Westmoreland happenings: Backyard birding seminar, Lenten events, blood drive, 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.

Church news

• First Methodist Church and First Church of God, both in West Newton, will celebrate World Day of Prayer at an 11 a.m. March 3 service at First United Methodist Church, 106 N. Second St. The event is sponsored by the ladies groups of both churches. A light luncheon will be served afterward.

• Mt. Pleasant Ministerium will sponsor free lunches at noon Wednesdays through April 5 at Mt. Pleasant Church of God, 936 W. Main St. The Rev. Dan Carr, pastor of St. Pius X and Visitation parishes, will deliver a short message at the March 8 lunch. No reservations are required, and free parking is available.

• St. James Parish, New Alexandria, will sponsor a Lenten lecture series for adults at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays March 7 to 28 at the church, 306 St. James Lane. The topic for March 7 will be, “Why so Much Focus on Sin?” Details: 724-668-2829.

• Southern gospel vocal group The Booth Brothers will present a concert at 6 p.m. March 5 at Pennsville Baptist Church, 3300 Richey Road, Mt. Pleasant. Doors open at 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted. Details: 724-887-5200 or pennsvillebaptist.com.

• Greensburg Church of the Brethren will host a night of fun and fellowship for individuals and groups with developmental disabilities from 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. Details: 724-834-2130 or gbgcob.org.

Fish Fries

• Blaine Hill Volunteer Fire Company, 409 Oxford Ave., Elizabeth, will have a fish fry from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent. Dine in or takeout. Menu: fish sandwich dinner, $13; fish on a dish, $12.50; baked fish, $13; jumbo shrimp dinner, $12; crab cake dinner, $12; all include coleslaw and choice of fries, macaroni and cheese or haluski. Orders: 412-384-9919.

• St. Agnes Catholic Church, 11400 St. Agnes Lane, North Huntingdon, drive-thru only, 2 to 7 p.m. Fridays through March 31 at the church. Menu: baked or fried cod dinner, $13, includes choice of fries, haluski or pierogi, coleslaw and sandwich roll; fish sandwich, baked fish, haluski, soups, fries, pierogi and coleslaw. Cash, debit and credit cards accepted.

Fundraisers

• Lincoln Heights Civic Association will have bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. March 2 and 16 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.

• A basket raffle fundraiser will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4 at Latrobe Center for Active Adults, 15 Avenue C., Cost: $10, includes lunch and 20 raffle tickets; extra tickets, $5. Drawings will be at 2 p.m. Over 60 baskets and gift cards will be awarded. Winner need not be present. Details: 724-539-0237.

• Jeannette American Legion will host a bingo at 1 p.m. March 5 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, $15. There will be a $750 jackpot game, 50-50 and the kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit American Legion activities. Details: 724-523-6231.

• New Florence Community Library will have a basket party fundraiser at 2 p.m. March 5 at Antiochian Village, 140 Church Camp Trail, Ligonier Township. Doors open at noon. Admission: $5; basket tickets, $5 for 25, at the door. Light refreshments will be served. Details: 724-235-2249.

• A spaghetti luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4 at Herminie Center for Active Adults, 101 Sewickley Ave., rear. Cost: $9; 12 and younger, $4. Dine in or takeout. Bingo will be from 3 to 5 p.m. March 4 and there will be 20 regular games, specials, silent auction and 50-50. Details: 724-446-3282.

Health

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

• Harrold Zion Lutheran Church, 671 Balzer Meyer Pike, Hempfield, will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 12 at the church. Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: visit donateblood.centralbloodbank.org and use group code G0030141 or call the church at 724-837-7327.

Library News

• Adams Memorial Library, Latrobe, will offer a free in person talk with Jill Cullen, author of, “Flirting with a New Life,” at 6:30 p.m. March 9 at the library, 1112 Ligonier St. Reservations required: 724-539-1972, forms.gle/dm18au5mnAfh94nW8 or stop in at the library.

• Murrysville writer K. U. Grudowski will speak at 3 p.m. March 4 at Penn Area Library, 2001 Municipal Court, Harrison City. There will be a question-and-answer session, refreshments, raffle, giveaways and contest.

Meetings

• Greensburg Garden Center will meet at 11 a.m. March 7 at the center, 951 Old Salem Road. The guest speaker will be Jim Kolka from the Hosta Society of Western Pennsylvania. Bring a friend and stay for lunch.

• Westmoreland Area Nurses Association will meet at 4 p.m. March 6 at The Boulevard Restaurant, 900 Towne Square Drive, Hempfield. Details: Cordie, 412-841-8529.

• Mt. Pleasant American Legion Auxiliary will meet March 7 at the post, 752 W. Main St. Lunch can be ordered from the post kitchen menu. Details: Kelly, 724-542-4478.

Special events

• Ligonier Valley Writers is accepting entries for its 32nd annual student poetry contest. Students in grades four through 12 are welcome to enter. There are nine categories and cash prizes awarded for first, second and third place awards and best in each age group. Submissions must be emailed and the deadline is March 11. Entry forms and contest rules: LVWonline.org.

• A Lunch and Learn program on backyard birding will be at noon March 11 at in the small dining hall at Laurelville Retreat Center, 941 Laurelville Lane, Mt. Pleasant Township. Alex Busato, chair of the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club, will be the speaker. Cost: $20. Reservations required by March 3: tinyurl.com/March11Birds.