Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number.Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller.


Tickets available for murder-mystery dinner

A murder-mystery dinner to benefit Alle Kiski Strong Chamber of Commerce will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Hill Crest Country Club, 3411 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell.

There will be a cash bar, basket raffle and entertainment by Musical Mysteries & More. Tickets are $50 and sponsorship opportunities are available. For tickets and sponsorship information, visit tinyurl.com/2t6mr4s6.


Free lunch planned at Poke Run Church

Poke Run Presbyterian Church will host its free monthly Soup for the Soul luncheon at noon Wednesday at the church, 1091 Poke Run Church Road.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The event will be the second Wednesday of the month through May. For details, call 724-327-5563.


Calendar

Allegheny Township

Feb. 19: The Alle-Kiski Chapter of the American Wine Society will meet at 7 p.m. at River Forest Country Club, 130 Club House Drive. Society member Matt Kristofik will discuss “Wine Finds That Won’t Break Your Wallet.” Wines will be served paired with food. Cost: $47. Paid reservations required by 5 p.m. Feb. 15. Guests welcome. Visit Alle Kiski AWS on Facebook. Information:allekiski@yahoo.com.

Apollo

Wednesday: Apollo Hose Company No. 2 will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 325 N. Fourth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $25 per packet. The kitchen will be open with a limited menu. Details:724-478-4831.

March 14: St. James Parish, 109 Owens View Ave., is accepting space reservations from flea market, yard sale and craft vendors for a flea market planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second Saturday of each month in the parish activities center. Details: Linda, 724-882-8776.

Arnold

Tuesday: The Tomb, 1821 Fifth Ave., will serve a free dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its weekly pierogi sale. Varieties: cottage cheese, $16 per dozen; potato or sauerkraut, $14 per dozen. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. This is the last sale of the year. Orders:724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Brackenridge

Wednesday: Al-Anon will meet at 8 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 847 10th Ave. The group offers help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics.

East Vandergrift  

Saturday : Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish will host a Valentine’s Day dance from 6 to 10 p.m. in the church social hall, 411 McKinley Ave. Cost: $20 each; $35 per couple; includes beer, water, sandwiches, snacks and dessert. BYOB. There will be a DJ, basket raffle and 50-50. Tickets: 724-478-4958 or 724-882-9212.

Saturday : Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a Sweetheart raffle. The winning numbers will be the 1:30 and 7 p.m. Pennsylvania Lottery Pick-3 numbers on Valentine’s Day. Each winner will receive $1,000, a $50 gift card to Fine Wine and Spirits and a $50 gift certificate to Sweetlane Chocolate Shop in Vandergrift. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: 724-568-3409, in the parish office or after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.

Freeport

Wednesdays: The Blessing Closet at Freeport United Methodist Church, 211 Fourth St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All items are free, but donations will be accepted. Items available include clothing of all sizes, bedding and window items. Donations of clothing, shoes and boots welcome; must be laundered and free from smoke and pet hair. Wheelchair accessible. Details:724-295-3095.

Saturday : Freeport Area Library will host a free workshop for adults, “Winter Sowing” with Master Gardeners of Armstrong County from 11 a.m. to noon at the library, 428 Market St. The hands-on class will cover how to start seeds outdoors during the winter using recycled containers as mini-greenhouses. Materials and seeds will be provided. Reservations are required and space is limited. Reservations:724-295-3616.

Harmar

April 26: Table reservations are being accepted for an indoor spring craft show planned at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center, 1877 Shiners Way. No electronic payments will be accepted. Sponsored by Daughters of the Nile. Reservations: Peggy Addleman, 724-709-9916 or peggyaddleman@gmail.com.

Harrison

Today: The Anime Club at Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. The group is focused for adults, but students who are at least in ninth grade are welcome and must fill out a permission slip. Reservations required. Reservations:alleghenyvalleylibrary.org.

Tuesdays: A story time for children age 3 to 5 will be at 10 a.m. at Community Library of Allegheny Valley, 1522 Broadview Blvd. No registration required.

Wednesday: The Agape Thrift Shop at Grace United Methodist Church, 1333 Freeport Road, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Clean clothing in all sizes is needed. No housewares or bedding please. Bring donations on Wednesday or leave them on the front porch. Do not place donations in the blue bins behind the church.

Wednesday: Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Food Bank will be open from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at 1913 Freeport Road, Natrona Heights. Food bank participants can receive food allotments twice per month. Those who are not yet registered should come from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The Sparrow’s Nest clothing and home goods ministry will be open from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Details and alternate times: 724-226-0606, ext. 10.

Wednesday: The Becky’s Closet community clothing store at Faith Lutheran Church, 1500 Broadview Blvd., will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Cost: adult tops and bottoms, 50 cents; children’s clothing, 25 cents. Please bring small bills and your own bags. Donations welcome during these hours. Everyone welcome.

Saturday : Friends of Harrison Hills Park will sponsor a Great Backyard Bird Count from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the park Environmental Learning Center. Rain or shine. Observers can stay inside the center or take a short hike at 10:30 a.m. or noon with a park ranger to view the birds. Stay for as little as 15 minutes or the entire time. No reservations required. Binoculars and identification guides will be available and experienced birders will be available to help with identification. Details: Dave at 724-487-3586 or davbrooke@gmail.com.

Jefferson Township

Tuesday: Concordia at Cabot will sponsor a free monthly caregiver support group at 2 p.m. in the Lund Care Center private dining room, 134 Marwood Road. Use Entrance 4. Anyone who cares for a loved one with a physical problem or diminished reasoning skills at home is welcome. Details: Stefanie Dietrich, 724-352-1571, ext. 8271.

Kiski Township

Tuesday: The diaper pantry at Spring Church Lutheran Church, 3623 Lutheran Church Road, will distribute diapers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church. Recipients must register in advance. First-time recipients must provide their own ID, the child’s birth certificate and a current WIC or SNAP card. Registration:724-478-1528.

Feb. 16: An American Red Cross community blood drive will be from 11 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. at Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 1668 Route 56 Appointments:800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and search with code APOLLOFM.

Leechburg

Sundays through March 15: Leechburg Youth Baseball Association will accept player registrations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its clinics in the Leechburg Area High School gymnasium, Center Avenue. New players must bring a copy of their birth certificate and insurance card. Details and online registration: leechburgyouthbaseball.com.

Today: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 268 Canal St. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open.

Saturday : A murder mystery dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. in the upstairs hall at the Sokol Club, 55 Siberian Ave. Cost: $45. There will be a cash bar, basket raffle and 50-50. Tickets: stop in at the club. Questions: sokol255@outlook.com. Proceeds will benefit the Sokol 255 Educational Scholarship Fund.

Lower Burrell

Today: Overeaters Anonymous will offer a Zoom meeting at 7:30 p.m. Details:info@gpioa.org.

Tuesday: Redemption Church will host a free GriefShare program about regrets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the church, 3400 Garvers Ferry Road. Anyone who is mourning the loss of a loved one is welcome. Meetings will continue on Tuesdays through March 17. Details: Brenda Heinz, 412-398-1622.

Tuesday: A family story time will be at 1 p.m. at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter St. Details:724-339-1021.

Wednesday: Peoples Library will offer Puzzles for Grownups at 1 p.m. at the library, 3052 Wachter Ave. Details:724-339-1021.

Saturday : An all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast will be from 8 a.m. to noon at Braeburn Community Church, 4146 Arnold Ave. Cost: $10; children $5. Tickets: Marie, 724-448-0841 or at the door.

Through Feb. 28: The works of local mixed media artist Lynn Jacques, a member of the Allegheny Valley League of Artists, will be on display during business hours at Peoples Library, 3052 Wachter Ave.

Manor Township

March 7: AIA Miners 13U baseball team will sponsor a ShamRockin’ Bingo at the Manor Township Volunteer Firehall, 167 Bryon St. Doors open at 4 p.m. and dinner will begin at 4:30 p.m. Early bird bingo will start at 5:30 p.m. and regular bingo begins at 6 p.m. Specials will be DJ bingo games. Cost: $40 in advance; $45 at the door; includes dinner, 11 regular games, five music bingo games and the jackpot game. Must be 21. BYOB and snacks. Tickets: text Kristen, 724-448-1636 or Corrin, 724-448-6750.

New Kensington

Today: Peoples Library will offer Construction Crew, an hour of play with building supplies, at 1 p.m. at the library, 880 Barnes St. Details:724-339-1021.

Wednesday: A veterans service officer will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the office of state Rep. Jill Cooper, 356 Freeport St., suite 100. Services available will include disability and pension claims, benefit questions, assisting spouses with survivor benefits issues and applications for veterans grants. Appointments will be accepted, but walk-ins are welcome. Appointments:724-472-4102.

Wednesday: Peoples Library will offer Puzzles for Grownups at 1 p.m. at the library, 880 Barnes St. Details:724-339-1021.

Oakmont

Tuesdays: Taking Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) meets at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. Private weigh-ins will be from 5:45 to 6:10 p.m. and the meeting will be afterward. The first meeting is free. Details:412-828-3854 or jmjkwj@gmail.com.

O’Hara

Wednesday : A Vitalant community blood drive will be from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the large group instructional room at Fox Chapel Area High School, 611 Field Club Road. Appointments recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Donors must be at least 16. Appointments:877-258-4825 or visit the Donate Blood button at Vitalant.org and use group code UHS010025.

Plum 

Today: The quilting group at Holiday Park United Methodist Church, 81 Sandune Drive, will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church chapel. The group sews baby quilts for donation to those in need and the Linus Project. New members welcome. Meetings are the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Sewing and quilting instructions are provided and no equipment is needed. Details:724-327-6552.

Tuesdays: The Plum Food Pantry, 81 Sandune Drive, distributes free food from 4:30 to 6 p.m. the first three Tuesdays of each month. Recipients in need must stop in at the pantry to be confirmed/verified. Details:724-327-0367.

Springdale

Wednesday: Springdale Free Public Library will offer a free crochet class for beginners at 6 p.m. Reservations required. Reservations:724-274-9729.

Tarentum  

Today: Streetlight Ministries, 203 W. Seventh Ave., will have a weekly food pantry from noon to 2 p.m. for anyone in need. There is a sign-up sheet in the vestibule after 8:30 a.m. Mondays and people are admitted through the line in order of sign up. A variety of breads, sweet goods, canned items, produce and meats will be available. Walk-ins are welcome but will be admitted after those who have registered.

Tuesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St.

Wednesday: The Who Knew? program of Community Library of Allegheny Valley will present a free presentation about local chocolate makers at 6 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St. There will be samples and refreshments. Details:724-224-9220 or visit Central Presbyterian Church on Facebook.

Wednesday: The Elks will host bingo at 6:30 p.m. at the lodge, 219 E. Sixth Ave. The kitchen is open to the public from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Menu: elks644.org/attaboys-kitchen. Orders:724-226-1644 by 8:15 p.m.

Wednesdays and Saturdays: The Alle-Kiski Valley Historical Society, 224 E. Seventh Ave., is open from noon to 3 p.m. and other times by appointment. An evening of scrapbooking will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Bring your own supplies or trade with a friend. Details: 724-224-7666.

Vandergrift

Mondays through March 19: Vandergrift Public Library sponsors a chess club for children in kindergarten through eighth grade from 6 to 7 p.m. at 163 Washington Ave. Students are paired with others their age and are guided by a chess master and volunteers. Chess boards are provided. A tournament will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 28. Reservations required. Reservations: tinyurl.com/yv5ztzrp.

Washington Township

Tuesdays and Thursdays: The Blessing Closet at Union Presbyterian Church will be open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the church, 656 Route 380. Items available include paper products, cleaning supplies, feminine hygiene products and pet supplies. Appointments:724-337-3042.

Wednesday: Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 6 p.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380.