Murrysville area: Play auditions, modern media discussion and more

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

AAUW speaker discusses modern media

The Murrysville chapter of the American Association of University Women will welcome guest speaker Andrew Conte at its March 13 meeting, 10 a.m. at the Murrysville Community Library.

Conte is the director at Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation, and will discuss efforts to ensure the news has a robust present and future, the role of an independent press in a democracy and ways citizens are taking control of the news.

The public is welcome; registration is not required. The library is at 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville. For more, email MurrysvilleAAUW@gmail.com.

Woman’s Club spring fundraiser

The Murrysville Woman’s Club will host its annual spring fundraising event at 10 a.m. March 29.

It will be at The Lamplighter, 6566 William Penn Highway in Salem. Tickets are $35, and all proceeds benefit the club’s community projects.

The event will feature a breakfast buffet, music by the Sweet Adelines and raffle baskets.

For tickets, call 412-750-5809.

‘Brass from the Bluff’ at Symphony East

Symphony East’s March 17 program will feature “Brass from the Bluff,” performers currently in residence at Duquesne University.

Trumpeters Paul Doerksen and Chris Cox will join Benjamin Cacioppo on French horn, Edward Kocher on trombone and euphonium and arrange Michael Panza on tuba.

It will be at 1 p.m. at The Lamplighter, 6566 William Penn Highway in Salem. No reservations are required. The cost is $10 for adults.

For more, see SymphonyEast.org/events.

Open auditions for play

Auditions will be held later this month for Storyz Studios’ upcoming production of “Labor’s Martyr: The Story of Joe Hill,” written by Storyz founder Stephen Schrum and Glenn Plummer.

Auditions will take place at the SpringHill Suites Conference Room at 115 Arnold Palmer Drive in Latrobe. They will be at 7 p.m. March 17 and 18, and at 2 p.m. March 22.

Roles include five principal characters and multiple ensemble roles for characters ranging in age from 12 to 70 years old. There are singing and non-singing ensemble roles.

The play tells the story of Joe Hill, a Swedish immigrant and worker who wrote new lyrics to old hymns in order to spread the word about his union, the Industrial Workers of the World.

The play will be performed May 1-3.

For more, call 724-835-4074 or email storyzstudios@gmail.com.

Women’s Business Network meeting

The Murrysville chapter of the Women’s Business Network will meet at 8 a.m. March 13 at Dick’s Diner, 4200 William Penn Highway in Murrysville.

It is a category-exclusive organization of local women who network, build relationships, collaborate and develop leadership skills. Some open membership categories include insurance, fitness, cosmetics and cleaning.

Ear doctor at ‘Boomers & Beyond’

The Mother of Sorrows Church’s “Boomers & Beyond” series will feature Dr. Gregory Basura at its March 11 meeting. It will be at noon at the church’s social hall, 4202 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville.

Basura is a clinician-scientist who manages complex problems of the ear and temporal bone, and is investigating brain changes in patients suffering from tinnitus, or phantom sound perception in the absence of sound stimulus. He will discuss the future of hearing research in Pittsburgh.

The public is invited to attend. Participants can bring a bag lunch and a friend.

Hearing aid donations

The White Valley AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary is accepting donations of used and unwanted hearing aids for the John Tracy Clinic.

The clinic is named for the son of actor Spencer Tracy, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in 1925. The clinic established programs to educate and offer emotional support to families with preschool age deaf children.

Donations are accepted year-round and can be dropped off at the AMVETS, 2100 Carolina Street in Murrysville’s White Valley neighborhood. Or to arrange a pick-up, call 724-448-5511 or 724-454-0978.

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 March 14 and 28, and April 11 at the Murrysville Community Center, 3091 Carson Ave. in Murrysville.

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

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.

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.