Westmoreland happenings: scarecrow contest, spaghetti dinners, rummage sale

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Church News

• Greater Parkview Church, 103 Westminster Ave., Greensburg, will celebrate the church’s 96th anniversary and the 19th pastoral anniversary of Bishop Carl E. Jones Sr. and his wife, Stephanie Jones, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sept. 25. Minister Alicia Ellison Goodson of God’s Recreation Christian Center will speak at the 10 a.m. service, and the Rev. George Woodruff from Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, will preach at the 3 p.m. service.

• St. James Church, New Alexandria, will show the second season of “The Chosen” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 27, and Oct. 4, 18 and 25, at the church. Two episodes will be presented each evening, and a discussion will follow the second episode. Details: 724-668-2829.

Contests

• Business and Professional Women of Pennsylvania District 3 will sponsor a Paw-Parazzi Pet Photo Contest and Calendar fundraiser through Oct. 13 to benefit Tails of Valor/Paws of Honor. Submit a photograph of your pet to compete. Pets with the top three vote totals will win a cash prize, and the top 12 pets will be win a spot in the 2023 calendar. Details: gogophotocontest.com/bpwpadistrict3.

• Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its 31st annual scarecrow contest Oct. 21 to Nov. 6. Setup days are Oct. 19 to 21. Scarecrows must be in place by 5 p.m. Oct. 21. Cash prizes will be awarded. Registration required. Details and registration: 724-238-4200 or Ligonier.com.

Fundraisers

• A spaghetti dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at First United Church of Christ, 400 Main St., Irwin. Menu: spaghetti, meatballs, salad and dessert, $10; children, $5.

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1120 Harvey Ave., Greensburg, will have a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24 at the church. Food and baked goods will be sold. A bag sale will begin at noon.

• St. John United Church of Christ, 1230 Brownstown Road, North Huntingdon, will have its Dog Days of Summer hot dog sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 24 at the church. Combo meals and beverages available. Details: Lil, 724-493-8982.

• New Alexandria Center for Active Adults, 207 W. Main St., New Alexandria, will have bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at the center. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon. Cost: $20, includes lunch, 16 bingo sheets and a chance for a door prize. There is bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. every Monday at the center. Cost: $16; specials and jackpot cards will be sold for $2 each. Details: 724-668-7055, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.

• Mt. Pleasant Veterans of Foreign Wars and Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association will host a spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 25 at the VFW, 416 N. Main St. Menu: spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert and soft drink or water, $12; 6 to 10, $6; 5 and younger, free. Proceeds will support local veterans.

• Westmoreland Hockey Association will have a bingo fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 25 at West Point Firehall, 100 Volunteer Drive, Greensburg. Admission: $25. Tickets: westmorelandhockey association.com.

• Norwin Chamber of Commerce will host OktChamberFest from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 29 at Quinn Brewing, Banco Business Park, North Huntingdon. Admission: $25, includes one beer, light German food, music and a raffle ticket. Tickets: 724-863-0888.

• Latrobe Center for Active Adults, 15 Avenue C, will host bingo at 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the center. Doors open at noon. Cost: $20, includes lunch. Extra packets will be sold, and there will be door prizes, a basket raffle and 50-50. Reservations requested, but not required. Reservations: 724-539-0237.

• Westmoreland County Blind Association will host a bingo at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at West Point Firehall, 100 Volunteer Drive, Greensburg. Sponsorship opportunities are available and basket auction donations welcome. Details: Amy Patz, 724-837-1250 ext. 11 or apatz@wcbainpa.org.

Health

• Nonprofit organization Faith & Gratitude will host a free cancer wellness event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg. Attendees can learn holistic practices for optimal wellness and will receive a cancer resource guide that contains information that will be helpful while going through treatment and beyond. Wear casual attire and bring a notebook. Reservations required. Reservations: faithandgratitude.org.

Meetings

• Penn Township Senior Citizens will meet Sept. 27 at Community United Methodist Church, 3487 Route 130, Trafford. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 2. Lunch: $6. Dues: $2. Entertainment will be provided by The G Boys. Masks optional.

• Greensburg Garden Center will have its annual Meeting Out at 11 a.m. Oct. 4 at Greensburg Country Club. The program will begin at noon, and lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Andy Amrhein from KDKA Pittsburgh Live! and True Value Hardware will be the guest speaker. There will be vendors and a raffle. Cost: $40, includes lunch. Reservations required. Public welcome. Reservations: 724-837-0245.

Music

• The 15th annual Yough Night band festival will begin at 3:15 p.m. Sept. 24 at Cougar Mountain, 919 Lowber Road, Herminie. Marching bands from McKeesport, Maplewood, Southmoreland, Deer Lakes, Elizabeth Forward, Fox Chapel Area, Penn Hills, Burrell, Moon, Norwin, Kiski Area, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Jeannette, Greensburg Salem, Derry, Hempfield and Yough high schools will compete. There will be basket raffles, a concession stand and candy grams. Admission: $10; senior citizens and students, $5.

Special events

• Boy Scout Troops 304 and 1304 will host an open house and sign-up night at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at St. John the Evangelist Center, 306 St. Johns Drive, Latrobe. Boys and girls at 11 to 17 are welcome. Meetings are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays at St. John the Evangelist Center. Details: LatrobeScoutsBSA@gmail.com.

• The Glass City Heritage Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 along Clay Avenue in Jeannette. There will be pumpkin painting, crafters, vendors, food, basket raffles, a DJ and 50-50. The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a children’s coat giveaway. Entertainment will include a puppet show at 11:30 a.m., a police dog show at 1:15 p.m. and the Jeannette Community Band at 3 p.m. A time capsule will be buried after the festival at City Hall.

• A free Hut to Hut Backpacking event will be Oct. 1 and 2 at Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park. Join forest and state park staff for an intermediate backpacking experience on the Laurel Ridge. The event will include two days of hiking and one overnight and is intended for individuals who have previous backpacking experience. Reservations required. Details and reservations: Rachael Mahony, 724-259-2201 or rmahony@pa.gov.

Volunteers

• Keystone State Park is seeking volunteers for its Paddle for Pollution event set for 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 24 at the park lake. Volunteers will take to their kayaks, canoes and rowboats and pick up trash. A pizza lunch will be served afterward. Reservations required. Reservations: events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/paddle_for_pollution.