Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 66
Free smoke alarms available to New Kensington residents from Red Cross program
A smoke alarm might have saved a New Kensington home Wednesday morning, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. Something caught fire on a couple’s stovetop about 8:30 a.m. on Beamer Avenue. The wife was at work. The husband was outside working in the yard but heard a smoke detector go...
New Kensington-Arnold considering borrowing $5M for building work
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board is considering another multimillion-dollar bond issue for work on the district’s schools. The board is entertaining borrowing $5 million. That money would be added to $8 million in federal covid relief funds to pay for the work. Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said the money would be used...
Telephone hearings scheduled for Columbia Gas rate increase request
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will start this month a series of hearings on a rate increase proposed by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. Under the Columbia Gas proposal, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 70 therms of gas would increase by about 10% — from $123.24 to...
New Kensington police accuse man of assaulting woman, holding her captive
A New Kensington man is accused of stripping a woman naked, pouring cold water all over her and forcing her to sit in front of an open window with fans blowing on her on a cold night. That was just one of several ways New Kensington police allege that Zachery...
Lower Burrell author Tamara Girardi releases 1st children’s book, ‘Why, Daddy? Why?’
It was about the time Gabriella Girardi turned 4 that the questions started. “Research shows that age 4 is the age when we ask the most questions. No other age on the planet asks more questions than a 4-year-old,” said her mother, Tamara Girardi of Lower Burrell. But what made...
Pennsylvania electric generation costs increasing up to 45% on June 1
Pennsylvania regulators are warning consumers that most utilities will be increasing their prices for electric generation on June 1. Energy supply costs will increase between 6% and 45% across the state for consumers who aren’t under contract with a supplier, according to the state’s Public Utility Commission. Most electric utilities...
Gas prices set record highs in Pittsburgh and state
Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh region have set record highs for gas prices, while the national average on Monday was only a fraction of a cent away from the record that was set in March. According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Pennsylvania on Monday...
New Kensington considering new design guidelines to regulate development
New Kensington officials are reviewing new design guidelines and overlay districts that would regulate the city’s ongoing development and revitalization. The design guidelines are intended to become the city’s primary tool for evaluating proposed development, reuses of buildings, facade renovations, landscaping designs and signage proposals. Three overlay districts — design...
Plans in works for 60 trees to be planted in New Kensington
New Kensington residents will have opportunities to learn about trees before five dozen are planted in the city this fall. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will hold two “tree tender” training sessions before the trees are planted in at least two sessions in late October and early November, said Brian Crooks,...
Father of New Kensington boy found dead arrested in connection with November incident
The father of Azuree Charles, the 9-year-old New Kensington boy who was found dead early Wednesday, was arrested Thursday in connection with assault and child endangerment charges from November. Jean J. Charles, 40, was arraigned Thursday on charges of simple assault and endangering the welfare of children regarding an incident...
New Kensington-Arnold approves proposed final budget with 5% tax increase
Grants are boosting New Kensington-Arnold School District’s budget by $7.2 million, but a maximum allowable property tax increase — 5% — remains. The school board approved the district’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year, with plans to take a final vote on June 7. The budget is showing a...
Westmoreland DA: There is a ‘person of interest’ in the death of New Kensington boy, 9
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said authorities have a person of interest in the death of Azuree Charles, a 9-year-old resident of East Ken Manor in New Kensington. Ziccarelli did not share any details Thursday afternoon as East Ken Manor residents prepared to honor the memory of Azuree, who...
Rubber duck race to benefit Valley High girls volleyball teams
The creek passing in front of Valley High School is set to become a race course — for rubber ducks. The first-time “Rubber Ducky Derby” scheduled for May 15 is a fundraiser for the junior varsity and varsity girls volleyball teams, said April Stone, their coach and a paraprofessional at...
Death of 9-year-old boy shakes New Kensington neighborhood
Police are investigating the death of a 9-year-old boy, Azuree Charles, in New Kensington. The Westmoreland County coroner was called to the scene Wednesday afternoon at East Ken Manor, a Westmoreland County Housing Authority complex along Haser Drive. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli was also at the scene. The...
Celebrity Care Fest returns with more performers, new dinner
New York and Pittsburgh are cities both known for their bridges. So it may be appropriate that after Veronica Stigeler-Cowher celebrates the release of her new album, “Bridges Vol. 3,” in Brooklyn on June 9, the 2022 Celebrity Care Fest on July 23 in Pine will be her next performance....
New Kensington to pave 2 roads, possibly more with remaining money
Two New Kensington roads are slated to be resurfaced this year, and city officials are looking for more that can be done with the money available. Council on Monday awarded a nearly $103,000 contract to A. Folino Construction to resurface Locust Street from Victoria Avenue to Freeport Road, and Earl...
Alle-Kiski Valley teacher, principal among finalists for teacher appreciation awards
Two Alle-Kiski Valley educators are among finalists in an awards program in which the public selects the winners. R. Patrick Marchand, principal of Kiski Area East Primary School, is up for principal of the year for The Education Partnership’s third annual Teacher Appreciation Awards. Julie Erb, a teacher at Martin...
New Kensington-Arnold approves new contract with teachers union
A new five-year contract between the New Kensington-Arnold School District and its teachers union is formally in place following the school board’s approval Tuesday. The board voted 8-0 in favor of the agreement, which increases teachers’ pay while also having them pay more toward health care. Board member Eric Doutt...
New Kensington Redevelopment Authority continuing efforts to develop industrial park
It has been almost two years since Affival moved into New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. The move from Plum has worked out well for the business, which supplies the steel industry with cored wire products used to change the properties of steel. “A move anywhere was going to be a...
Gas prices in Pittsburgh area jump 18 cents since last week; diesel costs could drive further increases
Gasoline prices are rising again, but a jump in the cost of diesel fuel might be the bigger concern, an industry analyst says. The national average price of gasoline increased by about 7 cents per gallon in the past week, and by nearly 18 cents per gallon in the Pittsburgh...
Knead Community Cafe to unveil spring, summer menu with 14 new offerings
From light to heavy, vegan to meaty, the upcoming new menu at Knead Community Cafe in New Kensington is full of options. While the winter chill lingered this year, Knead’s fall and winter menu will exit with the launch of the spring and summer menu on May 10. It brings...
Aaron Kress was icon of Westmoreland County legal community
When Aaron Kress first met his wife, Dorothy, he told her he was a window washer. “He didn’t want her to get any preconceived notions about him being a lawyer,” said their daughter, Becky Fenoglietto of Penn Hills. “They were married very quickly,” she said. “My dad brought her back...
National Weather Service issues freeze warning for southwest Pa. counties
A frost advisory for Wednesday morning has been canceled, but the National Weather Service says even colder weather is possible later tonight into Thursday morning. A freeze warning has been issued for 10 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. It will run from 11 p.m. until 9 a.m. Thursday, meteorologist Lee Hendricks...
Police: Harrison woman tries to bribe officers after DUI arrest
State police say a Harrison woman offered to pay troopers $60 if they’d take her home instead of to jail after arresting her for driving under the influence Sunday, April 17. State police said Tabatha Mae Jack, 33, of Village Green Drive resisted arrest that morning, injuring herself and a...
Oil market volatility brings end to declining gas prices, analysts say
A jump in oil prices has brought an end to a more than month-long decline in the national average price of gasoline, industry analysts said this week. But while the national average is up, the average in the Pittsburgh area came down slightly in the past week, according to price...
