The Stroller, Feb. 24, 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.

Free Black History Month presentation planned in New Kensington

The New Kensington Center for Active Adults will host a Black History Month event about men in uniform at 1 p.m. Thursday at the center, 1039 Third Ave.

Homer Craig of Hazelwood and Rex Burton of Bellevue will discuss their military service in a free 70-minute video presentation. Burton was a Vietnam-era Army helicopter pilot and mechanic, and Craig served in the 1950s and ‘60s and boxed for the Army.

For details, call 724-335-8597.

Bowling fundraiser to aid Allegheny Valley Association of Churches

Allegheny Valley Association of Churches will host a fundraiser “Bowling for Blessings” at 1 p.m. March 3 at Wildlife Lanes, Wildlife Lodge Road, Lower Burrell.

Cost is $20 per bowler, and includes three hours of bowling, shoe rental and one pitcher of pop and one pizza per lane. Teams of four to 6 people can be registered. There will be a bake sale and basket auction.

Reservations are required. For reservations or to donate to the basket auction or bake sale, contact Beth at 724-226-0606, ext. 10, or beth@avaoc.org.

Opportunities available to help senior citizens

Open Your Heart to a Senior is looking for volunteers to help our older neighbors.

People are needed to drive to doctor appointments, shop for groceries and make calls to check on and say hello to people who are alone. To offer your time and for information, call 724-205-6282 or email oyhs@wfspa.org.

Free cancer screenings offered at Allegheny Valley Hospital

Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute will offer free cancer screenings March 9 at Allegheny Valley Hospital, 1301 Carlisle St., Harrison.

Screenings will be available for the following cancers: breast, cervical, colorectal, head and neck, lung, prostate and skin. The event is open to both AHN and non-AHN patients and health insurance is not required. Reservations are required by March 1. For a reservation, call 412-359-6665.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

March 13: Westmoreland Conservation District will sponsor a free workshop about maintenance of driveways from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the township building, 136 Community Building Road. Topics will include how to make cost-effective repairs and maintain your driveway. Reservations required. Reservations: westmorelandconservation.org.

Apollo

March 2: Apollo Memorial Library will sponsor a workshop to make sock bunnies at 2:30 p.m. at the library, 219 N Pennsylvania Ave. Bring a glue gun and sharp scissors. Cost: $5. Reservations required. Reservations: 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. 

Avonmore 

Today: The Avonmore Library Winter Social will be from noon to 2 p.m. at the library and civic center, 423 Westmoreland Ave. There will be a soup cook-off and lunch fundraiser, STEAM activities, book giveaway and 50-50 raffle.

Brackenridge

Sunday: Sons of the American Legion will serve an all-you-can-eat community breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon in the American Legion, 845 E. First Ave. Cost: $9; younger than 12, $6.

Monday: Brackenridge Improvement Group (BIG) will meet at 7 p.m. at the borough building, 1000 Brackenridge Ave. Volunteers are needed for future community events. New members welcome.

March 17: Pioneer Hose Company Auxiliary will host a spring bingo at 1 p.m. at the firehall, 124 Morgan St. Doors open at noon. Cost: $25 in advance; $30 at the door; includes six cards for 20 regular games and three cards for five specials. The kitchen will be open and there will be cash prizes, a $500 jackpot game, a silent auction and 50-50 raffle. Tickets: Emily, 724-882-5908.

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 dinner, $12; includes salad; meatballs, $3. Cash only. Takeout orders: 724-295-2656.

East Vandergrift

March 24: Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish is selling raffle tickets for a half a cow and a $100 gift certificate to Anna’s Cucina Rustica in Vandergrift. The winning number will be the 7 p.m. March 24 Pa. Daily Pick 3 number. Cost: $10 for two numbers. Tickets: Deborah, 724-859-3186; Patricia, 724-568-3409, or after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.

Freeport

Sunday: The Forged men’s group at St. Mary Mother of God Church will host a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. in the church fellowship hall, 608 High St. Please use the doors on High Street. Menu: pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and orange juice. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $8; 5 to 12, $5; younger than 5, free. Proceeds will benefit a scholarship fund for the youth of the parish.

Gilpin  

March 13 and 14: Christ the King Parish is accepting orders for nut, apricot and poppy seed rolls and paska bread for the Easter season. Long rolls are $14 each with an order deadline of March 4. Pickup: noon to 4 p.m. March 13 and 14. Round or braided paska are $8 with raisins, $7.50 without raisins, and orders are due March 11. Pickups: noon to 4 p.m. March 20. Orders: 724-309-1976, 724-845-7588 or 724-845-8191.

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: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a polka dance plus from 7 to 10 p.m. in the post banquet room, 894 Veterans Lane. Polka music will be by the Heritage Band and classic rock by the Cool Change Band. There will be a cash bar and 50-50 raffle. Cover charge: $5, includes snacks. Public welcome.

Wednesday : 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.

Wednesday : 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.

March 23: The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary will sponsor a purse bash bingo from 1 to 4 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Drive. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch will be served at noon. Cost: $35, includes lunch. There will be a 50-50 raffle, pull tab tickets, cash bar, silent auction, pick-of-the-table and mystery raffle. Must be at least 18 to attend. Proceeds will be used for building maintenance. Tickets: Deb, 412-298-6175 or Michelle, 724-889-7136, at the post bar.

Jefferson Township

March 14 through May 1: Good Samaritan Hospice, a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, will sponsor a free grief support group for adults from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays March 13 through May 1 in the second floor classroom at Concordia at Cabot Haven II, 148 Marwood Road, entrance 5. Reservations required by March 6. Reservations: Brittany Foy, 800-720-2557, ext. 4428.

Leechburg

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: The band Johnson’s Crossing will be featured from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road. Members and three guests welcome.

Sunday: A spaghetti dinner will be from noon to 4 p.m. at the Moose, 499 Reimer St. Menu: spaghetti, salad and roll, $9.

Through Thursday: 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

Monday: Peoples Library will host domino games at 1 p.m. at the library, 880 Barnes St. Dominoes provided. Come alone or bring a friend. Details: 724-339-1021.

North Apollo

April 13: North Apollo Volunteer Fire Department is accepting space reservations for a craft and vendor fair set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the firehall, 311 16^th St. Details: Allison King, 724-472-5346 or kingal0103@gmail.com; or Amber Harman at 724-596-0486 or amberharman2015@outlook.com.

Parks Township  

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.

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.

Tarentum 

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

Today: A fish fry will be from noon to 4 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 250 W. Seventh Ave. Menu: fish, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, bread and dessert, $12; fish sandwich and coleslaw, $8. Details: 724-224-2417.

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.