Westmoreland happenings: Art events, spaghetti dinners, craft shows, more

Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-­smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there is no fee.

Art

• Greensburg Art Center will host a shopping event, “Art of Gifting,” Nov. 5 through Dec. 21 at the center, 230 Todd School Road, Hempfield. Handcrafted gifts available will include jewelry, paintings, ceramics, glass, textiles and ornaments. A free opening reception will be held 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5. Center hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

• Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley will celebrate the work of local artists with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts 27^th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibit that will run Nov. 11 through Feb. 5 at the museum, Route 711, Ligonier Township. Hours are noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. A free opening reception will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12. Details: 724-238-6015.

Church news

• The Diocese of Greensburg will sponsor its first women’s conference, “Spirited,” 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at Christ Our Shepherd Center, 2900 Seminary Drive, Unity. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. The event will feature praise and worship, witness testimonies, crafts, prizes and lunch. Bishop Larry Kulick will celebrate Mass. The keynote speaker will be Carol Razza and there will be eight breakout sessions. Cost: $75. Reservations and details: dioceseofgreensburg.org/spirited.

• Greensburg Church of the Brethren will host a night of fun and fellowship for individuals and groups with developmental disabilities 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays at the church, 554 Stanton St. Dinner is included. Participants must be accompanied by a family member or caregiver. Donations will be accepted.

Fundraisers

• Lincoln Heights Civic Association will have bingo 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the center, 42 Millersdale Road, Jeannette. There will be 20 regular games and five quickies. Cost: 25 cents for a three-card board; $1 for quickies. Payout is 50/50. Free coffee.

• First United Church of Christ, Irwin, will have a fall flea market 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 4 and 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 5 at the church, 400 Main St. Saturday there will be a $1 bag sale for shoes and clothes and all other items will be half off.

• A craft and vendor show to benefit Clairview School for special needs students is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5 at the school, 215 Donohoe Road, Hempfield. Free admission. There will be a bake sale and basket raffle. Merchandise will include crafts made by the students. Funds raised will be used for the school outdoor educational complex.

• The Blessings Mission Store at Olive Branch Baptist Church, 296 Route 981, Rostraver, will sell gently used clothing and yard sale items from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 5 at the church. Use the back door entrance near the rear parking lot. Proceeds will benefit Samaritans Purse to aid the Florida hurricane victims.

• The Disciples’ Hands Ministry at Greensburg Church of The Brethren will host a spaghetti dinner noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at the church, 443 Stanton St., Greensburg. Menu: spaghetti, salad, cake and beverage, $9. Dine-in or takeout. Proceeds will be used to feed the hungry.

• St. James Parish, New Alexandria, will have a craft show 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5 in the church social hall, 306 St. James Lane. Food will be available. Details: 724-668-2829 or stjamesnewalexandria.org.

• First Presbyterian Church of Murrysville, 3202 N. Hills Road, will sell seasonal items and have a vendor show 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5 in Laird Hall at the church. Items will include gently used fall and Christmas decorations. Details: mlholtz6@msn.com.

• Collinsburg Volunteer Fire Company will sponsor a Fall into Cash bingo Nov. 5 at the firehall, 514 Hickory Drive. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Cost: $40 per package, includes eight cards, one book of early birds and one book of specials. Additional packages will be sold. There will be 20 regular games that pay $200, four $500 special games and a $10,000 in 48 numbers jackpot game. The kitchen will be open.

• New Hope Church will sponsor a craft and vendor show 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5 at Circleville Volunteer Fire Department social room, 129 Robbins Station Road, North Huntingdon. Free admission. Lunch and baked goods will be available. A basket will be raffled off to benefit Gray Paws Sanctuary.

• Jeannette American Legion will host a bingo at 1 p.m. Nov. 6 at the post, 109 S. Fifth St. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Cost: $25 per packet, includes regular and special games. Full extra packets and specials available. The kitchen will be open and there will be a 50/50. Proceeds benefit American Legion activities. Details: 724-523-6231.

• Bovard Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will have a spaghetti dinner noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 6 at the social hall, 2 Washington St., Hempfield. Menu: spaghetti, meatball, salad, bread and dessert. Cost: $10; small portion, $5. Dine in or takeout. There will be a basket auction and 50/50 raffle.

• St. John United Church of Christ, 1230 Brownstown Road, North Huntingtdon, is accepting orders for a homemade pumpkin log sale. Order deadline: Nov. 6. Cost: $10. Pickup: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the church. Orders: Lillian, 724-493-8982.

• Manor Lions Club will collect nonperishable foods and monetary donations 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Election Day Nov. 8 at the polling place at the Manor borough building to benefit the Manor Community Food Pantry. Donations can be placed in the marked boxes.

• An Election Day soup, bake and book sale will be from 10 a.m. until sold out Nov. 8 at Sewickley Township Public Library, 201 Highland Ave., Herminie. Soup menu: clam chowder, chili, broccoli cheese, loaded baked potato, mushroom and broccoli chowder, pasta fagioli, chicken noodle, stuffed pepper, wedding, chicken enchilada and beef vegetable soups, $8 per quart and $4 per pint. Other items available include haluski, pepperoni rolls and sweet treats. Books: $5 per bag. Advance, prepaid soup orders will be accepted at the library. Details: 724-446-9940.

• An Election Day luncheon will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at First Church of God, 157 N. Second St., West Newton. Menu: chicken noodle, broccoli cheese and potato soups, chili, chicken salad sandwiches, ham barbeque sandwiches, hot dogs with or without kraut, potato or macaroni salad, pie or cake. Delivery available. Details: 724-872-7467.

• Mon Valley Paws will sponsor a chicken and biscuit dinner with chef Rachel Beeman 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Italian Club, 112 Seventh St., Monessen. Menu: chicken, biscuit, mashed potatoes and dessert, $15. Advance tickets required. Tickets: Randy, 724-493-8305 or at the Italian Club.

• Herminie Center for Active Adults will sponsor a turkey gift card bingo at 11 a.m. Nov. 16 at the center, 101 Sewickley Ave. rear. Admission: $10, includes one card for 20 games. Extra packets will be sold for $5 and lunch will be available. Menu: Burgundy glazed meatballs, roasted Brussels sprouts, breadstick, mandarin oranges and milk. Lunch fee: over 60, $2; younger than 60, $3.97. Lunch reservations required by 11 a.m. Oct. 9. Lunch reservations: 724-446-3282.

• The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley will offer a workshop to make a dot art painting 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at the museum, Route 711, Ligonier Township. Cost: $25, includes materials and light refreshments. Reservations: 724-238-6015, ligonier@sama-art.org or sama-art.prg/event-list.

Health

• Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging will host its monthly Caregiver Support Group meeting 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at the McKenna Center for Active Adults, 971 Old Salem Road, Hempfield. The guest speaker will be from Commodity Shoppers. Details: Denise Parker, 724-830-4484 or 800-442-8000.

• Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380, Washington Township.

Meetings

• The Braddock Trail chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet Nov. 5 at the chapter house, 200 S. Church St., Mt. Pleasant. Lunch will be served at noon and the meeting will begin at 1 p.m.

Music

• Bullskin Opry will feature local and regional bluegrass bands 6 to 10 p.m. Nov. 5 in Bullskin Grange Hall, 938 Pleasant Valley Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. Donations accepted to cover rent and insurance. Seating provided. Food and drinks will be available. Beginner musicians welcome. Details: Bill Springer, 724-455-3919.

Special event

• The winning entries of the Ligonier Valley Writers’ Flash Fiction Contest will be read aloud at 3 p.m. Nov. 6 at Crumpets Tea Shop, 201 E. Main St., Ligonier. Author Linda Ciletti will also give a brief talk about mermaids and will read a passage from her book, “Faerie Waters.” The event is free.

Veterans Day events

• Jeannette Community Band will present its 27^th annual free Veterans Day concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Jeannette American Legion, 109 S. Fifth St. Representatives from the different branches of the services will participate. Details: jcbweb.com.

• Norwin Elks will host a free spaghetti dinner for veterans 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Elks Lodge, 135 Elks Lane, Manor. Parties of five or more should call the Elks for reservations at 724-863-3000. Details: Don Rohac, 412-260-8064 or sfc56@comcast.net.