The Stroller, Nov. 9, 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.

Holiday scavenger hunt to aid local families

A Santa’s List scavenger hunt will be Dec. 3 as part of the Vandergrift Back When Holiday Extravaganza event.

Entrance fee is $20 per team. To register, email vandergriftbackwhen@hotmail.com. The proceeds will benefit local families in need of holiday help.

Holiday storefronts to compete in New Kensington

The New Kensington Recreation Commission will sponsor a holiday storefront decorating contest.

Downtown small business owners with a physical location are encouraged to participate. Entries will be judged after the Dec. 3 holiday parade. The winner will be announced, and a trophy awarded.

Registration is required. For an entry form, visit tinyurl.com/mwrvjr9x.

Calendar

Apollo

Today: Apollo Hose Co. No. 2 will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be specials and wish jars. Details: 724-478-4831.

Thursday: The Yarn Good Time needle arts group at Apollo Memorial Library will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, 219 N. Pennsylvania Ave. to knit, crochet, embroider or cross stitch. All ages and skill levels welcome. Details: 724-478-4214.

Arnold  

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. Cost: $12 per dozen. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Avonmore 

Dec. 3: Space reservations are being accepted for a Christmas craft and vendor show planned from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Avonmore Senior Center, 458 Railroad St. Cost: $10, includes a table. Reservations: 724-697-4014.

Brackenridge

Today: Al-Anon will meet at 8 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave. The group offers help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics.

Thursday: The Allegheny Valley Salvation Army and Community Center offers free grab and go lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in parking lot at the center, 917 Brackenridge Ave. Free grocery items from Walmart and Aldi will be available. Everyone welcome.

Thursday: Bingo will begin at 7:15 p.m. at the American Legion, 845 First Ave.

Nov. 20: A bingo to benefit Toys for Tots will be at the American Legion, 845 First Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. and early birds begin at 2:30 p.m. Prepaid packages are encouraged. Cost: small package, $30; large package, $40. There will be food, drinks, a basket auction and giveaways. Bring an unwrapped toy for a child 12 and younger and receive a free jackpot card. Handicap accessible. Details: Deanna, 412-452-6596.

East Vandergrift

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, in the parish office and in the church vestibule after Sunday Mass.

Freeport 

Today: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. All items are free, but donations will be accepted. Items available include clothing of all sizes, bedding and window items. Donations of fall and winter clothing, shoes and boots welcome. Donations must be laundered and free from pet hair. Handicap accessible. Details: 724-295-3095.

Gilpin

Thursday: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7:15 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road.

Nov. 15: A Red Cross community blood drive will be from noon to 5 p.m. at Gilpin Volunteer Firehall, 113 Firehall Road. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code GTVFD.

Harrison  

Today: The Anime Club at Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd., will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the library. Focused for adults, but teens who are at least in ninth grade welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-226-3491 or visit the calendar section at AlleghenyValleyLibrary.org.

Today: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Food bank participants can receive food allotments twice per month. Those who are not yet registered should come from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Details and alternate times: 724-226-0606, ext. 10.

Today: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean fall and winter clothing in all sizes is needed. Masks optional. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Friday: 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.

MondayNov. 14: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer a program, “Keeping Your Mind Sharp,” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Stefanie Dietrich, director of adult day services at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, will be the speaker. Reservations required. Reservations: alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Jefferson

Thursday: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Under new management with higher payouts. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.

Leechburg  

Thursday: A storytime for preschoolers will be at 10:30 a.m. at Leechburg Public Library, 139 Market St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-236-0080.

Thursday: The annual membership meeting for Lower Kiski Ambulance Service, serving Allegheny Township, Gilpin, Hyde Park, Leechburg and West Leechburg, will be at 6 p.m. in the boardroom at the station, 80 Kiski Ave. Public welcome.

Thursday: A New Path Al-Anon Family Group, a free, confidential program for anyone whose life has been affected by someone else’s drinking, will meet at 7 p.m. in First United Methodist Church, 251 Main St.

Saturday : A turkey trot bingo to benefit Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will be at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 5 p.m. Cost: $30, includes card, dauber, food and drinks; extra cards, $5. There will be a $1,000 cover-all jackpot game. Reserved seating available for parties of eight or more. Must be 21 to attend. Tickets and reservations: John, 724-549-8867 or Melissa, 724-332-9090.

Dec. 10 and 11: Table reservations are being accepted for a Christmas craft and vendor show planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Leechburg Volunteer Firehall, 268 Canal St. Cost: $30 per day or $50 for both days, includes one table and two chairs. Details: Melissa, 724-332-9090 or allermelissa@comcast.net.

Dec. 17: Holy Innocents Anglican Church, 366 Third St., will have its annual Christmas Bake Sale. Orders are being taken for assorted homemade cookie trays. Cost: large trays, $40; small trays, $30. Order deadline: Nov. 30. Orders: 724-882-2665, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Lower Burrell

Thursday: Peoples Library will host an arts and crafts hour for children 6 and younger and their caregivers at 1 p.m. at the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021.

Nov. 17: The Adult Book Club at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave., will meet at 6:30 p.m. The selection will be “Educated” by Tara Westover. Next month’s book will be provided at the meeting. Details: 724-724-339-1021, ext. 12.

McCandless

Today: The Sealarks Women’s Group will have a dinner at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park Church, 8800 Peebles Road. The program will be, “Stealing Lincoln’s Body,” by Gary Augustine. The group provides Christian fellowship and social activity for women who are widowed, divorced or never married. New members welcome. Details and reservations: Edie, 412-487-7194.

New Kensington 

Thursday: Knead Community Café in New Kensington will hand out free grab-and-go meals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the café, 1011 Barnes St. This week’s meals are sponsored by the United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington. Details:878-847-7997.

Thursday: Peoples Library will host an arts and crafts hour for children 6 and younger and their caregivers at 11 a.m. at the library, 88 Barnes St. No reservations required. Details: 724-339-1021.

Thursday: New Kensington Eagles Auxiliary Bingo will be at 7 p.m. at the aerie, 2134 Freeport Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Public welcome. Details: 724-448-7403.

Thursdays: The Secular Organization for Sobriety/Save Our Selves (SOS), a support group for people recovering from alcohol and drug abuse, will meet at 7 p.m. at Lost Dreams Awakening Recovery Community Center, 408 Eighth St. Details: 724-556-0737.

Nov. 16: Knead Community Café will conduct its online basket extravaganza fundraiser Nov. 1 to 15 online at kneadcommunitycafe.org. The drawings will be Nov. 16 and winners will be contacted. Must be 21 to participate. Details: kneadcommunitycafe.org.

Nov. 17: The Corner Launchbox will host a free program, “Grow with Google: Sell Online with E-Commerce Tools,” at 1 p.m. at the center, 701 Fifth Ave. Reservations requested. Reservations: facebook.com/TheCornerLaunchbox .

Springdale   

Today and Thursday: Springdale Free Public Library will have a craft supply and yarn swap from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 and 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 10 at the library. Unwanted but still useful supplies should be dropped off Nov. 1 to 4 at the library, 331 School St. Details: 724-274-9729.

Nov. 16: Springdale Free Public Library will sponsor a craft workshop at 1 p.m. in the library, 331 School St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Nov. 18: Springdale Free Public Library is accepting orders for pies and pumpkin rolls from The Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown. Varieties: chocolate meringue, coconut meringue, lemon meringue, apple, Dutch apple, blackberry, wild blueberry, razzleberry, cherry, cherry crumb, peach, raisin and pumpkin pies, and pumpkin rolls, all $10.50. All items arrive fresh and can be frozen. Paid order deadline: today. Pick-up: Nov. 18. Orders: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum  

Today: The Elks will host bingo at 6:30 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. The kitchen is open to the public from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Menu: elks644.org/elks-kitchen-1. Orders: 724-226-1644 by 8:15 p.m.

Weekdays: Free food and hygiene items are available at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., suite 12. Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Details: 724-224-9006.

Thursday: The free diaper bank at Highlands Family Center, 415 E. Fourth Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One distribution per child per month is available. Details: 724-224-9006.

Vandergrift 

Thursdays and Fridays: Victorian Vandergrift Museum and Historical Society will feature a display of photographs and memorabilia from Parks Township through Dec. 16 at the museum, 84 Sherman Ave. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Details: 724-568-1990.

Nov. 14: The Adult Book Club at Vandergrift Public Library will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 128C Washington Ave. The selection will be “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman. Details: 724-568-2212.

Verona

Nov. 13: Holy Family Parish will have a Veterans Day Mass and breakfast at St. Joseph Church, 825 Second St. Mass will begin at 8:30 a.m. and a free pancake breakfast for veterans will be served afterward in the social hall. Veterans are encouraged to wear their uniforms if possible. Reservations requested, but walk-ins welcome. Reservations: Sharon, 412-512-4953.

Washington Township

Today: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 6 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380.

Thursday: Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380, will sponsor a drive-thru rigatoni dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church. Menu: rigatoni with meat sauce, salad, rolls and dessert. Donations accepted. Drive around to the back of the church.

Friday: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have 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.

West Deer  

Today: East Union Presbyterian Church will have a takeout spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church, 292 East Union Road. Menu: spaghetti with choice of meat, meatball or mushroom sauce, salad, rolls and dessert. Donations will be accepted. Details: 724-265-1381.

Dec. 10: Deer Lakes Band Boosters are accepting table reservations for its ninth annual craft and vendor show. Details: deerlakesbands.org or dlbandshow@hotmail.com.