The Stroller, Oct. 6, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley

The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Send an email to cpinto-smith@triblive.com.

Creatures of the Night event planned at Beechwood Farms

The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will host its annual “Creatures of the Night,” event Oct. 15 to 17 and 22 to 24 at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, 614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel.

Sessions are at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. Come in costume to walk the trails, encounter larger-than-life costumed creatures and enjoy crafts and refreshments. Rain or shine.

Admission is $10; members, $6; free for 2 and younger. Reservations are required. For reservations, visit aswp.org or call 412-963-6100.

Salvation Army offers free lunches

The Allegheny Valley Salvation Army and Community Center in Brackenridge offers free grab and go lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays in parking lot at the center, 917 Brackenridge Ave.

Christopher’s Light accepting coat donations

Children’s charity Christopher’s Light is seeking donations of new or gently-used coats for children.

For pickup or drop off information, send a message to Christopher’s Light on Facebook. To send a monetary donation, send your check made out to Christopher’s Light to P.O. Box 94, Apollo PA 15613.

Those in need can register at Christopherslight.com or by calling 724-980-2840.

Fire companies selling lottery calendars

Arnold No. 2 and Lower Burrell No. 3 fire departments are selling 2021 lottery calendars.

Cost is $20 and they are good through the end of 2021. Winning numbers will be from the evening Pa. Lottery three-digit drawing.

To buy a calendar, see a member of either fire company or stop in at the Lower Burrell station, 3255 Leechburg Road.

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 sponsors are Lawrence and Christine Kozlowski. Those picking up meals are reminded to observe social distancing while they wait in line.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

Thursday: A free GOP Get Out the Vote gathering will be at 5:30 p.m. in pavilion 12 at Northmoreland Park, 280 Markle Road. Speakers will include Congressman Glenn Thompson, State Senate District 45 candidate Nicole Ziccarelli, 18^th Congressional district candidate Luke Negron and others. Reservations requested. Reservations and information: 724-787-8673 or sdschlauch@gmail.com

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. Oct. 24. 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

Buffalo Township

Today: A community flu shot clinic will be from 4 to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Freeport Area High School, 625 S. Pike Road. District employees may receive their flu shots beginning at 3 p.m. Registration required. Registration: freeport.k12.pa.us/content2/826

East Deer

Thursday: East Deer Supervisors will have a budget workshop at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at the municipal building, 927 Freeport Road. Details: 724-224-3434

Fox Chapel

Wednesday: Fox Chapel Area High School will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Vitalant Harmar/Fox Chapel Donor Center, 2585 Freeport Road, suite 207. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. All donors will be tested for antibodies to covid-19 for free. Appointments: contact Cyndi at 412-477-2957 or cfunk@itxm.org, call 412-209-7000, or click on the Donate Blood button at vitalant.org.

Freeport

Wednesday: 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

Gilpin

Thursdays: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department kitchen will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays for takeout food. Menu: visit the department Facebook page. Orders: 724-845-7200, leave a message

Kiski Township

Wednesday: Kiski Township Supervisors will conduct the agenda meeting at 6 p.m. at the municipal building, 1222 Old State Road. Details: 724-478-2737

Leechburg

Wednesday: 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.

New Kensington  

Oct. 24: Knead Community Café, 1011 Barnes St., is accepting applications from crafters and vendors for an outdoor fall harvest fair. Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain or shine. Details: 878-302-3270 or kneadcommunitycafe.org/events

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

Wednesday: Plum EMS will host a flu vaccine clinic from 5 to 7 p.m. at Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department, 415 Old Abers Creek Road. No appointment required. Recipients must be at least 18 years old.

Saxonburg

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

South Buffalo 

Oct. 10: South Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual purse bash at 2 p.m. at the firehall, 695 Freeport Road. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Cost: $30, includes food and water. All other drinks BYOB. Only 250 tickets will be sold. There will be a basket raffle, bingo, 50/50, early bird specials and raffles for other purses. Tickets and details: call or text 724-355-3555

Springdale 

Oct. 19: The Geraldine Yanni Science Club for children in third through sixth grade at Springdale Free Public Library will meet at 6 p.m. at the library, 331 School St. Registering signs your child up for all the programs. Children cannot be registered for individual sessions. Face masks and social distancing required. Space is limited. Registration required. Registration: 724-274-9729

Tarentum

Wednesday: 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.

Torrance

Thursday: The Board of Trustees at Torrance State Hospital will have an open meeting via conference call at 1:30 p.m. Details and access information: 724-459-4411

Winfield

Oct. 13: A Caregiver Support Group will meet from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Lund Center at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, 134 Marwood Road, entrance 4. Face masks required. Details: 724-352-1571, ext. 8271

Washington Township

Thursday: Washington Township Supervisors will meet at 7 p.m. in the township building, 285 Pine Run Church Road. Details: 724-727-3515

West Deer

Thursday and Friday: St. Michael Eastern Orthodox Church, 92 Liberty St., Curtisville, will have a flea market from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the church. Items will include icons, collectibles, fabrics and plants. Details: 724-265-1005

Cancellations and changes

Apollo

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

Brackenridge

October: The Prospect Cemetery annual ghost tours are canceled. Details: 724-224-4552

Freeport

October: The Freeport Halloween carnival is canceled.

Harrison

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

Jefferson

October: The annual Knoch Craft Show to benefit the Knoch Girls Basketball program is canceled.

Leechburg

October: The Halloweenburg Festival is canceled.

Oakmont

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

Tarentum 

October: The annual BooFest event is canceled.

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