Murrysville-area news and events, Dec. 31 and beyond

Here are some news items and event listings for the Star’s coverage area. Submit an event or local news by emailing staff writer Patrick Varine at pvarine@triblive.com.

Rotary president will serve as District Governor

Murrysville-Export Rotary President John Hartman was chosen by the nominating committee of Rotary District 7305 to serve as the next District Governor Nominee Designate.

Hartman will serve as District 7305 governor during the 2023-24 Rotary year. Hartman currently serves as one of the district’s assistant governors.

The club’s next scheduled meeting is 6:30 p.m., Jan. 6, with featured speaker and Busy Beaver CEO Joe Kallen.

West Point Auto Works to open Rt. 22 location

West Point Auto Works in Greensburg will open a new location near the Monroeville/Murrysville border in January.

The automotive repair shop was named Westmoreland County’s best independent body shop in the Trib’s 2020 “Best of the Best” voting.

The new location will at the former Golden Mile Tire, 4737 William Penn Highway in Monroeville.

Westmoreland Conservancy plans 2021 nature outings

The Westmoreland Conservancy will partner with local groups to host several outdoor events in the new year.

• First Day Hike at the Tomer Reserve, 1 p.m. on Jan. 1. Hikers will meet at the Tomer Reserve parking lot on Twin Oaks Drive North in Murrysville. The event also includes a program by the Delmont Public Library staff.

• Owl Prowl night hike at the Morosini Reserve, 4:30 p.m., Jan. 29 at the Conservancy’s Morosini Reserve, off of Morosini Farm Court in Murrysville. The walk will be led by birders with ties to the Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club and the National Audubon Society.

• Apple tree rehabilitation day, will take place Feb. 20 at the Morosini Reserve off of Morosini Farm Court in Murrysville. This will be the fourth year of the Conservancy’s efforts to revitalize the reserve’s older-variety apple trees, and to teach residents how to prune their own trees.

For more, see WestmorelandConservancy.org.

Christmas tree recycling set in Murrysville

The Murrysville-Export Rotary Club will once again partner with Westmoreland Cleanways and recycling and J.A. Rutter Co. to host Christmas tree recycling, Jan. 9 and 16.

Trees can be dropped off at the Windstream parking lot, 4792 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tree must be completely bare of decorations, including tree bags or wrapping used to transport the tree. There is no cost to participate.

AAUW suspends monthly branch meetings

After discussion with members and feedback regarding virtual meetings, the Murrysville branch of the American Association of University Women will temporarily suspend its branch meetings until further notice.

The association’s monthly “Focus” newsletter will continue. The deadline for submissions to the next issue is Jan. 18, 2021. Submit articles to MurrysvilleAAUW@gmail.com.

Regional storm water grants announced

The Westmoreland County Conservation District will be the recipient of more than $800,000 in state grants to aid in storm water improvements across the county.

Included in the grants is nearly $30,000 earmarked for a storm water retrofit at First Presbyterian Church of Murrysville, as well as nearly $35,000 for stream-bank stabilization and abutment work where the Westmoreland Heritage Trail bridge crosses Turtle Creek.

In addition, the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy received more than $120,000 for its Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team Water Monitoring and Assistance program.

Upcoming public meetings

Here’s a list of upcoming meetings open to the public in either a virtual or in-person format.

• Export council, 6:30 p.m., Jan. 5 at the borough building, 5821 Washington Avenue.

• Delmont council, 7 p.m., Jan. 12 in the new Delmont Public Library meeting room at 75 School Street (behind the borough building)

• Franklin Regional school board committee-of-the-whole meeting (no voting), 7:30 p.m., Jan. 11, live-streamed at YouTube.com/user/FranklinRegionalSD.

• Murrysville council meeting, 7 p.m., Jan. 20, broadcast on Comcast local access Channel 19 and live-streamed at Murrysville.com.

• Franklin Regional school board voting meeting, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 25, live-streamed at YouTube.com/user/FranklinRegionalSD.