The Stroller, July 30, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Publicize your club meetings, community events and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.

Help available for those grieving loss of their spouse

Christ Our Hope Anglican Church will offer a seminar, “Loss of a Spouse,” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 25 at the church, 926 Painter Ave., Natrona Heights, Harrison.

The program features a video with practical, encouraging advice from counselors, pastors and widowed men and women, followed by a small group sharing time. Topics will include how to find the strength to go on, how to handle the loneliness and what to do with your spouse’s belongings.

Cost is $10 and scholarships are available.

To register and for information, call the church at 724-895-3105 or email frjohn@cohac.org.

Average White Band to be featured at Hartwood Acres

The Allegheny County Summer Concert Series at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater, Indiana Township, will feature a soul and funk music concert by the Average White Band at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The event is sponsored by BNY Mellon. Food trucks will open at 6 p.m. Rain or shine.

Freeport Marina to close Saturday

The Freeport Marina will be closed from midnight Saturday morning to 11:59 p.m. Saturday to accommodate the staging area for the Freeport International Baseball tournament fireworks display.

There will be no parking from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday on Buffalo Street, Second Street Extension, High Street from Fifth to Sixth Street and Market Street from Fifth to Sixth Street.

Calendar

Apollo

Sunday: The Apollo Area Historical Society will present a free program, “A Visit with Miss Amy Snyder,” at 6:30 p.m. at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St. Snyder was a teacher and librarian in the borough. Wendy Minik will be the presenter. Refreshments will be served afterward.

Aug. 14: St. James Church will host a vendor fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parish center, 109 Owens View Ave. Tables: $20; without electricity, $15. Table reservations: Linda, 724-882-8776

Buffalo Township

Saturday: The Freeport High School varsity cheer team will host a car wash from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sarver True Value, 551 S. Pike Road.

Freeport  

Saturday: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., is closed until further notice. Watch the Stroller for updates. Details: 724-295-3095

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: The free summer children’s playground program sponsored by Natrona Comes Together Association and Fun and Freedom will sponsor a field trip to Falcon Lanes Bowling Alley in Ford City. Reservations and permission slips required. Details: Pat, 724-224-7599

Kittanning

Sundays and Thursdays: Armstrong County Historical Museum, 300 N. McKean St., will be open for tours from 1 to 3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Free admission. Alternate hours available by appointment. Free parking is available behind the building via the North Grant Avenue entrance. Details: 724-548-5707

Leechburg 

Saturday: Leechburg Area Museum, 118 First St., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Details: lamahs@windstream.net

Aug. 7: The vendor show planned by the Leechburg Area Community Association is postponed until fall. Details: doreen.smeal@gmail.com

Aug. 10 to 12: Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church, 271 Main St., will have vacation Bible school from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10 and 11 at the church and 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 12 at Leechburg Pool in Gilpin. Children ages 3 through those going into sixth grade welcome. Registration required. Registration: the VBS tab at crcpc.org or 724-845-1901

Lower Burrell

Saturday: Peoples Library will host, “Watch What Happens Next” with Miss Victoria 11 a.m. in front of the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Teens and tweens welcome. Find out what happens after you’ve squeezed out an entire tube of toothpaste or ripped up an important paper. In case of inclement weather, the program will be indoors. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021

Saturday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will feature music and karaoke with DJ Lisa from 8 to 11 p.m. at the post. Members and three guests welcome.

Saturday: The Lower Burrell Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the municipal building, 2800 Schreiber St. Lower Burrell Lions will sell brooms.

Aug. 28: The K9 Officer Derek Kotecki Baskets for the Blue basket raffle and vendor show is accepting items and gift certificates for the auction and raffle prizes. Details: visit the Events Calendar at officerderekkotecki.com or ODKBC27@gmail.com

New Kensington  

Today: The River Community Church, New Kensington, will host a farmers market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 200 Freeport Road. Vendor applications are being accepted for future markets. Details: Nicky, 724-337-4837 or admin@goriverchurch.com

Saturday: Mount St. Peter Church, 100 Freeport Road, will host a drive-thru Festa Italiana from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until sold out at the church. Menu: lasagna, two meatballs and a sausage, $15.

Saturday: Stage Right will give a live presentation of, “The Rainbow Colored Fish,” at 1 p.m. in the courtyard behind Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St. In case of inclement weather, the program will be inside. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021

Saturday and Monday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The closet offers clothing for all members of the family, uniforms for students at Mary Queen of Apostles School, shoes, purses, household items, linens and blankets. First-time customers receive 15 free items. Donations accepted during open hours only. Take a free chance on a monthly basket raffle.

Aug. 7: Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St., will present, “Birds & Beasts with Mad Science,” at 1 p.m. in the courtyard behind the library. Children 12 and younger can learn how they measure up to some of our favorite animals. Registration required. Registration: visit the Summer Learning page at peopleslibrary.org

Oct. 9: Tables reservations are being accepted for a craft and vendor show at East Ken Community Center, 1785 Seventh St. Cost: $10. Details: Marie, 724-472-5106

Parks

Sunday: Parks Township Sportsman’s Club will host a Music Night from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the club, 1111 Shipman Road. Bring your favorite stringed instrument and sing along. Refreshments available. Members and guests welcome. Details: 724-845-2390

Plum

Today: Plum Community Center will host a community blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. at the center, 499 Center New Texas Road. Appointments recommended. Blood donations are tested for covid-19 antibodies. For every donation, a financial contribution will be made to Zion Lutheran Church Food Pantry. Bring ID. Appointments: 412-209-7000, or visit vitalant.org and click on the Schedule Now or New Donor buttons. Search for group code C528.

Tarentum

Saturday: The Clothing Closet at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A dollar breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to noon and a used book sale will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details: 724-224-9220

Saturday: The Elks will feature DJ Rich from 7 to 10 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. Public welcome.

Upper Burrell

Aug. 29: Sky View Radio Society is accepting reservations for flea market tailgating spaces for its annual Swap n Shop Hamfest set for 8 a.m. to noon at the society grounds, 2335 Turkey Ridge Road. Cost: $5. Reservations: John, 724-339-3821

Vandergrift  

Through Saturday: Vandergrift Public Library, 128C Washington Ave., is having a book sale during library hours. Cost: $3 per Giant Eagle-sized bag available at the library. DVDs, audio books and puzzles available separately.

Sunday: A fundraiser to benefit Vandergrift Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 will be from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Allusion Brewery, 143 Grant Ave. A percentage of food sales will be donated to the fire company. Insurance agent Mary Jo Riddle will donate $5 through State Farm Insurance’s Quotes for Good program to the fire company for each auto quote received during August.

Aug. 31: Vandergrift Public Library is raffling a patriotic quilt made and donated by library patron Jane Strohm to benefit the library. Cost: $1 each or $5 for an arm’s length. The drawing will be Aug. 31. Tickets: stop in at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Details: 724-568-2212

Washington Township

Today: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have Friday Night 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.

Reunions

• Burrell High School Class of 1971 will have a reunion from 2 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars pavilion, Wildlife Lodge Road. Classmates who have not been contacted should email George Guido at geoguido@earthlink.net or Joe Malaspina at josephmalaspina@yahoo.com for information.

• Deer Lakes High School Class of 1970 will have a reunion Sept. 25. Please note the change in date. Information is needed on the following classmates: Leslie Buchanich, Mark Geib, Janice Graham-Davis, Wilburta Jones-Kret, Darrell Miller, Lynda O’Donnell-McCreal, Mary Ann Ranhart-Wilson, Deborah Jaworoski-Calhoun, Judith Tomsko and Mark Wagner. If you have contact information for these alumni, please call 412-310-4690 and leave a message.

• Deer Lakes High School Class of 1971 will have a reunion Aug. 28 at Pittsburgh North Golf Club. Reservations requested. Reservations: Michael Michalowski, mmski83@yahoo.com

• Fox Chapel Area High School Class of 1981 will have a reunion Aug. 14 at Founders Field, 101 Eisele Road, Indiana Township. There will be field games at 3 p.m. and dinner with a DJ from 5 to 10 p.m. Cost: $50 each, includes picnic food, beer, wine and mixers. BYOB. Reservations required. Reservations: fchsreunion81@gmail.com

• Freeport High School Class of 1961 will have a reunion Aug. 28. Details: Norma, 724-431-7274 or Eileen, 724-352-9013

• Freeport High School Class of 1970 will have a potluck picnic from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22 in the borough park pavilion. Bring a covered dish to share, drinks and a lawn chair. Donations will be accepted to pay for the pavilion reservation. Reservations request. Reservations: Please email your name and what dish you will bring to patmch52@outlook.com.

• Highlands High School Class of 1969 will have casual party Sept. 18 for class members to celebrate their 70^th birthdays. Details: HHS1969alumni.eventinfo@gmail.com

• Highlands High School Class of 1971 will have a reunion Aug. 20 and 21 at the Comfort Inn, RIDC Park, O’Hara. An ice breaker event will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 20 in the hotel Route 28 Bar and Grille. The reunion will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Aug. 21. Cost: $60 per person, includes a DJ, served buffet, two drink tickets and cake. Reservations required by July 30. Details: Dot, 724-244-6164; Justine, 724-448-5835 or highlands71.com/ep_event.cfm?EventID=12982

• Highlands High School Class of 1976 is planning a reunion. The committee is unable to contact these classmates: Karen Ashe, Fred Smith, Carla Evans, David Rose, Marcy Black, Christie Brown, Diane Callen, Melvina Clark, Roberta Connally, Val Jean Connally, Karen Harbison, Cindy Harbison, William Hartman, Edward Hazlett, Eugene Antkowiak, Suzanne McFerrin, Kevin Miller, Robin Myers, Jean Powell, Debra Smith, Greg Smith, Joyce Thomas, Harvey Wolfe, Chris Watson and Don Frayer. Send information to lisahanley55@gmail.com