The Stroller, Nov. 25, 2022: 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.

Luminate Leechburg event to kick off the holiday season

The Luminate Leechburg holiday celebration, sponsored by Leechburg Area Community Association, will be Saturday along Market Street.

Santa will visit Coco Coffeehouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for photos and there will be activities all day at various businesses.

Judging for the Ugly Sweater contest will be at 5 p.m. at the Masonic Hall. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. This year’s theme is, “Ugly Holiday Sweater.” Santa will light the community Christmas tree at about 6 p.m.

Local non-profit to host free party for children with special needs

Reagan’s Journey will host a free Christmas party for children with special needs and their families from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 11 at Redemption Church, 232 Hillcrest Drive, Lower Burrell.

The 2018 animated version of ,”The Grinch,” will be screened and there will be crafts and refreshments. Reservations are required. For reservations, visit tinyurl.com/ar5bhmz6.

Reagan’s Journey is a local non-profit organization aimed at making life better for children with special needs and their families.

Orders being accepted for AFS citrus fruit sale

Orders are being taken for the annual Highlands High School AFS citrus fruit sale.

All ordering will be done online with direct shipping to homes. Shipping costs are included in the listed price. Fruit available includes large and small boxes of California navel oranges and ruby red grapefruit, tangelos, clementines, pears, apples, pineapples and mixed boxes.

To order, visit freshfruitorder.org/HighlandsAFSFruitSale by Sunday.

Calendar

Apollo

Wednesdays and Saturdays: Apollo Area Historical Society Museum, 317 N. Second St., is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations of paper towels, stamps, envelopes, cleaning supplies, copy paper and trash bags are welcome. Details: ApolloPAHistory@gmail.com.

Dec. 23: Apollo Events Committee is seeking volunteers to help at the Hometown Christmas celebration set for 5 to 8 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Hall, 631 N. Second St. Tasks would include decorating before the event, handing out free goodies, supervising and cleanup. Details: email apollopaevents@gmail.com or visit apollopaevents.org.

East Vandergrift 

Sunday: The Sacrament of Anointing will be administered after the 11 a.m. Mass at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church, 420 McKinley Ave.

Dec. 6: Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at noon and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000, a $100 gift certificate to The Central Restaurant in Apollo and a $100 gift certificate to Naser Foods in Oklahoma Borough. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Deborah, 724-859-3186 and in the parish office.

Gilpin

Sunday: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will host a Christmas craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road. Free admission. The kitchen will be open.

Harmar

Sunday: The Syria Shriners Band, Chanters, Highlanders and Stage Band will present a concert, Prelude to Christmas, at 3 p.m. in the Syria Shrine Ballroom, 1877 Shriners Way. Admission: $10, 12 and younger, free. Proceeds will be donated equally between Shriners Hospitals for Children and Syria Shriners Hospital Patient Transportation Fund. Tickets: visit the Shrine office.

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.

Kittanning

Saturday and Sunday: Armstrong County Historical Museum and Genealogical Society will host its annual free Christmas open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the museum, 300 N. McKean St. The museum will be decorated and there will be music, a children’s scavenger hunt and refreshments.

Leechburg

Wednesday: Leechburg Museum is closed for the winter months. To arrange a private tour, email lamahs@windstream.net or call 724-845-8914 and leave a message.

Lower Burrell

Saturday: A holiday vendor and craft show will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kinloch Fire Hall, 915 New York Ave.

Saturday: The American Legion Riders host a karaoke night with DJ Brian Barbieri from 8 p.m. to midnight at the post, 1100 Wildlife Lodge Road. Members and two guests welcome.

New Kensington

Saturday: Peoples Library will host a family arts and crafts time at 1 p.m. at the library, 88 Barnes St. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021.

Saturday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be closed for Thanksgiving. The Closet will resume normal days and hours Tuesday.

Dec. 14: The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a Christmas sweets sale. Pickup: noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the church, 1150 Leishman Ave. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece wedge; and sambosic, $2.50 each. Quantities are limited. Order deadline: Dec. 9. Orders: 724-337-3918.

Parks

Sunday: Parks Township Sportsman’s Club will host 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

Dec. 2: Springdale Free Public Library will have a Merry Grinchmas holiday drop-off party from 6 to 8 p.m. for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Children must be signed in and out of the event by a parent. Come dressed in your Grinchy attire or ugly sweater and bring non-perishable food item for the Lower Valley Food Bank. 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 sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a dollar breakfast. 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.

Sunday: Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will observe Scottish Heritage Sunday at the 10:50 a.m. worship service. Piper Michelle Hardt will play and there will be a reception afterward. Visitors welcome. Details: 724-224-9220.

Upper Burrell

Dec. 10: Upper Burrell Senior Citizens Holiday Celebration will be from noon to 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church banquet hall, 3740 Seventh Street Road. Lunch will be served. Free for township residents 62 and older. Reservations required by Dec. 2. Reservations: 724-335-3517.

Vandergrift

Today, Saturday, Dec. 2, 3, 4 and 10: Vandergrift Improvement Program will host a holiday market at 134 Grant Avenue. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 4 and 10, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 3. There will be free photos with Santa Friday and Dec. 10.

Dec. 1: Vandergrift Public Library’s free Light up the Library event will be at the library, 128C Washington Ave. Children and their families can attend at 6 or 6:30 p.m. Activities for all ages will include visits with Santa, card making, ornament building, cookie decorating, refreshments and pictures with Santa. Funding for the event was provided by the Upsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212.

Dec. 4: A free breakfast with Santa for children 10 and younger at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 141-143 Sumner Ave. Reservations required. Reservations and details: Vandergriftbackwhen@hotmail.com. No time available