Murrysville area: Leaf collection dates, author reading and more

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

Leaf collection in Murrysville

Murrysville residents can schedule a curbside leaf pick-up through local hauling contractor Republic Services for the following Saturdays: Oct. 19, Nov. 9 and 16, and Dec. 7.

There is a 20-bag limit on each collection date. The deadline to sign up is the Thursday prior to the pick-up date.

A program form is available at Murrysville.com — scroll down to the “Murrysville News” section of the main page and click on “Curbside Leaf Recycling.”

Leaves must be placed in biodegradable leaf bags. Leaves placed in plastic bags or any other container will not be picked up. Please do not place grass clippings, trash, recycling materials, or any other refuse in biodegradable leaf bags. These bags will hold approximately 30 gallons or 50 pounds of leaves. Each package of bags contains five bags and can be purchased at local hardware/home improvement stores.

Yard waste must be tied into bundles and placed at the curb alongside the biodegradable bags. Yard waste means small twigs and brush that cannot exceed 3 inches in diameter and 48 inches in length. Republic Services will not be responsible for clean-up of leaves and/or yard waste disturbed or scattered by weather, animals, or other causes.

For questions or information regarding this topic, call 877-788-9400.

‘Trick or Treat on the Trail’

The Murrysville Recreation Department will host its annual “Trick or Treat on the Trail” on Oct. 26 along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail between Carson and Lillian avenues.

Businesses and organizations can register to participate and provide treats in exchange for a donation to the Murrysville Parks & Recreation Foundation.

Trick-or-treaters can register online at MurrysvillePArecreation.com/186/events.

For more, email momrecreation@murrysville.com or call 724-327-2100, ext. 131.

Children’s book reading

Former Murrysville resident and author David Maurice Sharp will present a reading of his book, “A Bell for Maury’s Bicycle,” at 10 a.m. Oct. 11 at the Murrysville Community Library.

Illustrator Franklin Silva will also join Sharp at the reading.

Sharp has written several books on financial literacy, and his children’s book introduces young readers to some of those essential financial concepts.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by calling 724-327-1102 or going to MurrysvilleLibrary.org.

The library is at 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville.

Free band concert

The Jeannette Community Band will host a free concert Oct. 13 with a chance for the public to support its memorial scholarship fund.

The band’s Oktoberfest concert will be at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 109 South Fifth Street in Jeannette. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

There will be food and drinks available, and 50/50 tickets, a penny social auction and door prizes will benefit the Carl Masciantonio Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of the band’s former director.

Masciantonio was among the band’s founding members. He died in 2017.

For more, see JCBweb.com.

Gearhard Farms corn maze

The corn maze at Gearhard Farms in Murrysville is open for the season. This year is the 25th anniversary of the maze, which is cut in a different design every year.

Last year the maze was themed on the 250th anniversary of Westmoreland County, with the county’s outline, the 1773 and 2023 anniversary dates, a sun, the word “Westmoreland” and the ubiquitous “GF” for “Gearhard Farms.”

Individuals and groups can purchase tickets for the maze. In addition to completing the maze, participants can also try to determine its overall shape and take part in trivia games along the way.

The maze is at 5909 Saltsburg Road in Murrysville. For questions, pricing or group reservations, email maze@gearhardfarms.com or call 330-428-1563 or 412-302-0739.

AAUW speaker to discuss Oppenheimer

The Murrysville chapter of the American Association of University Women will welcome Penn State Shenango professor Philip Nash as the guest speaker at its Oct. 10 meeting.

Nash will present “Oppenheimer: The Man and the Movie,” a discussion of scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer who spearheaded creation of the atomic bomb during World War II. Nash will provide a brief overview of Oppenheimer’s life and discuss the accuracy of the 2023 biopic. A brief question-and-answer session will follow.

The program is at 10 a.m. at the Murrysville library, 4130 Sardis Road.

The public is welcome to attend; registration is not required.

For more, email MurrysvilleAAUW@gmail.com.

Funeral directors featured at ‘Boomers & Beyond’

The “Boomers & Beyond” speaker series at Mother of Sorrows Church will feature Hart Funeral Home directors Brian Hart and Amy Volek on Oct. 8.

They will present “Funerals: Let’s Start the Discussion,” delving into some of the less-comfortable aspects of discussing funeral plans for yourself or a loved one.

The program is at noon at the church’s social hall, 4202 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. Attendees may bring a bag lunch and a guest. Beverages are provided.

FR marching band performance

The Franklin Regional Panther Marching Band will host a stadium review performance at 6 p.m. Oct. 5.

The event will feature food trucks, a 50/50 raffle and a performance by the band. There is no cost to attend, however donations to the Joe Panther Fund, the boosters’ student trip account, are encouraged.

It will be at Panther Stadium, 3200 School Road in Murrysville.

Veteran appreciation breakfast

An Oct. 19 veteran appreciation breakfast will take place at The Lamplighter.

It will be from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the restaurant, 6566 William Penn Highway in Salem. The breakfast is open to all veterans who live in the 55th Legislative District.

“It’s my favorite event of the year,” Cooper said. “At the end of one of our breakfasts, a gentleman who was a Vietnam veteran came up to me with his certificate of appreciation and told me, ‘This is one of the only things the government has done for me since I came home from the war.’ It almost made me cry.”

To register, call State Rep. Jill Cooper’s office at 724-472-4102 or 724-371-9113.

Art show set for Oct. 25

The Murrysville Woman’s Club art show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25 at Redstone Highlands in Murrysville.

The show is open to all artists. All work submitted must be original and cannot use molds, kits or copies.

This year’s judge is Jeffrey Rouse, owner of New Growth Gallery in New Alexandria.

For an entry form, call 724-309-8428 or email lbneff@aol.com.

Fall craft festival

Plum Masonic Lodge 799 will host its second annual fall craft festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the lodge, 9521 Saltsburg Road in Plum.

There is no cost to attend. For information about vendor spaces, call 412-916-5835 or email mrdarts@verizon.net.

The event will take place rain or shine.

Moms in Prayer group

The Murrysville chapter of Moms in Prayer will begin its 2024-25 regular meetings at Murrysville First Presbyterian Church.

Meetings take place weekly at 1:15 p.m. on Thursdays in the church’s parlor, 3202 North Hills Road in Murrysville.

Women of all faith denominations are invited to pray for children, grandchildren and other relatives and their schools.

For more, call 724-325-1166 or see MomsInPrayer.org.

AAUW fall used book, puzzle sale

The Murrysville chapter of the American Association of University Women is seeking donations in October for the group’s annual fall used book and puzzle sale, which will take place Nov. 14-16 at the Murrysville Community Library.

Requested donations include gently used books or puzzles. Encyclopedias, manuals, textbooks and musty or moldy books will not be accepted. Donations will be accepted through Nov. 11.

The library is at 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville. For more, call 724-327-1102.

ESCA fundraiser

East Suburban Citizen Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports people with development disabilities, will host an Oct. 19 fundraiser at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands in Mt. Pleasant.

The fundraiser will be led by artist Gabi Nastuck of Miss Gabi’s Art Studio, and is open to people of all ages and abilities. Participants will learn how to create a fall painting of a pumpkin. Sessions will be at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the YMCA, 490 Bessemer Road in Mt. Pleasant.

The registration cost is $40 and includes all painting supplies and light refreshments. There will be basket raffles as well.

Proceeds benefits ESCA’s programs, which are free to those with disabilities in Westmoreland and eastern Allegheny counties.

To register, see EastSuburbanCitizenAdvocacy.org/events and click on the Oct. 19 event link.

Upcoming public meetings

• Delmont council, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the borough building, 77 Greensburg Street. An agenda is published in advance at DelmontBoro.com.

• Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority, 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the authority offices, 3001 Meadowbrook Road in Murrysville. For more, see FTMSA.org.