Westmoreland happenings: Coat drive, UFO program, sauerkraut dinner, more

Fundraisers

• New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department will collect new and gently used winter coats, sweatshirts, hats, gloves, ear muffs, scarves and monetary donations 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25 at the fire station, 108 S. Main St. Free clothing items will be distributed 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at the station. To make a donation on an alternate date, contact Linda Hauger at lchauger@comcast.net.

• St. Mary Byzantine Church will sell apricot kolachy, grilled sweet sausage with red peppers and onions, haluski and pepperoni rolls from Valdeserri’s Bakery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25 in the church hall and outside in front of the church, 5 Second St., Herminie. Orders encouraged. Orders: 412-206-1608.

• A fall breakfast will be served 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 19, at St. James Parish, 306 St. James Lane, New Alexandria. Menu: ham, sausage, pancakes, eggs, potatoes, juice, coffee and tea. There will be a bake sale and basket raffle. Cost: $10; 6 to 12, $5; younger than 6, free.

• Lincoln Heights Civic Association will have bingo 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the center, 42 Millersdale Road, Hempfield. There will be 20 regular games and five quickies. Payout is 50-50. Free coffee. Cost: 25 cents for a three-card board; $1 for quickies.

• Rehoboth Presbyterian Church, 442 Rehoboth Road, Rostraver, will have a spaghetti dinner 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the church. Dine in or takeout. Menu: pasta, meat or marinara sauce, bread, butter, cake and drink. Cost: large, $10; small, $6; meatballs, $1 each. Gluten-sensitive pasta and cake will be available and there will be a bake sale. Wheelchair accessible venue.

• A soup sale will be held 9 a.m. until sold out Saturday, Oct. 18, at Greensburg Church of the Brethren, 554 Stanton St., Southwest Greensburg. Proceeds will help local people in need.

• St. John United Church of Christ, 1320 Brownstown Road, Larimer, North Huntingdon, will sponsor a sauerkraut dinner 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the church. Menu: kielbasa, pork roast, hot dog, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, green beans, applesauce, bread, dessert, cold drinks and coffee. Cost: $12; 12 and younger, $6.

History

• Baltzer Meyer Historical Society will sponsor a program about the Dec. 9, 1965, Kecksburg UFO incident 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the society building, 642 Baltzer Meyer Pike, Hempfield. Stan Gordon will be the speaker. From 6 to 9 p.m. Jay Blackburn will conduct an abbreviated paranormal investigation in which those attending can participate. A discussion will be afterward.

Meetings

• Rostraver Sportsmen and Conservation Association, 539 Cedar Creek Road, Rostraver, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20. The club hosts trap shoots from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, and at 10 a.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Public welcome. Details: 412-580-9038 or rostraversportsmen@gmail.com.

• The Westmoreland County/Laurel Highlands chapter of the American Field Service high school student exchange program will have the welcome meeting for the school year at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at the One Room Schoolhouse, on the grounds of AK Hutchinson Elementary School, 810 Welty St., Southwest Greensburg. New students from Denmark, Chile, Norway, Turkey, Slovakia, Germany, France, Thailand and Canada will be introduced. Public welcome. Details: Dar Frederickson, 724-787-8863 or darfrederick@aol.com.

Nature

• Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society will sponsor Bushy Run Beautiful Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the battlefield, 1253 Bushy Run Road, Penn Township. A 90-minute nature walk will begin at 10 a.m. with leader Lindsey Praksti. Walk fee: $5; free for society members. Admission to the museum will be free and there will be family-friendly activities in the pavilion, a scavenger hunt and concession stand. Details: bushyrunbattlefield.com.

Veterans news

• A veterans service officer will be available to discuss Veterans Affairs benefits and claims 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Donegal American Legion, 3812 Route 31, Donegal Township. There will be an open house and community veteran partners will attend. Veterans, spouses and widows from all counties welcome. No appointment required. Details: Ron, 724-830-3532.

Special event

• Ligonier Valley Writers will sponsor a free workshop, “Shifting Points of View: Different Eyes, Different Worlds,” by author Sue Baugh followed by readings of LVW’s Flash Fiction winners 2 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Ligonier Valley Library, 120 W. Main St, Ligonier. For more information, email jgallagher@lhtot.com.

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