The Stroller, Feb. 24, 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.

St. Patrick’s Day event to benefit local college scholarship fund

The 22^nd annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and party will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11 at Bill’s Bar & Burger, 1001 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh.

Ticket options include: $100, includes a lunch buffet, draft beers, house wines and table seating; $60, includes lunch buffet, draft beers and house wines; and $25 general admission with a cash bar. There will be raffles, entertainment, a basket auction and 50-50.

Proceeds will benefit the J. B. Mason/E. M. Nee III Memorial Scholarship Fund that awards scholarships to Valley High School seniors in memory of 1995 Valley High School graduates John “J.B.” Mason and Edward Michael Nee III.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, call Matt Nee at 412-225-4815. For tickets, visit jbmasonfund.org.

Saxonburg to celebrate Winterfest

The Saxonburg Winterfest festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Saxonburg.

There will be a vendor market, food trucks, family activities and a soup luncheon. Mike Huston will host an acoustic open mic session from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on the patio at the Saxonburg Hotel. South Butler County Library, 240 W. Main St., will have a book sale, Lego challenges and bottle cap art for elementary school children and a mini golf challenge for teens and adults.

Reunion News

• Valley High School Class of 1973 will have a reunion Aug. 4 and 5 at Hill Crest Country Club, Lower Burrell. Classmates should send updated email and mailing addresses to gregghack@comcast.net or call Victoria Vokes at 724-334-1878.

Organizations

Apollo Elks

The Apollo Elks received a grant through the Elks National Foundation and donated $10,000 to local community organizations.

Shoes and blue jeans were purchased and given to homeless veterans. Donations to the Kiski Township Police Department Toy Drive included $250 gift cards from local grocery stores so families could have a Christmas dinner and $1,000 to purchase educational toys and games. The lodge used their Gratitude Grant to help the Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department purchase a new AED unit. Lodge Exalted Ruler Jason Cook presented the check to the fire department at a recent meeting.

Calendar

Apollo

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

Today: 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.

Today: 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.

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.

Bethel

March 4: The Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek, 142 Kerr Road, will offer a free program, “Wild About Teas,” at 1 p.m. at the center. Speaker Vince Curtis will discuss the history and varieties of tea from all around the world and there will be sampling. Cost: $10. Reservations required. Reservations and details: armstrongcenter.org/odc-events.

Brackenridge

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

Sunday: A spaghetti dinner will be from 2 to 6 p.m. or until sold out at the White Star Club, 401 Shuster Drive. Dine-in or takeout. Menu: spaghetti, $12. Takeout orders: 724-295-2656.

Sunday 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: 412-963-6100 or aswp.org/events/11966 .

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.

East Vandergrift

March 20: Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish is selling raffle tickets to win half of a cow, a 16-cubic foot freezer and a $100 gift card to Rukas Beverage. The winning number will be the 7 p.m. March 20 Pa. Daily Pick 3 number. Cost: $10 for two numbers. Tickets: Deborah, 724-859-3186 or after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.

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.

Harrison

Today: 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.

Leechburg 

Today: 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.

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.

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.

Springdale  

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

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.

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 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.

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 until sold out. Pick-up: March 21, 22 and 23. Cost per roll: $14. Orders: Lisa, 724-230-6504, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vandergrift

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

Today: 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 5 and 6: Highpointe at Rebecca, 1871 Highpointe Lane, will offer a free seminar, “Smart Questions to Ask When Considering Retirement Communities,” at 1 p.m. followed by a question and answer session and building tour. Personalized guided tours will be available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 6. Reservations required by Wednesday for the seminar. Reservations appreciated for the open house, but walk-ins are welcome. Reservations: Julie Spirnock, 724-444-1521.