Murrysville area: Symphony East, Blessing of the Pets and more

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

Symphony East season kicks off

Symphony East will kick off its 64th season on Sept. 15 with a 1 p.m. performance by the Johnstown Symphony Brass Quintet, which includes two trumpets, a French horn, trombone and tuba.

The program will cross a variety of musical genres including classical, jazz, pop and marches.

It will be at the Lamplighter Restaurant, 6566 Route 22 in Salem. The cost is $15 for adults, and reservations are not required.

For more, see SymphonyEast.org/events.

Rotary Oktoberfest

The Murrysville-Export Rotary will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration from 3-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at White Valley Park.

The evening will include German food, beer and wine, food trucks, a children’s zone with a bounce house, therapy horses from Bella Terra Stables from 4-6 p.m., live music by The Kosmix, and the lederhosen and dirndl contest.

Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the event for adults ($4/$5 for children 6 and older). Ticket price includes admission only.

Purchase advance tickets online at Murrysville-ExportRotary.com.

Community Connections Day

After a SWAT situation forced the Murrysville Police Department to cancel its National Night Out event in early August, they partnered with the Franklin Regional School District to reschedule and expand it.

The new “Community Connection Day” will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Franklin Regional Primary School, 4121 Sardis Road in Murrysville.

Attendees will have access to the National Night Out activities along with school and community groups, food trucks, children’s activities and more. There will also be food trucks on-site.

Glass recycling, food pantry collection

Murrysville and Republic Services will host a pop-up glass recycling day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Veterans Field parking lot at 4200 Sardis Road.

Residents can drop off glass for recycling.

They can also support the Loaves & Fishes Emergency Food Pantry by donating non-perishable food items. Food pantry volunteers will be on hand to take donations during recyling hours.

Blessing of the Pets

St. Alban’s Anglican Church in Murrysville invites the community to take part in its backyard “Blessing of the Pets” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11.

In addition to pet blessings, Animal Friends will also be on-site operating a vaccine clinic for dogs and cats. Vaccines are $20. Tiny Cause will also be on hand with adoptable dogs and offering $25 micro-chipping and free nail trims. Finally, Rainbow Bridge Raina will be providing pet-loss support to those who’ve recently lost a pet.

Inside the church, a “Makers Mart” sale will be happening along with a bake sale and lunch available at the church kitchen.

The church is at 4920 Cline Hollow Road in Murrysville. For more, email jepkap13@gmail.com or call 724-516-9078.

Art submissions sought

The Murrysville Woman’s Club is seeking entries for its annual art show, set for Oct. 10-11 at Redstone Highlands in Murrysville.

Experienced, amateur and student artists are invited to enter. Pieces can be paint, fiber, mixed media, sculpture and photography. Entrants are permitted three pieces. All work must be original (no molds, kits or copies) and must be ready to hang.

Student work does not have to be framed but must be able to hang or be displayed on panels or tables.

The fee is $5 per entry for adults and $2 for students. Awards will be announced at 3 p.m. Oct. 11.

Entry forms are available at the Murrysville and Delmont libraries and by calling 724-309-8428 or emailing nefflaner@gmail.com.

Upcoming public meetings

• Franklin Regional school board combined committee-of-the-whole and voting meetings, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Murrysville municipal building, 4100 Sardis Road. Meetings are broadcast live on Comcast local access Channel 21, and streamed live at Murrysville.com — enter “Channel 21” in the search box.

• Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority board meeting, 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at the authority offices, 3001 Meadowbrook Road in Murrysville. An agenda is available in advance at FTMSA.org.

Farmers market

The Murrysville Farmers Market is open weekly through the end of September.

It will take place from 3-7 p.m. Thursday evenings outside the Murrysville Volunteer Fire Company at 3235 Sardis Road. For more, see MurrysvillePArecreation.com or the market’s Facebook page.

Blood drives

Murrysville recreation officials will partner with the American Red Cross to host blood drives on Sept. 11 and Nov. 11. Drives will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Murrysville Community Center, 3091 Carson Ave.

To register and schedule an appointment, see RedCrossBlood.org.