Westmoreland happenings: Halloween events, super bingo, genealogy workshops, more

Arts

• Laurelville Retreat Center will offer a fall painting class for all skill levels from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at its lodge, 941 Laurelville Lane, Mt. Pleasant Township. Cost: $25, includes supplies and beverages. No alcohol permitted. Guests may bring snacks to share. Reservations required tinyurl.com/2p9axkmj.. Details: 724-423-2056.

• Alabaster Performing Arts will offer a musical theatre workshop for children age 5 to 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 10, 17 and 24 at West Newton Lions Club, 509 Pittsburgh St. A performance of “Encanto” will be Oct. 25. Reservations required: 724-516-5189 or alabasterperformingarts.org.

Church News

• 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., Southwest Greensburg. Dinner is included. Participants must be accompanied by a family member or caregiver. Donations will be accepted. Details: 724-834-2130 or gbgcob.org.

Class

• A discussion about concealed carry laws and firearms ownership will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Lamplighter Restaurant, 6566 Route 22, Salem. Help will be available for those whose license plate is illegible or damaged. Bring your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Reservations required: 724-472-4102 or dpfeiffer@pahousegop.com.

Fundraisers

• A super bingo will be Oct. 6 at Marian Hall at St. Bartholomew Church, 2538 Route 119, Crabtree. Doors open at 5 p.m. and early birds begin at 6 p.m. Admission: $35; additional packs will be available. The church also has weekly bingo at 6:30 p.m. Sundays in Marian Hall. Smoke-free venue. Details: 724-834-0709.

• A Yappy Hour to benefit Mon Valley Paws will be Tuesdays in October at Dawg’s, 110 Sara Way, Rostraver. Ten percent of sales will be donated to Mon Valley Paws. Details: Randy, 724-493-8305.

• God’s Re-Creation Christian Center in McKeesport will have its annual Date with the King ladies luncheon Oct. 7 at the DoubleTree Hotel, Monroeville. Doors open at 11 a.m. There will be vendors and a basket raffle. The speaker will be Neila Johnson of New Creation Family Worship Center, Greensburg. Details: 724-396-4542. Tickets: datewiththeking.eventbrite.com.

• Bullskin Senior Center, 52 Medsger Road, will serve breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Oct. 7 at the center. Menu: buckwheat and regular pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits with sausage gravy, ham, potatoes, coffee, tea and juice. Cost: $10; 6 to 11, $5; younger than 6, free. Baked goods will be sold.

• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 200 Leger Road, North Huntingdon, will have a holiday craft and vendor show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7 in the parish Mack Hall. Free admission and parking. There will be a basket auction, concession stand and 50-50. Proceeds will benefit the parish senior youth ministry. Details: 724-864-6364.

• Lincoln Heights Civic Association will have bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the center, 42 Millersdale Road, Hempfield. 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.

• The Westmoreland County Historical Society will host its last antiques and collectibles sale of the season beginning at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 8 at Historic Hanna’s Town, 809 Forbes Trail Road, Hempfield. Rain or shine. Parking fee: $3 per car. Details: 724-836-1800s.

Halloween events

• Downtown West Newton will sponsor ghost tours Oct. 13 through the downtown area of the borough based on real events and reported ghost sightings. Tours will begin at 6:30, 7:30 and 9 p.m. Check-in will be 15 minutes before each tour at Simeral Square, North Water Street. Beverages and snacks will be sold. Recommended for those who are at least 12. Cost: $15. Tickets: tinyurl.com/4d3snsxy.

• Community Revitalization of West Newton (CROWN) will sponsor a free Fall Funday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 in Cort Street Park. Activities will include pumpkin carving and scarecrow building. There will be a pumpkin race at 2 p.m. with cash prizes. Tickets: $5. Reservations required: send your name, address and the number of children attending to CROWN15089@yahoo.com.

Health

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

• Westmoreland County Area Agency on Aging will host its monthly Caregiver Support Group meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at the McKenna Center for Active Adults, 971 Old Salem Road, Greensburg. Details: Denise Dieter, 724-830-4484 or 800-442-8000.

Library News

Westmoreland Library Network will offer free genealogy workshops at several locations. Reservations are required. Dates and times include:

• Discovering Your Family’s Stories, 5 p.m. Oct. 12, Rostraver Public Library, 700 Plaza Drive. Reservations: 724-379-5511 or rostraverlibrary.org.

• What Your DNA Test Won’t Tell You, 6 p.m. Oct. 18, Adams Memorial Library, 1112 Ligonier St., Latrobe. Reservations: 724-539-1972 or adamslib.org.

• Using Ancestry, 6 p.m. Oct. 19, Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin. Reservations: 724-863-4700 or norwinpubliclibrary.net.

• Internet Genealogy for Beginners, 6 p.m. Oct. 25, Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S Pennsylvania Ave. Reservations: 724-837-5620 or ghal.org.

• Level 2 Genealogy: Climbing Higher on Your Family Tree, 6 p.m. Oct. 31, Ligonier Valley Library, 120 W Main St, Ligonier. Reservations: 724-238-6451 or ligonierlibrary.org.

Meetings

• South Hills Coin Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Bethel Park Municipal Building, 5100 W. Library Ave. There will be a 50-50 raffle and prizes for children. Public welcome. Details: 724-984-6611.

• The board of trustees at Torrance State Hospital will have an open meeting at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in the CEO conference room, first floor, Greizman Building, Route 1014, Derry Township. Details: 724-459-4411.

Senior Citizen News

• A Seniors For Safe Driving course will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at Herminie Senior Center, 101 Sewickley Ave. The class is PennDOT approved and for drivers who are at least 55 years old. Those who complete the course can qualify for reduced auto insurance premiums. There is no behind-the-wheel driving. Cost: $16. Details and registration: 800-559-4880 or seniorsforsafedriving.com.

Special Event

• The League of Women Voters of Westmoreland County will host a free speaker event “Finding One Billion Dollars: Funding Westmoreland County Schools” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 in the second floor conference room of Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. Matt Cesario, former board president of the Keystone Oaks School District, will be the speaker. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations required — visit the event calendar at lwv-westmoreland.org.