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Torch run donations
The Murrysville Police Department is gathering donations for its annual Law Enforcement Torch Run team. Proceeds from the fundraiser will support Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
This year’s Torch Run will be on May 21-23, as more than 50 law enforcement running teams take turns carrying the Olympic torch roughly 150 miles. The Murrysville team usually carries the torch down a stretch of Route 22.
To make a donation, go to SpecialOlympicsPA.org/letr. The Murrysville team’s page is located at give.specialolympicspa.org/team/570545.
Author talk
Local author and freelance writer Leslie Savisky of Penn Township will lead a discussion about self-publishing at 6 p.m. April 23 at the Murrysville Community Library.
Savisky is the writer of two novels, “Other People’s Words” and “Almost Too Late,” and is currently working on her third novel. Discussion topics will include:
• How Savitsky utilized traumatic events from her childhood and used creativity to transform them into her first novel.
• Her personal writing and self-publishing journey.
• An overview of Amazon Kindle’s Direct Publishing system.
• How to promote a self-published book and gain exposure as an independent author.
• The advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing.
Savisky will also have copies of her books for sale. Register for the free event at MurrysvilleLibrary.org or call 724-327-1102.
Vitalant blood drives
April is National Donate Life Month, and Vitalant is hosting a series of blood drives in Pittsburgh’s east suburbs. Drives will take place in the following locations:
• April 16: Forbes Hospital Learning Center, 2570 Haymaker Road, Monroeville, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• April 16: Penn Hills High School, 309 Collins Drive, Penn Hills, 8 a.m. to noon
• April 18: Redeemer Lutheran School, 121 Dawn Drive, Verona, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• April 21: Our Lady of Joy Roman Catholic Church, 2000 O’Block Drive, Plum, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• April 22: Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 1855 One Wild Place, Pittsburgh, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To make an appointment, visit Vitalant.com or call 877-258-4825.
Export Moose to host ‘Dancing with the Stars’
The Export Moose will host the Export edition of “Dancing with the Stars” on April 13 at the Moose social hall on Washington Avenue.
It will feature Mayor Joe Zaccagnini, council members Joe Ferri and Melanie Litz, borough secretary Tonia Writt, Jerry Soles, Kevin Kean and Jen Olson.
A $10 donation benefits the Moose Riders and the DeStella Dance Centre Competitive Company. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with performances at 7 p.m.
There will also be a 50/50 drawing, Chinese auction and performances by DeStella dancers.
Participants can also vote on a People’s Choice Award.
Historical society fundraiser
The Export Historical Society will host a May 5 spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 12-6 p.m.
It will be in the Export Moose social hall at 5903 Washington Avenue. Meals will include homemade sauce from former Spaghetti & Steak House owner Monica Meehan. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children.
Used book sale donations
The Murrysville Community Library and local branch of the American Association of University Women will host their annual used book sale from April 25-27, and are currently gathering donations for the sale.
You can bring gently used books, especially those for children, to the library until April 23, as well as teen and adult fiction and non-fiction books, and jigsaw puzzles.
They will not accept encyclopedias, manuals, textbooks, or books that smell musty or have mold.
The library's address is 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville. For more information, call 724-327-1102.
Murrysville library events
• On April 22 from 2-4 p.m., there will be a class on Android smartphone basics, where you can learn about the different features available on Android smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy, Motorola Edge and Razr, Google Pixel, and OnePlus.
• A Tech Q&A session will take place on May 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants can bring their smartphones, tablets, or laptops and learn about some of the “tech” terms they may hear daily.
National Day of Prayer
The 73rd National Day of Prayer will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on May 2 at the Delmont Fire Hall, located at 2360 Route 66 in Delmont. The gathering will be based on the Bible scriptures taken from 2 Samuel 22: 29-31.
Volunteers are needed. To volunteer, call 724-325-1166 or 724-420-4036.
Delmont library events
• On April 17 at 5 p.m., there will be a birding program where you can learn modern bird-watching techniques, how to use free apps like eBird and Merlin, and how to track and record birding observations. There is a limit of 10, so register online.
• The Great Puzzle Race will take place on April 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teams of 1-3 people will have a two-hour time limit to complete as many 300-piece puzzles as possible. Registration is required.
• On April 24 at 4 p.m., there will be a wildlife observation class. There is a limit of 10, so register online.
• On April 24 and May 11 from 1-3 p.m., you can learn how to navigate using Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest operating system. Bring your own laptop and power supply. Registration is required.
• On April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon, there will be a straw bale gardening class, where you can learn how to prepare straw bales to provide constant fertilizer for growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers. There is a limit of 25, so register online or by phone.
For more information, register online at DelmontLibrary.org or call 724-468-5329.
