The Stroller, March 25, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Send cancellations to The Stroller

The Stroller will publish news of cancellations and events that will still occur in the upcoming days.

If your non-profit has to cancel or change an event or is helping members of the public, please send information to The Stroller at vndnews@tribweb.com.

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New Kensington Salvation Army provides aid

The Salvation Army in New Kensington is distributing emergency food to residents through its pantry at 1101 Fifth Ave., New Kensington.

Anyone in need should ring the bell to the door by the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays and food will be given out safely.

Donations of non-perishable food can be taken to the pantry during the same hours. For details, call 724-335-7221.

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Vandergrift Public Library provides updates

Public libraries in Pennsylvania have been ordered to remain closed until at least April 6.

Vandergrift Public Library would like all of its users to know that the due date for all materials that have been checked out has been extended to April 13. If you log into your online account and notice an item with a different due date, please contact the library.

The Book Drop is closed. Keep all materials until the library reopens. You will not be fined for materials during this time.

Tax forms have now been placed into the Little Free Library since the library is closed. Please make sure the door is latched when you are done.

AARP Tax Appointments have been postponed and representatives will be in contact clients directly who have an upcoming appointment.

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Rep. Petrarca and staff continue to provide services

State Rep. Joseph Petrarca and his staff will continue to provide services to residents remotely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Petrarca’s district includes Parks Township, Apollo, Leechburg, Saltsburg, Bell, Washington Township, Avonmore, East Vandergrift, Hyde Park, Oklahoma Borough, Vandergrift and West Leechburg.

Residents can contact staff members at the following offices, emails and telephone numbers:

• Harrisburg, Kristen Bernard at kbernard@pahouse.net, 717-787-5142

• Derry, Gina Scheller at gscheller@pahouse.net, 724-694-5298

• Vandergrift, Jillian Olszewski at jolszewski@pahouse.net, and Leslie Ziemianski at lziemianski@pahouse.net, 724-567-6982

Additional resources are available at pahouse.net/Petrarca/News/?id=113189

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Allegheny Valley School District announces extended meal service

Allegheny Valley School District is providing free meals to district students in the Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch program.

Lunches will consist of a cold entrée item with a pre-packaged snack, fruit or juice and milk.

Distribution will be from 11 a.m. to noon at Springdale Jr. Sr. High School. Drive into the Colfax Street parking lot to the D-wing entrance double doors.

Families should register by emailing meals@avsd.k12.pa.us or calling 724-274-2118.

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Trinity United Methodist Church to offer Community Cares Conversation

Trinity United Methodist Church in Brackenridge will host a Community Cares Conversation video prayer conference at 7 p.m. today.

To join the conference, go to zoom.us, click on Join A Meeting and enter the meeting ID, 993-112-513. The password is 473763.

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Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank to open today

The Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. today to anyone who is in need of food.

Pre-bagged food will be placed into vehicles to limit direct contact.

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Cancellations

All events listed below are canceled unless otherwise noted:

Apollo

Today and Saturday: Bingo events planned at Apollo Hose Co. No. 2

April 5: Apollo Area Historical Society has rescheduled the program about trolleys to be held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St.

Arnold

Thursdays: Services at Arnold Towers are suspended until further notice.

Arnold United Methodist Church: All meetings, activities and services are canceled.

Brackenridge

• The borough office is closed to the public until further notice, but is accepting telephone calls during normal business hours. Payments will be accepted by mail or through the mail slot. The Easter Egg Hunt is cancelled.

Buffalo Township

• Nar-Anon meetings at Generations House of Worship are canceled until further notice. Details: Laurie, 724-895-3385

• Zion United Methodist Church has canceled all worship services for March 29. In their place, a single worship gather will be offered at 10 a.m. via Facebook live at Facebook.com/zionsarver/. The stream will then be posted via Youtube on the church’s webpage, zionsarver.com. All meetings and events at the church are also canceled.

Butler

Butler Lions Club has canceled the April membership and board meetings and the following events: the March 28 Spring Convention, April 18 Adopt-A-Highway, the sausage sale and Mother’s Day rose sale. Membership meetings are tentatively scheduled to resume May 5.

Cheswick

Today: The Bouquet Pool membership drive planned for 6 to 8 p.m. at Carnivor’s may be rescheduled. Applications can still be mailed to P.O. Box 172, Springdale PA 15144.

April 11: The Cheswick-Springdale Lions Club Easter Egg hunt is canceled. Monthly club meetings are canceled until further notice.

Fawn

April 4: The Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Center United Methodist Church is canceled.

Fox Chapel

April 14: The Fox Chapel Area Branch of The American Association of University Women meeting

Gilpin

The nut roll bake sale at Christ the King Parish is postponed and will be rescheduled.

Harrison

• Allegheny Valley Association of Churches office is closed until further notice. Anyone who needs assistance can call 724-226-0606. Tax appointments will be rescheduled.

Thursday: The monthly soup luncheon at St Joseph Church, Natrona, is canceled.

Through Friday: All adult education classes at Allegheny Family Network North are canceled.

Friday: Gold Card Easter Luncheon at Highlands High School, Natrona Heights, is canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Saturday: The Cleaning Day at the Harrison Hills Park Environmental Learning Center

Sunday: The joint meeting of PNA Lodge 599 and PNA Council 164

Sunday: The Life Underground program at the Harrison Hills Park Environmental Learning Center

April 4: The Harrison Township Easter egg hunt

April 25: The Earth Day Clean-up is postponed.

Leechburg

Leechburg Recycling Center is closed. There will be no pick-ups or drop-offs until further notice. No materials should be dropped off in front of the recycling center gate.

First United Methodist Church: worship services are canceled until further notice.

April 9: The Leechburg Public Library Board meeting is canceled.

Mondays: The GriefShare group sessions at First Evangelical Lutheran Church are postponed and will be rescheduled.

Lower Burrell

Today: The Westmoreland County Food Bank Operation Fresh Express distribution at St. Margaret Mary Church is canceled. Fresh Express is not set up to be a no-touch drive-through service and the cancellation is being done as a protection for consumers. Monthly food bank distributions will continue as scheduled.

• The City of Lower Burrell Egg Hunt

• Entertainment and events at the Veterans of Foreign Wars are canceled and the club is closed through March 30.

Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church: is closed for all activities and services until further notice.

Saturday: The Luncheon Bingo at the Moose

Saturday: The Change for Cancer dance-a-thon is postponed and will be rescheduled.

Sunday: The Spaghetti Dinner at the Moose

New Kensington

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church is closed for all services, fundraisers and activities until April.

Today: The Lenten Lunch at Logan’s Ferry Presbyterian Church is canceled and there will be no worship services Sunday or March 29. The office is closed.

Saturday: The craft and vendor fair planned by Open Your Heart to a Senior at the Quality Inn

March 30: The Eagles REAC Breakfast is canceled.

Mondays, Tuesday and Saturdays: The Community Clothes Closet will be closed at least until March 30.

Fridays: The vegan Lenten lunches at St. George Orthodox Church

Parks Township

May 2: Parks Township Sportsman’s Association has canceled the Kids Fishing Day.

Penn Hills 

April 4: The annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the William McKinley Citizens Center

Plum

Plum Community Center is closed and all events canceled until March 30. Meals on Wheels will continue as scheduled. Those over 60 who are food insecure or rely on the daily lunch can continue to pick up Congregant Lunch provided by the county on a take-out basis only. Pick-ups will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Lunches must be ordered a day in advance by calling 412-795-2330.

Oakmont

Riverview Community Action Corp. is closed until April 1 for all activities except home delivered meals. Questions: 412-828-1062

Saxonburg

April 6: The GFWC Saxonburg District Woman’s Club meeting and the board meeting

Springdale

Sunday: Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at Springdale Volunteer Fire Department

Tarentum

• BridgePoint Church: Activities at the church, including the grief support group, and the children’s food and fun event are canceled. A live stream of the Sunday church service will be on Facebook Live.

• April 4: The Rabies Clinic at Summit Hose Company is canceled, and will be rescheduled in the fall.

• Tarentum Eagles is closed until March 30. The cash bash and spaghetti dinner benefit planned for Sunday will be rescheduled.

• Tarentum Elks Lodge is closed. Entertainment, bingo and the May 2 cash bash are canceled.

• Veterans of Foreign Wars is closed and there will be no Friday night bar bingo.

• The Heritage Museum will be closed to visitors until further notice. Details: AKVHS.org or 724-224-7666

Vandergrift

April 21: The Miss Freddye and Musicians in Unity concert at the Casino Theater. For refunds, call 724-567-5049 if paid by cash or check. Credit card refunds will be issued to your card.

Washington Township

April 5: The Spring Swap meet at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Hall is canceled. All hall rentals are postponed.

April 18: The Star Party planned by the Amateur Astronomy Association of Pittsburgh is canceled.

West Deer

April 5: The Easter Egg Hunt planned by the township Parks and Recreation Board is canceled.

East Union Presbyterian Church: all services and activities are canceled, except for West Deer Food Bank and Meals To Go distributions.