The Stroller, Feb. 21, 2024: 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.

Lower Burrell Citizen Police Academy accepting applications

The Lower Burrell Citizen Police Academy will begin March 7 at the city municipal building. Classes will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays for 10 weeks with the exception of March 28.

Applicants must be 18 years or older, residents of Lower Burrell and submit to a background investigation. Class size is limited to 25.

The program is designed to promote partnerships through education. Participants will be provided with a wide range of information intended to help better understand the goals and objectives, rules, responsibilities and legal parameters under which the police department functions. For an application and details, visit lowerburrellpolice.org. Application deadline is Feb. 29.

Children welcome to meet Shrek and company

The Burrell High School Theater Company will host a “Shrek The Musical” meet-and-greet afternoon from 1 to 3:30 p.m. March 2 in the high school, Puckety Church Road.

Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will spend time with the characters of the upcoming musical and there will be crafts, games, snacks, backstage tours and dancing. Characters will sign the free autograph books that will be distributed.

Cost is $10; $5 for each additional child. Children can be from any school district and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Reservations are required. For reservations, visit tinyurl.com/bdfaxw3b.

Calendar

Apollo

Today: A card party will be at 6:30 p.m. at St. James Parish activities center, 109 Owens View Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Play the card game of your choice. Food will be sold. Admission: $5. There will be a 50/50 raffle and $1 instant tickets. Details: Linda, 724-882-8776.

Today: Apollo Hose Co. No. 2 will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be specials and wish jars. Details: 724-478-4831.

Thursday: The Yarn Good Time needle arts group at Apollo Memorial Library will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, 219 N. Pennsylvania Ave. All ages and skill levels welcome. Details: 724-478-4214.

March 17: St. James Parish is selling tickets for a Luck of the Irish lottery ticket raffle. Cost: $10, includes two three-digit numbers. The winner receives a complete roll of $5, $10 and $20 Pennsylvania scratch-off lottery tickets. The winning number will be the 7 p.m. Daily Pick 3 number on March 17. Tickets: Linda, 724-882-8776, in the parish office and after weekend Masses in the church vestibule. 

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. Friday in the church social hall. Cost: $12 per dozen. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Brackenridge

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

Thursday: Bingo will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the American Legion, 845 First Ave. Details: 724-994-6030.

Freeport

Today: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All items are free, but donations will be accepted. Items available include clothing of all sizes, bedding and window items. Donations of clothing, shoes and boots welcome; must be laundered and free from smoke and pet hair. Wheelchair accessible. Details: 724-295-3095.

Gilpin

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

Harmar

March 9: The Pittsburgh Shrine Center, 1877 Shriners Way, will host a night at the races at the center. Doors open at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and races begin at 7 p.m. Cost: $25; horses, $10 additional; table of eight, $160. There will be 10 races, small games of chance, food, soft drinks, beer, coffee, a silent auction and a 50-50. Walk-ins welcome. Tickets: tinyurl.com/mrx473jx.

Harrison

Today: The Becky’s Closet community clothing store at Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 Broadview Blvd., will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Cost: tops and bottoms for men and women, $50 cents; children’s clothing, 25 cents. Donations welcome during these hours. Everyone welcome.

Today: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer a Baby and Me program at 9:30 a.m. for children 15 months and younger and their caregiver at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Bring a blanket to sit on. Details: alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Today: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean clothing in all sizes is needed. No housewares or bedding please due to lack of space. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Today: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Food bank participants can receive food allotments twice per month. Those who are not yet registered should come from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Sparrow’s Nest clothing and home goods ministry will be open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Details and alternate times: 724-226-0606, ext. 10.

Fridays: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host a toddler time for children 15 months to 3 years of age and their caregiver at 9:30 a.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. No reservations required. Details: alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

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.

Feb. 28: The Kitchen Sink Book Club at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. The selection will be “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks. Copies are available at the circulation desk. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Feb. 28: The Coffeehaus Teen Book Club will meet from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the library. Students who are at least in seventh grade are welcome to read any book of their choice and come ready to chat about it with other members. There will be coffee and a snack. Reservations required. Reservations: tinyurl.com/yc43y2d7.

Jefferson Township

Thursday: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.

Leechburg

Saturdays: The Leechburg Area Museum is closed for the season. Appointments during the off-season: 724-845-8914 and leave a message or email lamahs@windstream.net.

Lower Burrell 

Friday: The Adult Day Care Mobile Veterans Program will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road. There will be a meet-and-greet, Gerofit exercise, lunch, crafts and games. Sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, all veterans are welcome.

Through Feb. 29: Allegheny Valley League of Artists will sponsor an exhibit of the works of member Lynn Jacques at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Hours: 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

New Kensington

Saturday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from noon to 2 p.m. today 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 welcome during business hours.

Thursday: New Kensington Eagles Auxiliary Bingo will be at 7 p.m. at the aerie, 2134 Freeport Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Sales are from 6 to 6:50 p.m. Cost: $25 for a 12-on package; specials will be available. The kitchen will be open. Public welcome. Details: 724-448-7403.

Parks Township 

Friday: Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7 p.m. in the firehall, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m.

March 9: A purse bash to benefit Kiddies’ Korner Nursery School will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at Parks Township Volunteer Firehall, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open at noon. Cost: $30, includes appetizers, desserts, coffee, tea, water and a chance to win 13 designer purses. There will be a basket raffle and 50-50. Winner need not be present. Tickets: 724-478-1420.

Plum

Feb. 29: Plum Community Library will offer a historical program “The History of Kaufmann’s Department Store: Everything Under the Sun!” at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 445 Center New Texas Road. Robert O. Stakely from the Senator John Heinz History Center will be the speaker. Reservations required. Reservations: plumlibrary.org.

Springdale  

Thursday: Lower Valley Community Food Bank will distribute food from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday from the rear entrance of the Springdale borough building, 325 School St. Do not arrive before 12:45 p.m. Anyone in need of food who lives in Springdale, Springdale Township, Cheswick, Harmar and the sections of Indiana Township and West Deer with a zip code of 15024 is welcome. New recipients can register Thursday.

Thursday: The diaper pantry at St. Mark Lutheran Church will distribute free diapers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church, 600 Pittsburgh St. Recipients must register in advance. First-time recipients must provide their own ID, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card. Distributions will be the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Registration: 724-274-5313.

Tarentum

Today: The Elks will host bingo at 6:30 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. The kitchen is open to the public from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Menu: elks644.org/elks-kitchen-1. Orders: 724-226-1644 by 8:15 p.m.

Vandergrift

Today: The Anime Club for children in fifth through 10^th grade at Vandergrift Public Library will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Details: 724-568-2212.

Washington Township

Today: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 6 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380.

Today: A veterans service officer will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the office of state Rep. Jill Cooper, 105 Pfeffer Road, suite 5. Services available will include disability and pension claims, benefit questions, assisting spouses with survivor benefits issues and applications for veterans grants. Appointments will be accepted, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: 724-387-9113.

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.

Winfield

Thursday: The Matrona Family Resource Center at Cabot Church, 707 Winfield Road, will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. New and gently used clothing is sizes for preemie through size 10/12 available as well as stroller, car seats, toys and more. No reservations required. Details: 724-524-1809 or tinyurl.com/mw9kd9cp.