The Stroller, Feb. 23, 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.

Indoor concert to benefit local police departments

The Back the Blue indoor concert will be from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at AK Valley Park, 600 Freeport Road, New Kensington.

Doors open at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and proceeds will be donated to local police departments. Bands scheduled to perform include 13 Stories, Present Tense, A Common Crown, Risen to Save, Big House, Curtis and the Shakerz and the Knock Offs.

BYOB or beverages will be available. A fireworks display by Tanks Fireworks will be at 6:45 p.m. and there will be an auction of artwork by Larry Klukaszewski.

Paint night to aid Wildbird Recovery Center

A paint night class to benefit Wildbird Recovery Center in Middlesex Township will be from 6 to 8 p.m. March 3 at Uncle Dave’s Art Studio, 4135 Leechburg Road, Allegheny Township.

Participants will use inside-the-lines instructions to paint a bird. Cost is $40 and includes supplies. Fifty percent of proceeds will be donated to Wildbird Recovery. Education ambassadors screech owl Aragon and merlin falcon Zelda will be on hand.

Reservations are required. For reservations, visit tinyurl.com/7mcku6bv.

Armstrong County Sheriff’s Department plans night at the races

A night at the races to benefit the medical expenses of Armstrong County Sheriff police dog Blak will be Saturday at Kittanning Township Firehall, 13126 Route 422.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and races start at 7. General admission is $15; admission with a horse is $25, and includes food, beverages and mixers. There will be a basket raffle. For tickets, call 724-548-3277.

To make a donation, send a check made out to Armstrong County Sheriff K9 Fund to Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office, 500 E. Market St., Kittanning PA 16201. Blak has served the county for the past seven years and had back surgery recently.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

Today: Kiski Area School District will host its Kindergarten Transition Event for incoming kindergarten students and their families from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the gymnasium and cafeteria of Kiski Area North Primary School, 1048 School Road. Students will participate in an interactive Mad Science program and parents can meet with elementary school principals.

Apollo

Today: 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. to knit, crochet, embroider or cross stitch. All ages and skill levels welcome. Details: 724-478-4214.

Saturday: Apollo Hose Co. No. 2 will have a special Saturday night bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Details: 724-478-4831.

Arnold

Friday: A bingo to benefit the Speed Family Blessing Box and Pantry will be from 7 to 9 p.m. at the center, 1702 Fifth Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cash prizes. Cost: game packages, $10; additional cards, $2. Pull tabs and strip tickets will also be sold. Cash only accepted.

Friday: The Tomb will sponsor Freedom Fridays for students age 12 to 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the center, 1821 Fifth Ave. There will be praise worship, games, movies, karaoke, drinks and snacks. Free admission.

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly 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

March 19: Avonmore Public Library will sponsor a potluck dinner fundraiser at the Polish Club, 501 Indiana Ave. Admission: $5 plus a covered dish. Dishes must be arrive by 4 p.m. and be cooked and hot. Dinner will be at 5 p.m. and a silent auction will be afterward. Gift basket donations welcome. Reservations with the name of the covered dish you will bring required by March 1. Gift basket donation deadline: March 5. Reservations and donation information: Arleen Gordish, 724-697-4254.

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.

Saturday : 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

March 2: Zion United Methodist Church will host a community blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. in the church Family Life Center, 438 Bear Creek Road. Appointments recommended. Bring ID. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit donateblood.centralbloodbank.org. Search for group code C664.

Frazer

March 4: The New Kensington Camera Club and Focus on the Arts Gallery will offer a free workshop, “Portraiture/People in Your Photography,” from 1 to 4 p.m. in suite 208 at Pittsburgh Mills Mall. Use Entry 2 by M@C Discount. Jay Kuntz will be the instructor. Bring your camera and favorite lens. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Reservations: comment on the event posting at Focus On The Arts Gallery on Facebook.

Freeport

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.

Saturday: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will sponsor a Happy Hour Cash Bash from 6 to 8 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Cost: $25, includes five numbers for the drawings, and sandwiches, salads and sweets starting at 6:15 p.m. There will be karaoke with Bucky and a cash bar. Tickets: 724-904-7649 or email vfw894natronaheights@gmail.com.

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: 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.

Friday: The Leechburg Ministerial Association will host Lenten lunches Fridays at 11:45 a.m. Fridays through March 31 in the social hall of Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church, 251 Main St. Donations will be accepted.

Today: Leechburg Public Library will host a free movie night for children in prekindergarten through third grade from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the library, 139 Market St. The film will be, “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

New Kensington  

Today: Knead Community Café will hand out free grab-and-go meals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the café, 1011 Barnes St. This week’s meals were sponsored by Books Bridge Hope. Details:878-847-7997.

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.

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.

North Apollo

Saturday: A craft and vendor fair to benefit North Apollo Fire Department will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the firehall, 311 16^th St. The fire department will sell food and drinks, and there will be a 50-50 and silent auction.

Springdale  

Today: 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 on Thursday.

March 2: Springdale Free Public Library, 331 School St., will host a Read Across America Family Fun Night for all ages from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the library. Celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss with crafts, snacks and fun. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

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.

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: 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 used book and jewelry sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details: 724-224-9220.

March 2: Alle-Kiski Valley Heritage Museum and History Center is accepting table reservations for an evening of scrapbooking planned from 6 to 8 p.m. at the museum, 224 E. Seventh Ave. Donations will be accepted. Bring your own supplies. Soft drinks, coffee and treats will be sold. Reservations: 724-224-7666, leave a message.

Vandergrift

Fridays: Kiski Area Association of Churches will host Lenten lunches from noon to 1 p.m. Fridays Feb. 24 through April 7 at Vandergrift Presbyterian Church, 195 Washington Ave. There will be a short devotional message by a local pastor and a presentation by a representative from a different agency or ministry that serves the community. Soup and sandwiches will be served afterward. Donations will be accepted to benefit the association’s ministries. No reservations required.

February: Vandergrift Public Library, 128C Washington Ave., is sponsoring 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.