feel free to arrive later if necessary. A service with distribution of ashes will be at about 6:45 p.m.

• Vandergrift First United Methodist Church will have an Ash Wednesday service at noon with communion and distribution of ashes at the church, 134 Custer Ave.

• Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church, both in Leechburg, will have a drive-thru distribution of ashes from 7 to 9 a.m. Ash Wednesday in the Cross Roads Church parking lot on First Street and a walk-up distribution from 10 a.m. to noon at Coco Coffeehouse, 163 Market St. All denominations welcome.

Calendar

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.

Today: 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

Today: 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.

Sunday: Arnold Fireman’s Band will host a luncheon bingo at 1:30 p.m. in the Arnold Social Center, 1702 Fifth Ave. Doors open at noon. Cost: $6, includes light lunch and one lapboard. Players must be at least 12 years old.

Brackenridge

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.

East Vandergrift

Sunday: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish will host bingo at 2 p.m. in the church social hall, 411 McKinley Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. There will be a 56-number jackpot game and a 44-number picture frame game.

Monday: A rummage sale will be from noon to 3 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 420 McKinley Ave.

Freeport

Today: 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.

Harrison 

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.

Sunday: There will be a spaghetti dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 894 Veterans Lane. Menu: spaghetti, salad, bread and dessert. Cost: $10; children, $5. Dine in or takeout.

Wednesday: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will have Baby Time from 9:30 to 10 a.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. No reservations required. Details: alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Wednesday : 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.

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. Please bring a bag. Donations welcome.

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.

Lower Burrell

Today: 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.

Monday: Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary will meet at 7 p.m. in the post banquet room, Wildlife Lodge Road. New members are encouraged to attend.

Thursday: Peoples Library will host an arts and crafts hour for children 6 and younger and their caregivers at 1 p.m. at the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021.

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

Today: 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.

Thursday: Peoples Library will host an arts and crafts hour for children 6 and younger and their caregivers at 11 a.m. at the library, 880 Barnes St. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021.

Feb. 28: The Valley High School Interact Club will sponsor an American Red Cross community blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the library at Valley Jr.-Sr. High School, Stevenson Blvd. Donors must be at least 16. Use sponsor code ValleyVikings. Appointments: redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time.

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.

O’Hara

Feb. 25: Fox Chapel Boys Lacrosse Boosters will host a night at the races from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road. Cost: $40, includes bee3r and dinner from the Pittsburgh BBQ Company. There will be a cash bar and basket auction. Reservations required by Sunday. Reservations: tinyurl.com/yc6a5cuf.

Parks

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.

Plum

March 1: Plum Community Center is collecting used board games, puzzles, playing cards and puzzle books for use in its Senior Companion Lending Library project. Details: 412-795-2330.

Saxonburg

Sunday: A spaghetti dinner to benefit cancer patient Tina Perfors will be from noon to 6 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 572 W. Main St. There will be a basket auction and 50-50 raffle. Cost: $10; children 5 to 10, $5, younger than 5, free.

Thursday: South Butler Community Library will host Julie Tulba, author of the novel “Red Clay Ashes,” at 6:30 p.m. at South Butler Community Library, 240 W. Main St. Tulba has traveled to over 30 countries and will discuss her favorite travel memories. Reservations encouraged. Reservations: 724-352-4810.

Springdale  

Monday: The Knotty Knitters group at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. Bring your unfinished knitting or crocheting project. All skill levels welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Wednesday : 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.

Feb. 28: 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, “Catch the Sparrow,” by Rachel Rear. New members welcome. Details: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum

Today: 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.

Today: 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.

Sunday and Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St. An opportunity for silent prayer will be at 6:30 p.m.

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

Today: 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.

Feb. 28: Vandergrift Public Library will have a Dr. Seuss’ Birthday event for children age 2 to 10 at 6 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212.

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.

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.