May 17, 2018 8 min read

Ben’s Men will hold an oldies dance featuring music by Big Ed Zacois of AM 770 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in Pope Benedict Hall at St. Benedict Catholic Church, McMurray. For tickets, call 724-941-8349.

A spaghetti dinner to benefit the St. George Church Preservation Society will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Pius X Auditorium, 2336 Brownsville Road, Carrick. Parishioners, alumni, family and friends of the St. George Church and School and St. John Vianney will also enjoy dessert, door prizes and raffles. Seating is limited. To make a reservation, call 412-502-5062 or email savestgeorge@gmail.com. For information, visit stgeorgepreservationsociety.org.

The Bible Chapel Rostraver Chapel Women Connect Breakfast will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Rostraver campus located at 203 Johnson Avenue. This breakfast for all women will feature a presentation from the Madarasz’s – missionaries from Hungary. Register online at biblechapel.org.

Peters Township Parks & Recreation offers Friday Night Flicks, a free outdoor movie night at Peterswood Park Amphitheater. On Friday, May 18 watch “Lego Batman” (PG). All movies begin at dusk. Bring a blanket or chair. Future Friday Night Flicks include “Paddington 2” (PG) on June 15, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (PG-13) on July 20, “Coco” (PG) on Aug. 24 and “Hocus Pocus” (PG) with a witch costume contest on Oct. 12.

The Golden Triangle Decorative Painters will host national artist Sherry Nelson at a three-day seminar, May 18-20, at the Finleyville I.O.O.F. Hall, 3684 Finleyville-Elrama Road. For information, call Laura at 724-745-5592.

A flea market will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, at Gladden U.P. Church, Millers Run Road.

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh will hold a public star party Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, at Mingo Creek Observatory, located in Mingo Creek Park, Mansion Hill Extension, past Shelter 10. Safe solar observing will occur at 6:30 p.m. followed by night sky observing at approximately 8:45, weather permitting. Planetarium presentations occur rain or shine. There is no charge, but donations are accepted to cover operating expenses. For information, call 724-348-6150 or visit www.3ap.org.

Cross Creek Township Clean Up Days will be held May 18-25, with dumpsters located at the Cross Creek Township Building. Township residents are responsible for getting their items to the dumpsters. No electronics, tube TVs, household garbage, tires, paint cans or building materials. No air conditioners or refrigerators unless tagged that Freon has been removed.

Western Pennsylvania Fireman’s Association will meet at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department, Greene County.

Members of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 902 will again be on the streets in Houston on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19, for “Poppy Roadblock.” Members will accept donations for bright red flowers that are made by disabled veterans. All donations are used exclusively to assist and support veterans. For the past 18 years, Unit 902 has also used poppy donations to purchase more than 3,600 custom wheelchair bags and walker totes for disabled veterans in Pittsburgh hospitals.

The National Road Festival will be celebrated at the Bradford House Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19. The museum is located at 175 South Main Street, Washington, on the original route of the National Road, the first federally funded interstate highway that was constructed in the early 19th century. This is a free admission day at the museum, and both the 1788 stone house and the log kitchen cabin will be open for tours. Costumed interpreters will be demonstrating frontier crafts and skills such as weaving, cooking and hunting. There will be activities for children including writing with a quill pen and playing with 18th century toys. The gift shop will be open. Street and public lot parking is free.

The 27th annual Burgettstown Knights of Columbus Homemade Wine and Beer Tasting will be held Saturday, May 19, at the Slovan VFW, 65 Run Street, across from the Slovan Volunteer Fire Department on Route 18. The tasting will begin at 7 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring two bottles of their homemade wine, spirits or beer. Winemakers may arrive no earlier than 6:30 so that they can be registered and choose a table. Admission for winemakers is $15. All other guests pay $20. Each guest will be provided a glass, which should be returned at the end of the evening. Or, purchase a glass for $2.

A ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1918 explosion of the Aetna Chemical Munitions Plant in Oakdale will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the gazebo on the bike trail in Oakdale. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors. American Legion Post 171 and VFW Post 7070, local clergymen and the mayor of Oakdale will be in attendance. A presentation about the explosion by local historian Dan Prevade will follow in the Community Hall.

The Bible Chapel Rostraver Chapel Women Connect Breakfast will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Rostraver campus, 203 Johnson Avenue. There will be a presentation from the Madaraszs, who are missionaries from Hungary. The event is free, but registration is required at biblechapel.org.

The Men’s Club of St. Benedict the Abbot Church will hold its Ninth Annual Oldies Dance on Saturday, May 19, at the church located at 80 Friar Lane, McMurray. Tickets at $25 per couple and $15 per person include: Italian meatball and cheese hoagie, soft drinks, snacks and set ups. The event is BYOB; beer and wine are available by donation. Food will be served from 6:30 to 8 p.m. followed by the dance from 8 to 11. For tickets, call 724 344-7904.

Giant Oaks Garden Club will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Peters Township Public Library, 616 E. McMurray Road, McMurray. The sale will be held rain or shine.

Colby’s Stars Foundation Inc. will hold its Fourth Annual Kicking Cancer’s Butt Kickball Tournament Saturday, May 19, at the Rices Landing Athletic Club fields. During this daylong community event, adults and children will participate in bracket-type tournament play to raise awareness and funds for the local foundation, with all proceeds raised going directly to local families with children suffering from pediatric cancer. There will also be a chicken roast, concession stand, auction and raffle items, and local entertainment. Colby’s Stars Foundation Inc. is a Waynesburg nonprofit named after Colby Simkovic, a pediatric brain cancer survivor. For information, visit www.colbysstarsfoundation.org.

Ringgold Harp Ensemble will present a Spring Tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, in the new Ringgold Middle School café, 2 Ram Drive, Monongahela. Tickets are $15 and include music by the Ringgold Harp Ensemble, savories, treats and a variety of teas. Bring your favorite tea cup to use at this family-friendly tea. Tickets are on sale in the main office of the middle school. Proceeds benefit the Harp Ensemble Scholarship Fund, which enables the harp students to attend the Ohio Scottish Arts School at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. The weeklong event at OSAS provides extensive classes in Scottish harp taught by the best teachers from the United States and Scotland. For information, call 724-258-2211.

The West Newton Center for Active Adults will have a one-day bus trip to Altoona Saturday, May 19. Departure is at 6:30 a.m. from the West Newton Fire Hall lot, Riverside Dr., West Newton. There will be an additional pick-up at 6:45 from Route 201/Route 70 park and ride lot. The group will arrive for an 8 a.m. departure in Greensburg aboard an Amtrak train. The tour bus will pick up guests in Altoona at 10 for shopping. Cost is $124 and includes bus, driver tip, all tours, boat ride, breakfast and dinner. Cancellation only if you replace yourself. For reservation, make checks payable to West Newton Senior Center with name, phone number and where boarding the bus, and mail to West Newton Senior Center, 103 E. Main St., West Newton, PA 15089. For information, call 724-872-4976.

New and gently used clothes and household items will be collected Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, by the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Patrick Church, Canonsburg. Bring usable goods to the SVDP truck parked near the church at 317 W. Pike Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. No large appliances, TVs, suitcases, exercise equipment, kids toys or electronics will be accepted.

The White Oak American Legion Post 701, 2813 Capital Street, will sponsor oldies dances from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturdays, May 19 and 26, featuring music from the ’50s and early ’60s by Candy and Mike. Admission is $5 per person, and all proceeds benefit veterans programs. For information, call 724-984-6611.