Riverview administrator receives recognition from Penguins as top principal
David Turk is getting his moment in the limelight. A man of many hats, Turk is Riverview’s junior high principal, the district’s data analyst and communication specialist. He is also charged with regularly updating the district’s social media accounts and website. Turk is in his fourth year with the district...
Ticket sales kick off for Pittsburgh Brewing’s annual St. Patrick’s Day event
Ticket sales have opened for Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. In the third year of the event, the party — dubbed Irish City Celebration — has become a staple in the East Deer community. In 2025, around 2,500 people spent their Saturday enjoying live music, food trucks...
Long-awaited funding obtained for Riverview football field lights
Let there be light, at least on the Riverview Raiders football and baseball fields. After years of ongoing discussion and funding efforts, Oakmont officials have secured enough money to carry out a lighting project at Riverside Park, where the Raiders play their home football, soccer and baseball games. The lights...
Mechanical malfunction leads to Penn Hills school bus fire
Penn Hills School District is a bus short after a morning bus fire. Penn Hills police and fire companies reported to the intersection of Frey and Universal roads just before 9 a.m. Friday. According to a post from Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Company No. 7, the fire was “well involved”...
Pittsburgh police locate 2 girls after being last reported in the Vandergrift area
Pittsburgh police have located two missing Pittsburgh girls who had been missing for almost 24 hours. Angela Beer, 14, and Roxy Petruzzi, 10, were found safe Thursday night. They were reported last seen in their Beechview neighborhood on Wednesday at 10 p.m., police said. According to a Thursday Facebook post...
Many Alle-Kiski homeowners paying more in taxes, service fees this year
After a year of school district tax hikes, Alle-Kiski Valley residents largely got a break from their municipalities, most of which avoided tax increases for 2026. That doesn’t mean they’re paying less to live in the Valley, though. While only four of the Alle-Kiski Valley’s municipalities raised taxes for this...
East Deer bakers have a sweet mission
Michael and Brittany Eckert have long been committed to giving back to their community. Be it through their nonprofit, Community Hope Project, or their bakery, Simply Tasteful Creations, the East Deer couple never stops trying to find ways to help others. Michael’s latest endeavor is Colossal’s Greatest Baker competition, a...
Penn Hills mayor challenges interim manager appointment process
After the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, Penn Hills remains without a manager. Mayor Pauline Calabrese announced she filed an emergency injunction to stop what she claims is an “unlawful appointment process” of an interim municipal manager. The need for a full-time manager comes after a Dec. 15 council meeting where...
Oakmont Council welcomes new and familiar faces for 2026
Oakmont Council underwent its annual shuffle on Jan. 5. Newcomers James “Jim” Parsons and Charles Fox were sworn into four-year seats on council alongside returning council members Amanda Pagnotta and Isaiah Wilson. After taking her oath of office earlier in the day, newly reelected Mayor Sophia Facaros swore in the...
Oakmont looks into new technology for busy intersection
Travelers through Oakmont might be able to get to their destinations faster come 2027. The borough is beginning a project to update the traffic light system at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard, Allegheny Avenue and Hulton Road. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said the area has long been a headache...
ATV, UTV permit process streamlined for Gilpin, Bethel, Parks townships
Starting this year, ATV and UTV riders in Gilpin, Bethel and Parks townships will have to do a little less work to prep for riding. According to a Facebook post Saturday from Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull, an ATV or UTV permit acquired in Parks, Bethel or Gilpin is now valid...
Fire safety imperative as cold months increase heating use
Local fire departments are spreading awareness as the peak of “heating fire season” arrives. According to a recent Facebook post from Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department, December, January and February are the peak months for heating fires. Space heaters are most often involved in these incidents, the post said. “Stay safe...
Annual Oakmont Christmas tree collection hosted at new location, still benefits goats
Oakmont is changing the location for its annual Christmas tree recycling collection. Folks dropping off their trees are now asked to head to Creekside Park on Dark Hollow road. For the fourth year, the collection will supply tasty treats for the furry friends at Capricious Goats LLC. The group of...
Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s football watch parties expand to college bowl games
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is kicking off the new year with a series of football watch parties. The East Deer brewery will host watch parties for college bowl games and the Pittsburgh Steelers game coming up in the first week of the new year. Kicking off on Jan. 1, the brewery’s...
Leechburg Veterans Memorial Bridge lights are all back on
Things are looking a little brighter in Leechburg. At least they are on the Leechburg Veterans Memorial Bridge. After more than a year of working with PennDOT to repair the lights on the bridge, borough leadership announced last month the bridge is now fully lit for travelers. “The lights going...
Community rallies around Leechburg business after Christmas vandalism
The Leechburg community wasted no time rallying around a local business after it was vandalized late Dec. 25. Honeybee and Co. on Market Street has received monetary and product donations after the shop’s “Lovely Little Locker,” a donation cabinet filled with free hygiene items, was vandalized. Destiney Beatty, who co-owns...
AI prompts increased human interaction at this cyber security company
In an age of artificial intelligence, Dennis Underwood is working it “old school.” He is prioritizing face time. Underwood is CEO of Cyber Crucible, a cybersecurity software company in Fox Chapel that focuses on preventing data theft, identity theft and ransomware. He said the introduction of mainstream AI in the...
Majority of job hunters turn to AI to help land next gig
Mallory Helbling turned to her own professional advice when she found herself laid off in December 2024. Among them: using artificial intelligence tools to assist in her job search as a career coach. “I was able to get my first contract role in February 2025,” said Helbling, 37, of Sharpsburg,...
Verona’s 2026 budget includes 9% tax increase
In a slim majority, Verona council approved a 2026 budget that includes a 9% tax increase for residents. The budget passed in a 4-3 vote during the borough’s December council meeting. The budget includes a 1-mill tax hike, increasing borough millage to 11.7 mills. People with a median assessed property...
Verona hires 2 officers, thanks outside support
Verona welcomed two police officers to its force earlier this month. Officers Jordan Brasile and Jonathan Preece were sworn in during the council’s December meeting, marking the latest move by the borough to bolster its police department. “We appreciate you coming to work in Verona,” said Verona Mayor David Ricupero....
Man accused of trying to pull gun on police in Verona
A routine foot patrol turned violent Tuesday evening after, Verona Police say, a man tried to pull a gun on police when they attempted to arrest him. According to Verona Police Chief Thomas Dessell, officers were “conducting a proactive foot patrol” on the 400 block of School Street just before...
Annual Oakmont Christmas tree collection to benefit goats
Oakmont is giving folks another chance to supply tasty treats to the goats that help keep weeds under control in the borough. For the fourth year, the borough will collect Christmas trees for the furry friends at Capricious Goats LLC. The group of working goats, affectionately known as the “Munch...
Gilpin passes budget with no tax increase
The Gilpin supervisors have passed a 2026 budget with no tax increase. The budget includes a little over $971,000 in revenue and just over $1.06 million in expenditures. Sharon Long, the township secretary/treasurer, said the township will be using money left over from this year to close the gap. Larger...
First competition year for Deer Lakes esports team ends with state title
Dominic Huggins wasn’t sure what to expect when his mom signed him up for the Deer Lakes Middle School esports team. An eighth grader, he certainly never expected to be a part of a state championship-winning team. “I didn’t know I could compete,” said Huggins, 14. “I got into it...
South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan takes steps toward completion
Gilpin, Leechburg, Parks Township and Bethel Township are one step closer to completing a South Central Armstrong Regional Comprehensive Plan. A little over a year ago, a pre-planning committee was formed that includes Charles Stull, a Gilpin supervisor; Chuck Pascal, a Leechburg councilman; Mary Beth Girardi, of the Leechburg Planning...
