The Stroller, Sept. 7, 2023: 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.

St. James Parish to host fall festival

A fall festival will be from noon to 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the church grounds of St. James Parish, 109 Owens View Ave., Apollo.

There will be food, beverages, bingo, entertainment, raffles and games. A car cruise will be from noon to 4 p.m. and an outdoor Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair. For details, call 724-478-4958.

Outdoor Discovery Center to have fundraiser on Saturday

“Summer’s Last Fling,” a fundraiser to benefit the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the center, 142 Kerr Road, Bethel.

The event will be family-friendly and there will be music by the 7 Mile Band, a buffet dinner, a silent auction, raffles and a variety of nature-themed activities for the whole family.

Admission is $20; younger than 12, $12. Tickets are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Armstrong Center for Community Learning, 104 Armstrong St., suite A, Ford City, and online at tinyurl.com/mvuctyjf.

Calendar

Allegheny Township

Saturday: A marching band festival will begin at 4:25 p.m. at Richard J. Dilts Field at Kiski Area High School. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Featured bands will include Leechburg Area, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel Area, Mars Area, Gateway, Connellsville Area, Norwin, Southmoreland, Upper St. Clair and Kiski Area. Cost: $10; students, $8.

Apollo

Friday: Apollo United Presbyterian Church 401 First St., will have a sandwich and salad bar from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the church. Cost: $9. Details: 724-478-4807.

Sept. 24: St. James Parish is selling tickets for a grocery giveaway raffle. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. The winner will receive 10 pounds each of chicken drums, wings, thighs and split breasts; boneless pork chops, T-bone steaks, shrimp, 80/20 hamburger, hot dogs, hot or sweet sausage, kielbasa, Delmonico steaks and bacon, a case each of corn, baked beans, water, soda and beer, a Blackstone LP gas griddle and a freezer. The winning number will be the 7 p.m. Sept. 24 Pa. Daily Pick-3 number. Tickets: Linda, 724-882-8776, after weekend Masses in the church vestibule and at the parish office.

Arnold

Saturday: Bethlehem Temple Faith Church will sell takeout barbecue ribs and chicken dinners from 1 to 4 p.m. at the church, 1374 Fourth Ave. Menu: ribs or half chicken, baked or green beans, bread and cake, $22. Orders welcome. Orders: 724-335-5445. Sponsored by the church trustee board.

East Vandergrift

Sept. 17: Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church will serve a brunch from noon to 2 p.m. in the church hall, 411 McKinley Ave. Menu: salad, quiche, French toast casserole, ham and cheese breakfast sliders, silver dollar pancakes, bacon, sausage, fruit cup, juice and coffee. Cost: $10; age 3 to 10, $5, 2 and younger, free. Reservations encouraged, but not required. Reservations: 724-216-7053.

Fawn

Saturday: Center Church will sponsor a community barbecue picnic from 2 to 8 p.m. at the church, 1575 Donnellville Road. There will be a pig roast at 4:30 p.m., a barbecue competition, music at 6:30 p.m. and games and activities for the whole family. Details: 724-226-2300.

Freeport 

Today: Freeport Renaissance Association will meet at 7 p.m. at United Presbyterian Church, 411 High St. New members welcome.

Gilpin

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

Friday: A Red Cross community blood drive will be from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gilpin Volunteer Firehall, 113 Firehall Road. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code GTVFD.

Greensburg

Saturday: Westmoreland County Community College will host a free concert at 7 p.m. in the college Science Hall Theater featuring a band comprised of members of the five community bands in Westmoreland County, including members of the Kiski Valley Community Band. The concert is the culmination of the band’s recent concert tour in eastern Pennsylvania.

Harrison  

Friday: Fish sandwiches and shrimp dinners will be sold from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Polish National Alliance, 14 Linden St., Natrona. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $7, includes fries and dessert. Other sides will be available. Orders: 724-224-4471.

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.

Saturday: Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd., will offer a craft program at 2:30 p.m. to make Shrinky Dinks Children who are at least 10 years old welcome. No reservations required. Details: 724-226-3491.

Saturday: The Diaper Pantry at Christ Our Hope Anglican Church will distribute diapers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church, 926 Painter Ave., and at Sheldon Park, both in Natrona Heights. Recipients must drive up and remain in their vehicles. First-time recipients must provide their own identification, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card.

Saturday: A clothing and toy giveaway will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Word of Faith Christian Fellowship, 42 Chestnut St., Natrona.

Oct. 14: A gun bash will be from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at 1 p.m. Cost: $15, includes food and beverages. Sponsored by the post and auxiliary. Must be at least 21 to attend. No outside alcohol permitted. Tickets: Debbie, 412-298-6175.

Jefferson

Today: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.

Leechburg

Today: The free genealogy group at Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the museum, 118 First St. Basic computer skills required. The Sept. 21 meeting will be a trip to Soldiers & Sailors Hall and Museum in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Details: Judy, 724-681-9154.

Today: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host a car cruise from 5 to 9 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. There will be music, food and entertainment.

Lower Burrell

Saturday: The ClothesLine Ministry at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 3084 Leechburg Road, will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. Clothing, shoes and purses will be sold for 25 cents each or five for $1. The jewelry room will be closed.

Saturday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will feature the band Americana from 8 to 11 p.m. at the post. Members and three guests welcome.

Saturday: The farmers market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bon Air Elementary School, 3260 Leechburg Road.

New Kensington

Saturday: The Community Clothes Closet, 1129 Kenneth Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items available include clothing for all members of the family, shoes and linens. First-time customers receive 15 free items. Winter clothing donations welcome during business hours.

Today: Sally’s Outdoor Market will be from 2 to 6 p.m. weather permitting, at the Salvation Army, 255 Third St. There will be fresh produce, plants, baked goods, hot foods and more. Vendor spaces available. Details: 724-335-7221, ext. 106 or lauren.suprano@use.salvationarmy.org.

Today: 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.

Today: Knead Community Café in New Kensington will hand out free grab-and-go meals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the cafe, 1011 Barnes St. This week’s meals are sponsored by the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation. Details: 878-847-7997.

North Apollo

Sept. 23: Tickets are on sale for a Haunted Halloween Bingo set for 7 p.m. at North Apollo Volunteer Fire Department, 311 N. 16^th St. Doors open at 5 p.m. Cost: $30, includes games, supplies, food and drinks. Must be 21 to attend. There will be instant games, a DJ and 50/50. Costumes encouraged. Reserved seating available for groups of eight or more. Tickets: 724-472-5346.

Parks Township

Friday: Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7 p.m. in the firehall, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Saxonburg

Friday, Saturday and Sunday: The annual Octoberfest will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the volunteer firemen’s grounds, 290 Horne St. Free parking and shuttle service will be available from Lernerville Speedway. Details: spranklesoctoberfest.com.

Tarentum 

Friday: Tarentum Book Club will meet at the home of Kathy Zigo. Pat Henry will review “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. The committee will be Mary Lou Beck, Debra Stephenson and Nicole White.

Saturday: The Clothing Closet at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details: 724-224-9220.

Washington Township  

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.

Sept. 30: Community Church of Pine Run EMC is accepting vendor applications for its annual fall Scholarship Festival set for noon to 4 p.m. at Kunkle Park, 283 Pine Run Church Road. Fee: $15. Details: pinerunemc.org/fallfestival2023.

West Deer

Saturday: Concerned Residents of West Deer (CROWD) will host a community meeting at 3 p.m. in Veterans Pavilion 1 of Deer Lakes Park to discuss issues impacting the township. Details: concernedresidents.org.