The Stroller, Dec. 5, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
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Holiday program to benefit Apollo’s Jackson Mansion
A presentation of “A Christmas Carol” by Kenneth J. Serfass will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Gen. Samuel McCartney Jackson Mansion, 411 Terrace Ave., Apollo.
Local artist Jonathan Crawford will perform Christmas music, the history of the mansion will be discussed and light refreshments will be served.
Sponsored by the Armstrong Civil War Roundtable, Apollo Area Historical Society and the Gen. Samuel McCartney Jackson Foundation, admission is $25 per person or $40 per couple. Proceeds will help with the upkeep and maintenance of the historic mansion. Reservations are required. For reservations, call 724-478-3330 or 724-212-9255.
Freeport to celebrate a Small Towne Christmas
The Freeport Small Towne Christmas will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in downtown Freeport.
There will be a storybook stroll around town, and Freeport Area Library will host a popcorn workshops for $5 and a story time with the Grinch at 3 p.m.
The parade will be at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting ceremony will be after the parade at Memorial Field.
New Ken fundraiser to aid Animal Protectors
Ash Taphouse, 2150 Freeport Road, New Kensington will host a Home for the Howlidays fundraiser from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Lunch with Santa will be from noon to 3 p.m. Cost is $12 for a child’s lunch and includes a personal pizza, drink, photo with Santa, cookie decorating and games.
A Yappy Hour with a DJ will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and there will be food, drinks and a basket auction. Pet photos with Santa will be available for $5.
Pets are welcome and proceeds will benefit Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley.
Holiday concert planned in Tarentum
Central Presbyterian Church, Tarentum, and its mission initiative Faith Community Partners, will host a holiday concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the church, 305 Allegheny St.
Featured performers will include soprano Katy Williams, pianist Sung-Im Kim and the Canzona Ensemble featuring organist Nicholas Will and violinist Warren Davidson.
Donations will be accepted, and refreshments will be served afterward.
Calendar
Allegheny Township
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Freeport Theatre Festival, 2498 White Cloud Road, will present “Jesus – The Hidden Years” at 7 p.m. Reservations encouraged, but not required. Donations will be accepted. Reservations: 724-295-1934.
Apollo
Today: Apollo Area Historical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the WCTU Building, 317 N. Second St. New members welcome.
Saturday: 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, includes all games except the optional quickie. Full kitchen available. Details: 724-478-4831.
Arnold
Friday: St. Vladimir Church, 1610 Kenneth Ave., is accepting orders for its pierogi sale. Varieties: potato or sauerkraut, $14 per dozen. Pickup: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Fridays in the church social hall. Cottage cheese pierogi will be sold Dec. 13. Cost: $16 per dozen. Orders: 724-339-9257, 8 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Saturday: Arnold United Methodist Church, 1801 Leishman Ave., will host an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the church. Menu: choice of plain, blueberry, pecan and chocolate chip pancakes, sausage and drink. Dine in or takeout. Cost: $9; 12 and younger, $7. Details: 724-339-2377.
Brackenridge
Today: Bingo will be at 7:15 p.m. at the American Legion, 845 First Ave. Details: 724-994-6030.
East Vandergrift
Friday : Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish is selling tickets for a St. Nicholas Day lottery raffle. Winning numbers will be the first drawn Pennsylvania Daily Pick 3 numbers at 1:30 and 7 p.m. on St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6. Winners will each receive $1,000 and a $100 gift certificate to Donghia Lumber Company in Vandergrift. Cost: $10, includes two numbers. Tickets: Patricia, 724-568-3409 or Deborah, 724-859-3186, in the parish office or after Sunday Mass in the church vestibule.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: A rummage sale will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 1 p.m. Sunday in the basement of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 420 McKinley Ave. There will be new items, specials and a full room of Christmas items. Details: 724-478-4958.
Freeport
Today: Freeport Renaissance Association will meet at 7 p.m. at United Presbyterian Church, 411 High St. New members welcome.
Saturday: St. Mary Mother of God Church in Freeport will sponsor a diaper pantry for those in need from 10 a.m. to noon at the church Family Community Center, 407 Freeport Road. Use the back door entrance on the lower level. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-448-6880.
Saturday: A free Breakfast with Santa will be from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the St. Mary Church fellowship hall, 610 High St. Menu: waffles, eggs, sausage and beverage. Public welcome.
Gilpin
Today: Gilpin Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 113 Firehall Road.
Harrison
Today: Friends of Community Library of Allegheny Valley will meet at 10 a.m. at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Details: 724-226-3491.
Friday: Allegheny Valley Hospital will host a Vitalant community blood drive from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Charles Young Conference Center, 1301 Carlisle St. Appointments recommended. Appointments: 877-258-4825 or visit Vitalant.org.
Friday: Community Library of Allegheny Valley is accepting orders for a pasta sale through Friday online and at the library, 1522 Broadview Blvd. Varieties include unique shapes such as animals, sports and more. Details: tinyurl.com/3acetrnu.
Friday: Natrona Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Doors open at 6 p.m., and there will be specials, a 50-50 raffle and final game jackpot.
Saturday: Highlands High School National Honor Society will sponsor a Stuff A Bus event for Toys for Tots from noon to 3 p.m. by St. Joseph High School and Community Library of Allegheny Valley in Natrona Heights. New, unwrapped toys and monetary contributions will be accepted.
Dec. 31: The Veterans of Foreign Wars will host a New Years Eve celebration from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the post, 894 Veterans Lane. Music will be by the Cool Change Band. Public welcome. Cost: $25, includes two drinks and food. Cash bar. Tickets: 724-904-7649.
Jefferson Township
Today: Bingo will be at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion, 754 N. Pike Road. Doors open at 5 p.m. The kitchen will be open. Proceeds benefit post and auxiliary projects.
Kiski Township
Friday: Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department will sell homemade pizzas from 5 to 9 p.m. at the firehall, 1037 Route 56. Menu: 16-inch 8-cut pizza with one topping, $12; each additional topping, $1; cinnamon or s’mores dessert pizzas, $5. Toppings: pepperoni, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, onions and green peppers. Dine in, takeout and delivery within the township available for a $4 fee. Orders: 724-541-6345 or 724-681-6665 after 5 p.m. Friday.
Saturday: A drive-thru live Nativity will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at New Beginnings United Methodist Church, 1559 Route 56, Kiski Township. Light refreshments will be served and each child will receive a gift.
Leechburg
Saturday: The Leechburg Museum is closed for the season. Visits are available by appointment. Details: 724-845-8914 and leave a message or email lamahs@windstream.net.
Dec. 14 and 15: Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company is accepting table reservations for a craft and vendor fair set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the firehall. Cost: $30 for one day; $50 for both, includes a table and chair. Details: Melissa, 724-332-9090 or allermelissa@comcast.net.
Lower Burrell
Saturday: Bethesda Lutheran Church will sponsor a Breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon at the church, 3084 Leechburg Road. Pancakes and refreshments will be served. Bring a camera for photos with Santa. Cost: $2; younger than 12, $1.
Saturday: The Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Wildlife Lodge Road, will feature the band Satin Whip from 8 to 11 p.m. Members and three guests welcome.
New Kensington
Saturday: East Kensington Community Circle will host bingo in the Community Circle building, 1785 Seventh St., across from Martin Elementary School. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon and bingo starts at 1 p.m. Menu: turkey casserole, vegetable and dessert. There will be a progressive jackpot bingo, magic number game, a quickie and drawing for $5 off next month’s bingo admission. Cost: $20, includes lunch, eight regular games and eight specials.
Tuesday : The Myrrh Bearing Women of St. George Orthodox Church are accepting orders for a Christmas sweets sale. Pickup: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at the church hall, 1150 Leishman Ave. Prices: baklawa, $14 per 10-piece section; and sambosic, $3 each. Quantities are limited. Order deadline is today.. Orders: 724-335-9988 or tinyurl.com/yn2etanz.
Dec. 12: New Kensington-Arnold School District will have its annual free Holiday Student Family Dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the jr.-sr. high school cafeteria, Stevenson Blvd. District students, parents, guardians and employees welcome. Reservations required by Friday. Reservations: nkasd.com.
Oakmont
Saturday: A Christmas bazaar will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakmont United Methodist Church, 419 Maryland Ave. Lunch will be available and there will be a bake sale, crafts and more. Details: 412-828-9499.
Parks Township
Friday: Parks Township Volunteer Fire Department will host bingo at 7 p.m. in the firehall, 1119 Dalmation Drive. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Plum
Dec. 14: Cinebrunch movie event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the municipal building, 2000 Mike Thomas Way. The featured film will be “The Grinch.” Cost: $3, includes a doughnut and drink. Space is limited and reservations are required. Reservations: link.plumboro.com/cinebrunch.
Springdale
Today: Lower Valley Community Food Bank will distribute food from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday from the rear entrance of the Springdale borough building, 325 School St. Do not arrive before 12:45 p.m. Anyone in need of food who lives in Springdale, Springdale Township, Cheswick, Harmar and the sections of Indiana Township and West Deer with a zip code of 15024 is welcome. New recipients can register Thursday.
Tarentum
Saturday: The Clothing Closet at Central Presbyterian Church, 305 Allegheny St., will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details: 724-224-9220.
Upper Burrell
Jan. 1: Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and Export Volunteer Fire Department are selling 2025 lottery calendars. Cost: $20. Details: 724-339-0965 or ubvfc115training@gmail.com.
Washington Township
Friday: Washington Township Volunteer Fire Company will have bingo at 7 p.m. at the firehall, 4078 Route 66. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and sales start at 6 p.m. Free coffee. The kitchen will be open. Players must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult.
West Deer
Saturday: A pancake Breakfast with Santa will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at East Union Presbyterian Church, 292 East Union Road. There will be photos with Santa, crafts and a story corner. Each child will receive a treat bag from Santa. Donations will be accepted.
Friday and Saturday: Bull Creek United Presbyterian Church will have a Christmas bazaar from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church, 224 Tarentum Culmerville Road. Items available will include Christmas trees, baked goods, vintage décor and handmade crafts. The kitchen will be open.
Winfield
Today: The Matrona Family Resource Center at Cabot Church, 707 Winfield Road, will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. New and gently used clothing in sizes preemie through 10/12 will be available, as well as strollers, car seats, toys and more. No reservations required. Details: 724-524-1809 or tinyurl.com/mw9kd9cp.