Murrysville area: Holiday happenings, luncheons, meetings, more

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Items must be emailed two weeks in advance to make the deadline for the Star.

Holiday happenings

The following is a list of holiday-related events happening in the Star’s coverage area. Email events to pvarine@triblive.com.

• First Presbyterian Church will host its annual tree-lighting ceremony and festival from 6-8 p.m., Dec. 9 at the church, 3916 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. The lighting will be followed by an evening of games, crafts, refreshments and live entertainment. For more, call 724-327-5049.

• Export Light Up Night will take place from 5-9 p.m., Dec. 2 along Washington Avenue. The Export Moose will be hosting a fish fry from 4-8 p.m., and the Export Volunteer Fire Department will hand out cookie-crawl forms, host a lottery tree raffle and a selfie scavenger hunt. The borough will light its tree at 7 p.m., when Santa Claus will arrive to visit with children. There will also be live music from 6-8 p.m. by Dave Smith.

• The third annual Monticello Lights fundraiser will take place from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 10-11 along Monticello Drive in Delmont. Neighbors invite the public to drive the pre-marked path through the development and “vote” for their favorite decorations by donation, either in person or via Venmo to @monticell0-lights. Donations will be split between Project Bundle-Up and the Delmont Police Department. For more, see MonticelloLights.org.

‘Sounds of Joy’ lunch

Symphony East will hold its annual holiday luncheon at 11:45 a.m., Dec. 12 at the Lamplighter in Salem.

The “Sounds of Joy” luncheon will be served at 11:45 a.m., with a performance by vocalist Judi Figel and keyboardist David Crisci at 1 p.m.

The cost is $30 per person. The Lamplighter is at 6566 William Penn Highway in Salem. Reservations are due by Dec. 5 by visiting SymphonyEast.org/events or calling 724-327-4864.

Artist at AAUW on Dec. 8

The American Association of University Women’s Murrysville branch will host a presentation by Pittsburgh-area artist Rita Wilson at 10 a.m., Dec. 8 at the Murrysville Community Library.

Wilson, of Moon, will demonstrate techniques for creating an oil painting and using a palette knife to add texture. She will also discuss her writing. Wilson has been published in several magazines and anthologies, and holds a master’s degree in fine arts from Carlow University.

AAUW officials will also host a book collection drive at the meeting, collecting children’s books for donation to local primary school students.

The public is welcome to attend. For more about the meeting or about AAUW membership, email MurrysvilleAAUW@gmail.com.

WBN meetings

Women’s Business Network is an award-winning business association with 20 chapters throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, offering leadership development opportunities and professional education on topics ranging from building confidence to marketing. More information is available at www.wbninc.com.

The meeting schedule includes:

• Monroeville Chapter, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14 and 28 at Panera Bread, 400 Penn Center Blvd., Wilkins Township. For more information, contact Debie Remaley at 412-374-0900.

• Murrysville Chapter, 8:15 a.m. Dec. 8 at Dick’s Diner, 4200 William Penn Highway. For more information, contact Kelly Mazon at 412-856-1987.

• Virtual Chapter via Zoom, 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 21. For more information, contact Jennifer Pasquale at 412-908-1663.

Hearing presentation

The “Boomers & Beyond” speaker series at Mother of Sorrows Church will feature Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh CEO Lawton Snyder at its Dec. 13 presentation, set for 11:30 a.m.

Snyder will present an overview of hearing research and advancements currently under way at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Otolaryngology, including research on tinnitus, hearing loss, cochlear implants and more.

The session is free to attend. Please bring a bag lunch; beverages are provided.

Mother of Sorrows is at 4202 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville.

‘Polar Express’ reading

The Murrysville Recreation Department will host a reading of “The Polar Express” children’s book and a visit with St. Nicholas in December.

Sessions will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 a.m. Dec. 10, at the Murrysville Community Center, 3091 Carson Ave. The cost is $20.

The event will include hot chocolate and cookies, and children will receive their own train ticket.

Register at MurrysvillePArecreation.com. For more, call 724-327-2100, ext. 131.

Public meeting dates

The following meetings are open to the public:

• Franklin Regional reorganization/committee-of-the-whole/voting meeting, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 5 at the Murrysville municipal building, 4100 Sardis Road. Meetings are broadcast live on Comcast local access Channel 19.

• Export council meeting, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 6 at the borough building, 5821 Washington Ave. An agenda is available in advance at ExportPennsylvania.com.

• Delmont council meeting, 7 p.m., Dec. 13 at the borough building, 77 Greensburg St. An agenda is available in advance at DelmontBoro.com.

East Suburban Artists League show in Murrysville

The East Suburban Artists League will hold a group show Dec. 3 through Jan. 2 at Brushes & Beans in Murrysville.

The ESAL will host a Dec. 3 holiday party from 5-7 p.m. that will include an awards presentation at Brushes & Beans, 4550 William Penn Highway in the Village of Murrysville shopping center.

For more, see ESALart.org or call 724-733-0950.

Association of University People’s December meeting dates

The Association of University People’s 50-and-over singles group will host two December meetings, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Dec. 2 at Walnut Grill, 1001 Cool Springs Drive in Bethel Park; and 6 p.m., Dec. 20 at Bella’s, 91 Fort Couch Road near the South Hills Village shopping mall.

The group is open to single, four-year college graduates age 50 and older. RSVP to Nancy at 412-862-7861 or nl.hokaj@gmail.com.

Charity collecting candy

Local nonprofit Military Connections will have collection bins in both Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for leftover Halloween candy that will be donated to troops overseas.

Collection points are located at:

• Military Connections, 313 Tionesta Drive, New Kensington

• ​Tomlinson Insurance Agency, 506 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont

• Oakmont Realty, 630 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont

In addition, for those in the South Hills, John F. Slater Funeral Home at 4201 Brownsville Road in Brentwood is also collecting candy and other supplies through the end of November that will be donated through Military Connections.

Needed supplies include granola bars, 5-Hour Energy drinks, candy canes, Pop-Tarts, Slim Jims, individual bags of nuts and fruit snacks, energy bars and single-serve powdered Gatorade.

For more, see MilitaryConnections.org.

Bus trip to holiday market

The Murrysville and Hempfield parks and recreation departments will co-host a Dec. 14 bus trip to the People’s Gas Holiday Market in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The bus will pick up passengers at 9 a.m. at Hempfield Park, 220 Forbes Trail Road, and at 9:30 a.m. at the Murryview Shoppes, 5030 William Penn Highway, then head to the market.

The bus will leave the market at 3 p.m. The cost is $35 per person and includes light snacks. Register online MurrysvillePArecreation.com.

Train station hours changing

The Export Train Station has changed its hours for winter.

The station will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Daily hours will resume in April 2023.