Westmoreland happenings: Strawberry festivals, Memorial Day observances, vacation Bible school, more

Bus Trip

• Westmoreland Garden Council will sponsor a one-day bus trip June 18 to the Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio. The trip will include a guided tour of the Corbin Conservatory, the 65-room Tudor revival manor house and various gardens. Lunch will be at Cracker Barrel on the way home. The bus will leave at 7:30 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. Cost: $95; council members, $85. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-837-0245.

Church News

• West Newton First Church of God will have vacation Bible school, “On the Go With God,” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 8 to 12 at the church, 157 N. Second St., Children age 3 through sixth grade welcome. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-872-7467.

Fundraisers

• Harrold Zion Lutheran Church, 671 Baltzer Meyer Pike, Hempfield, will have an indoor trash and treasure sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31 in the church social hall. Most items will be sold in for a donation of dollar amounts only, no change; and some items will have a price tag. Breakfast, lunch and baked goods will be sold.

• Jeannette American Legion will host bingo at 1 p.m. June 1 at the post, 109 S. Fifth St. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Cost: $25 per packet, includes regular and special games. There will be a $750 jackpot game, magic number game, door prizes and a 50-50. The kitchen will be open. Smoke-free venue. Proceeds benefit veterans and community activities. Details: Rick, 724-600-5061.

• Westmoreland Garden Council will host a card and game party from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June 11 at the center, 951 Old Salem Road, Greensburg. Groups and individuals welcome. Bring a game or borrow one. There will be door prizes and food. Cost: $30. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-837-0245.

• West Newton First Church of God will host a benefit concert at 5 p.m. May 31 at the church, 157 N. Second St. Donations will be accepted to fund the church mission trip to New Mexico.

• A spaghetti dinner to benefit the Irwin Senior Activity Center will be June 6 at the center located in First United Methodist Church, 310 Oak St. Dinner will be from 5 to 6 p.m. and DJ Ed Lorenc will entertain from 6 to 8 p.m. Use the alley entrance with the ramp. Menu: spaghetti, meatballs, tossed salad, bread sticks, dessert and drink. Cost: $10; 10 and younger, $5; cash only. Tickets: see a board member or stop in at the center.

• Youngwood Lions Club will sponsor a strawberry festival from 4 to 7 p.m. May 30 at Christ Church, 100 Lincoln St., Youngwood. Cost: $8; younger than 12, $4; includes strawberries, ice cream, cake and drink. Hot dogs will be sold for $2. Proceeds will benefit Youngwood Library. Tickets: see a member of the Lions or at the door.

• West Newton First Church of God will have a strawberry festival from 4 to 7 p.m. May 29 at Sewickley Grange, Route 136, Sewickley Township. Menu: homemade sandwiches, salads and strawberries. Dine in or takeout.

• Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380, Washington Township, will have a car cruise from 1 to 5 p.m. June 7 at the church. Vehicle fee: $10. Registration required by May 28. Registration: call or text Kristen, 412-334-1588 with the name, year, make and model of your vehicle. Proceeds will be donated to the Veterans Homeless Parsonage in Indiana, Pa.

Health

• An American Red Cross Blood community blood drive will be from noon to 5 p.m. June 4 in the fellowship hall of St. Michael Orthodox Church, 1182 Ashland St., South Greensburg. Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments: 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Library News

• West Newton Public Library will have a free summer reading program for children who are at least age 4 from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays June 11, 18 and 25 in the West Newton Lions field pavilion, 511 Pittsburgh St., rain or shine. Parents must accompany young children. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-633-0798, westnewton@wlonline.org or stop in at the library.

Meetings

• Mon Valley Paws will meet at 6 p.m. May 27 at the Boulevard event hall, 221 Parente Blvd., Monessen. New members welcome. Details: 724-493-8305.

Memorial Day events

• Youngstown-Whitney Volunteer Fire Department will have services at 9 a.m. May 26 at the Baggaley Honor Roll and at 10 a.m. at Brody Park in Youngstown. The Rev. Kirt Conroy of Latrobe Alliance Church will be the speaker. Members of the fire department will place memorial wreaths and Mike Skapura will play taps.

• South Greensburg American Legion will have Memorial Day services at 10:30 a.m. May 26 at Hillview Cemetery, 2480 Skidmore Road; at 11 a.m. at Midway-St. Clair Fire Department, 1966 Broadway Ave., at 11:30 a.m. at South Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department, 401 Guthrie St.; at noon at the Roosevelt Club Honor Roll, 2118 Keystone Ave.; at 12:45 p.m. at SNJP, 2440 Keystone Ave; and at 1:30 p.m. at the post, 1301 Broad St., South Greensburg.

• The Scottdale Memorial Day parade will line up at 9:45 a.m. May 26 on Broadway Street. The procession will begin at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Wall, proceed to the Scottdale and St. John the Baptist cemeteries and follow the path of hero banners to Woodcrest Senior Living, where at 11 a.m. there will be a ceremony and refreshments. Sponsored by the Scottdale American Legion, Community Civic and Industrial Association and Elks.

• The Manor American Legion Post 472 honor guard, in conjunction with the Norwin Historical Society, will conduct Memorial Day ceremonies at four cemeteries and a memorial on May 25. The honor guard will begin with ceremonies at the Brush Creek Cemetery in Hempfield at 11:30 a.m.; Penn Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, 14679 Route 30, North Huntingdon, at 1 p.m.; Brush Creek Reformed Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery on Leger Road, North Huntingdon, at 2 p.m. A ceremony at the grave of Pvt. Angus Arbuckle, a World War I veteran who received the Silver Star for gallantry in action, is to be held at 2:45 p.m. at Union Cemetery on Pennsylvania Avenue, Irwin. The ceremonies will conclude at the Manor War Memorial, Race Street, at 3:15 p.m.

• The annual Memorial Day parade will be held in Irwin on May 26. It will begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street and proceed to Pennsylvania Avenue, ending at Union Cemetery, where ceremonies will be held at 11 a.m. An Air Force flyover of planes from the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon is planned. Air Force veteran Senior Master Sgt. Otis DiCerbo will be the keynote speaker at Union Cemetery.

Music

• Southwest Greensburg Civic Society will sponsor a concert featuring local musician Shelly McCombie from 4 to 8 p.m. May 31 at the society building, 424 Brandon St. There will be raffles and hot dogs, chips and water will be available for a donation. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Senior Citizen News

• A Seniors For Safe Driving course will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 28 at Circleville United Methodist Church, 11600 Parkway Drive, North Huntingdon. 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.

• Irwin Senior Activity Center, 310 Oak St., will have a picnic potluck hamburger and hot dog lunch on May 27. Please sign up with the name of the side dish or dessert you will bring. Reservations for events and lunch required at least one day in advance. Donations are accepted for all activities. Free parking now available in the Immaculate Conception Church lower lot located one block past the church on Oak Street. Details: 724-787-1760.

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