The Stroller, March 2, 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.

Tickets available for annual St. Patrick’s Day dance party

The ninth annual Small Town Loud Voice dance party fundraiser will be from 5 to 10 p.m. March 23 at West Leechburg Fire Hall, 1116 Gosser St.

The St. Patrick’s Day-themed event will have music, dancing, a gift basket auction, caricature artist and 50-50 raffle. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person or $45 for couples. The price includes beer, pop, water and light bites. Those attending must be 21 or older. The event is sponsored by Semper Gratus.

For tickets, visit sempergratuspgh.org/events. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Bowling party fundraiser to aid Animal Protectors

The Pins for Pets bowling party to benefit Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will be at 3 p.m. March 17 at Nesbit Bowling Lanes, 3501 Leechburg Road, Plum.

Admission is $25; $15 for children 10 and younger, and includes two hours of bowling, shoe rental, two slices of pizza, cake, pop and snacks. There will be a basket raffle and 50-50.

For tickets, visit animalprotectors.net or stop in at the shelter, 730 Church St., New Kensington.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

March 10: A fundraiser to benefit Boy Sount Troop 551/6551 will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Valley Dairy Restaurant, 315 Hyde Park Road. Present a coupon and 20% of the cost of your meal will be donated. Coupons: tinyurl.com/2pwrfp52.

Apollo

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

Today: Arnold United Methodist Church, 1801 Leishman Ave., will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the church. Menu: choice of plain, blueberry, pecan and chocolate chip pancakes or French toast, sausage and drink. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $9; 12 and younger, $7.Details: 724-339-2377.

Bethel Township

March 12: The Armstrong Nature Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek, 142 Kerr Road. The selection will be “The Eight Master Lessons of Nature: What Nature Teaches Us About Living Well in the World” by Gary Ferguson. Reservations required. Reservations and details: armstrongcenter.org/odc-events.

Buffalo Township 

March 9: The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will sponsor a program on maple sugaring at Buffalo Creek Nature Park, 154 Monroe Road. A naturalist will lead a walk through the history of maple sugaring. Sessions will be at 10, 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. Rain or shine. Cost: $10; and Audubon Society members, $6. Reservations required. Reservations: aswp.org/events or 412-963-6100.

Delmont

Thursday: The Delmont Area Community Band will begin rehearsals for summer and fall season from 7 to 9 p.m. at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 301 E. Pittsburgh St. New members welcome. No auditions required.

East Vandergrift

Sunday: Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish will have bingo at 2 p.m. in the church social hall, 411 McKinley Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. There will be a 48-number jackpot game, a 47-number picture frame game and a magic number game. Details: 724-478-4958.

Freeport 

Today: Freeport Kiwanis will sponsor a turkey and biscuit dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. in the social hall of Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St. Dine in or takeout. Proceeds benefit the club scholarship program. Cost: $10; younger than 10, $5.

April 13: Freeport Area Library, 428 Market St., is accepting donations for its spring flea market during normal business hours. Donations of vintage jewelry, household items, glassware, seasonal décor, toys, puzzles and games welcome. Details: 724-295-3616.

Gilpin

March 8: A Red Cross community blood drive will be from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gilpin Volunteer Firehall, 113 Firehall Road. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code GTVFD.

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 Monday. 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

Thursday: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will sponsor an adult craft night to paint a shamrock top hat from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Cost: $10, includes supplies. BYO beverages and snacks. Must be 21 to attend. Paid reservations required. Reservations: tinyurl.com/3bwm3pp2 or at the front desk.

March 15: Allegheny Valley Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring a raffle for a Hilton Head, S.C., vacation. The prize includes seven nights in a condo either the week of June 30 to July 7, 2024 or Aug. 11 to 18, 2024 at Shelter Cove Harbor in Hilton Head. Meals and transportation not included. Tickets: $2 each or three for $5, cash and checks accepted. Tickets will be sold from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday and March 7, 8, 14 and 15 in the hospital main lobby, 1301 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights. The winner will be drawn at 3 p.m. March 15. Proceeds benefit auxiliary projects for the hospital.

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 Wednesday. Reservations: Brittany Foy, 800-720-2557, ext. 4428.

Kiski Township 

March 10: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Company will host its spring gun bash at noon at the firehall, 1037 Route 56. Doors open at 11 a.m. Cost: $25, includes food and drink. Tickets: Christine, 724-541-6345.

Leechburg

Today: First United Methodist Church will host a free blacklight puppet show at 7 p.m. at the church, 251 Main St. The Let It Shine youth puppet ministry from Bethel United Methodist Church, Lower Burrell, will perform. Refreshments will be served afterward.

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 56 East Band will be featured from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 1601 Wildlife Lodge Road. Members and three guests welcome.

Today: A church estate sale will be from 8 a.m. to noon in the fellowship hall of Grace Community Presbyterian Church, 2751 Grant St. Baked goods will be sold. Free admission. Details: 724-339-9661.

March 9: Lower Burrell Police Department will sponsor a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Moose, 499 Reimer St. Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: Sharon Crawford, 412-600-4333; 877-258-4825 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and use account code 10055683.

March 14: Allegheny Valley League of Artists will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the community room of Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Doodling artist Larry Brandstetter will speak and share some of his drawings. Space is limited and reservations are required. Reservations: Patti, 724-335-2914.

New Kensington

Today: An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at Logan’s Ferry Presbyterian Church, 750 Church St. There will also be a silent auction. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $12; takeouts, $13; age 4 to 12, $5; 3 and younger, free.

Today: East Kensington Community Circle will host a cash bingo in the Community Circle building, 1785 Seventh St., across from Martin Elementary School. Doors open at 11:30. Lunch will be served at noon and bingo starts at 1 p.m. There will be a progressive jackpot and magic number games. Cost: $20, includes lunch and 18 games.

Sunday: Aluminum City Terrace Bingo Committee will host bingo from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the activities center. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Cost: $5, includes one board, snacks and drinks; extra boards, $1 each. Public welcome.

Monday: Pucketos Garden Club will meet at 11 a.m. at New Kensington United Presbyterian Church, 601 Fifth Ave. Westmoreland County Master Gardeners will present a program “How to Help the Monarch Butterfly” and will include how to create a certified Monarch Waystation. A light lunch will be served afterward. Guests welcome. Follow us on Facebook. Details and reservations: Pat, 724-275-7207.

Wednesday: A veterans service officer will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the office of state Rep. Jill Cooper, 356 Freeport St., suite 100. 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: 724-472-4102.

March 9: The New Kensington Arts Center will host a dinner celebrating nine years of arts programming at a gala planned for 6 p.m. at the Quality Inn, 300 Tarentum Bridge Road. There will be entertainment, raffles and a cash bar. Cost: $45 per person; $80 per couple. Tickets: info@nkartscenter.org.

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.

March 24: Basket auction donations are being accepted for a spaghetti dinner to benefit Lower Kiski Ambulance Service medic Dina Filo O’Neil who was injured while on duty. The dinner will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Parks Township Volunteer Firehall, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Donations: Stacy, 724-664-9887; or Joel, 724-351-0323.

Richland

Sunday: An all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Richland Volunteer Fire Department social hall, 5857 Meridian Road. Menu: regular and buckwheat pancakes, sausage, hot cinnamon apples and beverages. Donations will be accepted and there will be a basket auction. Proceeds will benefit the general and building funds.

Saxonburg

Monday: Bingo will begin at 7 p.m. in the ballroom of Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, 210 Horne Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Springdale

Today: The Knotty Knitters group at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at noon at the library, 331 School St. The group meets the first and third Saturdays of the month. Bring your unfinished knitting or crocheting project. All skill levels welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Wednesday: The Wacky Wednesday program at Springdale Free Public Library will host a National Oreo Day celebration at 6 p.m. for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. There will crafts, treats and more. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

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.

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.

Washington Township

March 16: Tickets are on sale for the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department spring gun bash scheduled for 5 p.m. at the firehall, 4078 Route 66. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Cost: $25, includes food and beverages. Must be 21 to attend. There will be gun table drawings, a mystery drawing, instant tickets and raffles. Tickets: tinyurl.com/4pxa8rus.