Westmoreland events: scarecrow contests, spaghetti dinners, jumble sale

Nonprofit organization submissions for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at [email protected] or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a full address and daytime telephone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks prior to the event. Each advertisement is printed once; there are no fees.

Church News

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

• St. James’s Church, New Alexandria, will present the second season of “The Chosen” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, September 27 and October 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.

Competition

• Pennsylvania District 3 business and professional women will be sponsoring a Paw-Parazzi pet photo contest and fundraiser through October 13 to benefit Tails of Valor/Paws of Honor. Submit a photo of your pet to compete. The pets with the top three vote totals will win a cash prize, and the top 12 pets will earn a spot on the 2023 calendar. Details: gogophotocontest.com/bpwpadistrict3.

• The Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring its 31st annual Scarecrow Contest from October 21st to November 6th. The installation days will take place from October 19 to 21. Scarecrows must be in place by 5 p.m. on October 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. on September 22 at the First United Church of Christ, 400 Main St., Irwin. Menu: spaghetti, meatballs, salad and dessert, $10; children, $5.

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1120 Harvey Avenue, Greensburg, will hold a rummage sale from 8 am to 1 pm on September 24 at the church. Food and pastries will be sold. A bag sale will begin at noon.

• St. John’s United Church of Christ, 1230 Brownstown Road, North Huntingdon, will be holding its Dog Days of Summer hot dog sale from 11 am to 2 pm on September 24 at the church. Combo meals and drinks available. Details: Lill, 724-493-8982.

• The New Alexandria Center for Active Adults, 207 W. Main St., New Alexandria, will host bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. September 24 at the center. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch will be served at noon. Cost: $20, including lunch, 16 bingo sheets and a chance to win a door prize. There is bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. every Monday at the center. Cost: $16; special offers 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. September 25 at VFW, 416 N. Main St. Menu: spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert, and soft drink or water , $12; $6-10.6; 5 and under, free. Proceeds will support local veterans.

• The Westmoreland Hockey Association will be holding a bingo fundraiser from 11 am to 4 pm on September 25 at the West Point Fire Station, 100 Volunteer Drive, Greensburg. Admission: $25. Tickets: westmorelandhockeyassociation.com.

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

• The Latrobe Center for Active Adults, 15 Avenue C, will host bingo at 1:00 pm on October 1 at the centre. Doors open at noon. Cost: $20, including lunch. Additional packages will be sold, and there will be door prizes, a raffle and 50-50. Reservations requested, but not required. Reservations: 724-539-0237.

• The Westmoreland County Association for the Blind will be holding bingo at 1:00 p.m. Oct. 15 at the West Point Fire Station, 100 Volunteer Drive, Greensburg. Sponsorship opportunities are available and basket auction donations are welcome. Details: Amy Patz, 724-837-1250 ext 11 or [email protected]

Health

• The non-profit organization Faith & Gratitude will host a free cancer wellness event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on September 24 at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg. Participants can learn holistic practices for optimal wellness and will receive a cancer resource guide with information that will be helpful throughout treatment and beyond. Dress casually and bring a notebook. Reservations required. Reservations: faithhandgratitude.org.

Meetings

• Penn Township seniors will meet on September 27 at Community United Methodist Church, 3487 Route 130, Trafford. Dinner will be served at 1:00 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. Dinner: $6. Dues: $2. Entertainment will be provided by the G Boys. Masks optional.

• The Greensburg Garden Center will hold its annual meeting at 11:00 am on October 4 at the Greensburg Country Club. The program will start at noon and lunch will be served at 1 p.m. Andy Amrhein of KDKA Pittsburgh Live! and True Value Hardware will be the guest speaker. There will be vendors and a raffle. Cost: $40, including lunch. Reservations required. Public reception. Reservations: 724-837-0245.

Music

• The 15th annual Yough Night Band Festival kicks off at 3:15 p.m. on September 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 Young High Schools will compete. There will be basket raffles, a concession stand and candy grams. Admission: $10; seniors and students, $5.

Special events

• The Glass City Heritage Festival will take place from 11 am to 4 pm on September 24 along Clay Avenue in Jeannette. There will be pumpkin painting, artisans, vendors, food, basket raffles, a DJ and 50-50. The Knights of Columbus will sponsor a distribution of children’s coats. 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 held October 1-2 at Forbes State Forest and Laurel Ridge State Park. Join forest and state park staff for an intermediate hiking experience on Laurel Ridge. The event will consist of two hiking days and one night and is aimed at people who already have some hiking experience. Reservations required. Details and reservations: Rachael Mahony, 724-259-2201 or [email protected]

Volunteers

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