Murrysville area: Free tax prep, book study group and more

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com.

Free tax preparation

AARP is currently taking appointments to help area residents prepare and file their 2024 taxes.

Appointments are required in advance for sessions that will take place Feb. 21 and 28, March 14 and 28, and April 11 at the Murrysville Community Center, 3091 Carson Avenue in Murrysville.

No walk-up services will be offered. To make an appointment and for more information about who qualifies, call 724-374-8176.

GOP hosts candidate meet, petition event

The Murrysville Export Republican Committee will host an evening to meet candidates running for local office on Feb. 20.

The meet, where candidates will also circulate petitions to appear on the May 20 primary election ballot, will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Italian American Club, 5930 Kennedy Avenue in Export.

“Local elections may not have the glitz of the big presidential elections, but they have much more impact on our residents’ lives,” said committee chairman John Wohlin. “This petition signing provides a great a opportunity to meet each candidate and discuss the issues before our communities and the approaches candidates propose for resolving them.”

All registered Republicans are invited to attend.

Church starts book study group

Emmanuel Reformed Church of the United Church of Christ will host a book a study on Thursday nights in February and March at 7 p.m. starting Feb. 6.

“A Joyful Pilgrimage,” by author Emmy Arnold will be the book. It tells the story of the founders of the Christian Bruderhof Community in a small German town following World War I. The group experienced poverty, oppression and the challenges of attempting to live out the values espoused in the Sermon on the Mount.

Arnold and her husband Eberhard were co-founders of the community.

To participate, call 724-327-3050 or email hills.church.3816@gmail.com. The church is at 3618 Hills Church Road in Murrysville.

Applications accepted for community grants

The Community Foundation of Murrysville, Export and Delmont is taking applications for its 2025 community grant program.

The foundation encourages creativity and initiative by funding local residents’ ideas for enriching community life through sustainable activities. Grants in the range of several hundred dollars will be awarded to organizations demonstrating a need for small sums to make a significant, long-term positive impact.

The deadline for applications is March 15. To receive an application, email rcook109@gmail.com.

‘Human Heart and God’ at ‘Boomers & Beyond’

The Mother of Sorrows “Boomers & Beyond” series will welcome featured speaker Tom Octave to its Feb. 11 meeting.

Octave is the director of sacred music for the Diocese of Greensburg and music director at Mother of Sorrows Church in Murrysville. His presentation, “Getting to the Heart of the Story: The Human Heart and the Heart of God,” will delve into the text of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical letter, “Delixit Nos,” exploring the practical implications of his message.

It will be at noon at the church, 4202 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. There is no cost to attend. Attendees may bring a bag lunch and a friend.

Food dehydration presentation

The co-founder and executive director of Healthy Seminarians-Healthy Church will discuss food dehydration at a Feb. 8 meeting of Plant-Based Pittsburgh at the Murrysville Community Library.

It will be at 1 p.m. at the library, 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville, with Rev. Karen H. Webster as the featured speaker, discussing why and how to dehydrate foods. Attendees will have a chance to taste the results.

For more, see PlantBasedPittsburgh.com.

Space program at community center

The Murrysville Recreation Department will host “Mad Science: Space Phenomena” from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 14 at the Murrysville Community Center at 3091 Carson Avenue.

Franklin Regional students do not have school on Feb. 14.

The program is for children in kindergarten through fifth grade, who will explore the events that take place in the night sky. They will also create their own impact craters and observe model meteors falling through a model atmosphere.

The program cost is $45 per child. Register at MurrysvillePArecreation.com by clicking on “Program Registration.”

For more, call 724-327-2100, ext. 131 or ext. 115.

AUP inviting new members

The Association of University People (AUP) invites singles 50-plus, who are four-year college graduates, to join them for activities and to meet new people. Activities include monthly dinners, social gatherings, concerts, meeting up at local wineries, day trips and Scrabble.

Those interested can attend three activities as guests before joining.

To obtain more information about AUP or become an AUP member, call and leave a message at 412-353-9088 or email AUPsingles@gmail.com.

Self-defense class

ATA Martial Arts in Murrysville will host a free women’s self-defense class at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 6 at its new location, 5270 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville.

The class will be taught by ATA Grand Master Michael Caruso and ATA Brand Ambassador Shannon Kearney. Active clothes are the proper attire.

Following the class, there will be a social at the nearby Juniper Grill. A free appetizer card will be given to all participants.

For more, or to RSVP, call 724-575-0186.

Hot Chocolate Hikes

The Murrysville Recreation Department will host a Feb. 14 Hot Chocolate Hike this winter.

It will take place at 10 a.m. at the Kellman Nature Reserve on Kellman Drive in Murrysville.

The hike is free, but registration is encouraged by calling 724-327-2100, ext. 131, or visit MurrysvillePArecreation.com — click on the program registration link.

Ladies society meeting

The Plum Area Ladies Society will hold their monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Plum Community Center at 499 Center New Texas Road.

There is no featured speaker. The program will see members creating cards for residents of the Concordia at Ridgewood senior community. Members should bring construction paper, markers, scissors, glue sticks and anything else needed to create a Valentine’s Day card.

The society is also undertaking a service project to bring ice cream and toppings to Concordia residents on Feb. 8 for an ice cream social. Sign-ups will take place at the Feb. 5 meeting.

And as always, the society is collecting paper products and cash donations for the Plum Food Pantry.

For more, call 724-327-8265.

Comedy night to benefit parks, trail projects

An evening of stand-up comedy at the Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield will benefit Westmoreland County parks, trail project and concert series.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for comedy shows on March 7 and 8. Tickets are $40. The shows are for adults age 21 and older. The evening will also include food, a cash bar, basket auctions and a 50/50 raffle.

Tickets are available at the Westmoreland County Parks office, 2 North Main Street in Greensburg; at The Lamplighter, 6566 William Penn Highway just outside Delmont in Salem Township; and at Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint, 5549 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville.

No tickets will be sold at the door.