The Stroller, Oct. 21, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

Is your church or organization going to host a free Thanksgiving Dinner? Send information to The Stroller at least a week in advance to vndnews@tribweb.com. Please include a daytime telephone number.

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Clothing, household items being collected

Women of Alle-Kiski Engaging, a division of the Alle Kiski Strong Chamber, is conducting new, unused items through Nov. 15 for local women in need.

Articles being collected include over-the-counter medication for adults and children, pajamas for women, boys and girls in all sizes, women’s underwear in all sizes, $10 gasoline gift cards, and kitchen items such as cutting boards, pots and pans, utensils, dishes and baking sheets. Donations will be given to HAVIN Domestic Violence Shelter in Armstrong County and the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center Inc.

Drop-off locations include Platinum Ridge, Brackenridge; Dollar General, Gilpin; Heritage Hospice, New Kensington; Johnny Carpet, Vandergrift; and First Commonwealth Bank, Natrona Heights, Harrison. For more locations, click here.

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Help available locally to sign up for health care coverage

Open enrollment for health care coverage on the Pennsylvania Insurance Exchange will be Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, 2021. The Community Health Clinic in New Kensington is offering free assistance for those need help navigating the signup process for the exchange, medical assistance, CHIP, VA and non-coverage options.

Trained personnel are available locally in-person, virtually and over the telephone. To schedule an appointment, call 724-889-2783 or email smcmannis@communityhealthclinic.org.

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Knead Community Café to distribute grab and go dinners

Knead Community Café in New Kensington will hand out free grab-and-go dinners from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the café, 1011 Barnes St.

This week’s sponsor is Friends of Carrie DelRosso. Those picking up meals are reminded to observe social distancing while they wait in line.

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PennDOT announces lane restrictions on Route 66 in Washington Township

PennDOT crews will implement single lane restrictions from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday on northbound Route 66 at the Route 380 intersection in Washington Township.

Crews will mill and repave the roadway. All work will be done on as weather permits. Motorists should expect delays and drive with caution in this area.

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Fox Chapel Area HS to present fall play

The students of Fox Chapel Area High School will present Neil Simon’s, “Lost in Yonkers,” at noon Saturday and Sunday in Aspinwall Riverfront Park.

Monetary donations will be accepted for the park and toiletries and school supplies will be collected for the Foxes Burrow pantry that helps district high school students in need.

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Calendar

Apollo

Nov. 3: Apollo Hose Company No. 2 is accepting orders for a soup sale. Varieties: vegetable beef, wedding and sweet or spicy chili. Cost: $7 per quart; $4 per pint. Order deadline: 6 p.m. Saturday. Pickup: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 3 at the fire hall, 325 N. Fourth St. Orders: call 724-549-1601 or message the company Facebook page with name, phone number, type and size soup

Brackenridge

Dec. 10: Pioneer Hose Company is selling tickets for a holiday model train and $500 cash raffle. Cost: $5 for two numbers. Drawing will be based on the 7 p.m. Dec. 10 PA Pick 3 number. Tickets: send a message to the company Facebook page.

Buffalo Township 

Oct. 29: Zion United Methodist Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. in the family life center, 438 Bear Creek Road. Appointments recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Log In button at Vitalant.org and search with group code C664

Freeport 

Today: The Thrift Store Clothing Ministry at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from noon to 3 p.m. at the church. Winter clothing is available. Cash only. Donations must be laundered. Details: 724-295-2476

Oct. 27: St. Mary Mother of God Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. in the church hall, 608 High St. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and search with group code G0040286

Gilpin

Oct. 31: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department is taking orders for a drive-thru stuffed cabbage sale. Pick-up: 4:30 p.m. after the department trunk-or-treat. Cost: $2 each. Advance orders required. Orders: 724-845-7200, leave a message

Harrison

Today: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open to anyone in need from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Pull into the center parking lot and food will be placed into your vehicle. Senior boxes are now being distributed Wednesdays instead of Thursdays. Those who are not yet registered should come after 3 p.m. Proof of income is no longer required. Donations: avaoc.org/donate/financial-support/.

Today: Harrison Zoning Hearing Board will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. in the municipal building, 1 Municipal Drive, Natrona Heights.

Oct. 29: Community Library of Allegheny Valley will offer, “Mad Science Spooktacular,” for children in kindergarten through sixth grade at 6 p.m. online. Children will experience creepy potions and create their own cup of glow in the dark slime or Tootsie rolls. Registration required. Registration: click here.

Kiski Township

Nov. 18: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department is accepting orders for pies and pumpkin rolls from The Pie Shoppe in Laughlintown. Cost: $9.50 and varieties available include chocolate meringue, coconut meringue, lemon meringue, apple, dutch apple, blackberry, wild blueberry, razzleberry, cherry, peach, raisin, pumpkin and harvest and pumpkin rolls. Paid orders due Nov. 7. Pickup: Nov. 18 at the firehall. Details and orders: call or text Morgan, 724-466-2812

Leechburg

Today: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 10 a.m. to noon at the museum, 118 First St. All experience levels welcome. Ancestry.com and Newspaper.com are available. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154

Thursdays: 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. Face masks and social distancing required.

Lower Burrell

Today: Lower Burrell American Legion will sell spaghetti dinners with meatballs and sausage beginning at 3 p.m. at the post, 206 Wildlife Lodge Road. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $9.

New Kensington

Saturday: First Evangelical Lutheran Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church Trinity Hall, 221 Ridge Ave. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000 visit the Log In button at Vitalant.org and search with group code C5300045.

Oakmont 

Thursday: St. Paul Baptist Church, 180 Delaware Ave., will host a free drive-thru food box distribution from noon until supplies run out Thursday at the church. Boxes will include produce, dairy products and meat. No advance registration or appointment required.

Through Oct. 30: Oakmont Carnegie Library invites residents to visit its outdoor garden area on the Allegheny River Blvd. side of the library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd. Laminated pages from a children’s book are attached to wooden stakes along an outdoor garden path. Details: 412-828-9532

Plum

Friday: A takeout fish fry will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Joy Church, 2000 O’Block Road. Menu: fried fish sandwich with fries, $10.

Oct. 28: A Vitalant community blood drive will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at the municipal building, 4575 New Texas Road. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: call 412-209-7000 or visit Vitalant.org and use group code C528.

Saxonburg

Today: Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company will sell take-out fish and chicken dinners from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the fire hall, 210 Horne Ave. Menu: fried fish, baked fish, chicken or oysters, baked potato or fries, green beans, coleslaw, roll and cake, $12. Orders: 724-352-9948, after 2 p.m. Wednesday

Springdale 

Oct. 27: The Tuesday Night Book Club at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 6:30 p.m. The featured book will be, “Heart in the Right Place,” by Carolyn Jourdan. New members welcome. Reservations and face masks required. Reservations: 724-274-9729

Tarentum

Today: The Tarentum Farmers Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Face masks required.

Thursday: Rams Youth Football Association will sponsor a food truck fundraiser with Sonny’s Smorgasbord from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dreshar Stadium, First Avenue. A portion of proceeds will help the association keep costs affordable for families.

Upper Burrell

Friday: Upper Burrell Supervisors will hold a budget workshop at 3 p.m. at the township building, 3735 Seventh St. Road. Details: 724-335-3517

Vandergrift

Today: Vandergrift Zoning Hearing Board will conduct a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building, 109 Grant Ave.

Fridays and Saturdays: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will sell takeout food from 1 to 8 p.m. at the post, 141 Sumner Ave. Curb-side delivery available. Members welcome to dine in. Menu: visit the post Facebook page. Orders: 724-568-1427 after 2 p.m.

Washington Township

Nov. 8: Space applications are being accepted for an auto parts swap meet set for 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Co., 4078 Route 66. Cost: 12 x 24-foot space, $25; 12 x 48-foot space, $45; inside 32-foot space, $55. Vendor set up will begin at 11 p.m. Nov. 7. First come, first served. Items will include parts and accessories from anything automotive, classic, high performance, trucks, cars, motorcycles or boats. Reservations and details: 724-727-3079, leave a message

West Deer

Nov. 8: East Union Presbyterian Church, 292 East Union Road, is accepting orders for Christmas door swags made of fresh evergreen. Cost: $20. Order deadline: Nov. 8. Pick up: 10:30 to noon Nov. 29 or Dec. 6 at the East Union Community Center. Proceeds will benefit the church women’s ministry outreach programs. Order forms: facebook.com/EastUnionPCUSA/ or 412-973-8927

West Kittanning

Oct. 27: Harvest Community Church will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. in the church hall, 143 Reed Road. Appointments are recommended. Appointments: 412-209-7000, 724-548-5643 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and search with group code G0450037

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Cancellations and changes 

Apollo

Apollo Area Historical Society has canceled all programs for the rest of the year, including the banquet.

Freeport

• The Freeport Halloween carnival and parade are canceled.

• The annual Freeport Kiwanis Pumpkin Path event is canceled.

Harrison

The annual Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Festival of Faith is canceled.

All activities at Burtner House are canceled through the end of the year.

Leechburg

October: The Halloweenburg Festival is canceled.

Lower Burrell

The St. Margaret Mary Parish nut and apricot roll sale is canceled.

Oakmont

The Riverside Women’s Association Halloween parade is canceled.

Oklahoma Borough

Oct. 31: The Drag Queen Bingo to benefit Tinycause Rescue in Vandergrift and the Proper Pitbull is canceled.

Nov. 7: The 90s Bingo planned by North Apollo and Oklahoma volunteer fire departments is canceled. Details: 724-596-7293

Saxonburg

The annual Saxonburg Holiday Parade sponsored by the Saxonburg Area Business Association is canceled.

Tarentum 

The annual BooFest event is canceled.

November: The annual joint Christmas Parade with Brackenridge is canceled.

Vandergrift

The Halloween parade is canceled.

Christopher’s Light children’s charity has canceled the annual children’s Christmas party.