James Engel stories, Page 15
Plum School Board member resigns, district seeks replacement
Devin Adams, nearing the end of his first term on Plum School Board, resigned from his position this month after he and his family moved out of the district. Headed to the Norwin School District, Adams, who previously served as the Plum board’s vice president, said his time on the...
More than 200 students gather for anti-hate summit at Acrisure Stadium
In anticipation of September’s Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh, students from 25 school districts throughout Allegheny County convened March 26 at Acrisure Stadium to discuss their efforts to promote acceptance and counter hate in their communities. The conference, which marked a halfway point between last October’s Eradicate Hate summit...
Muslims at Islamic center in Marshall celebrate Ramadan as holy month nears end
Three times a week, hundreds have gathered around sundown at the Islamic Center of Western Pennsylvania in Marshall to celebrate and break their fasts during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Fasting during Ramadan, which happens to align with the month of March this year, is one of the five...
Ross takes first steps in what could be big changes to township’s fire services
After an extensive study recommended changes last year, Ross is taking the first steps in what likely will result in a yearslong revamp of the township’s fire services. During a meeting earlier this year, the township commissioners tasked Robb Consulting, a Central Pennsylvania public safety consulting firm, with finding a...
Walgreens in McCandless set to close May 1
A Walgreens pharmacy location is set to close its doors in McCandless come May. The location at 30 Pine Creek Road will shutter May 1 after 18 years at the site. The closure comes after the pharmacy chain announced last year it would shut down 1,200 of its locations over...
10 Japanese students ‘broaden horizons’ in visit to Shaler Area
Hailing from Niigata High School on Japan’s western coast, 10 Japanese students attended three days of classes at Shaler Area. The students, mostly third-year high schoolers, sat in on science, technology, engineering and math classes from March 10-12 in an effort to learn more about American STEM education. Michael Burke,...
Ross resident scammed for more than $8,000 by caller claiming to be from Sheriff’s Office
Ross police are investigating a scam that snatched more than $8,000 from a township resident who thought they were sending the money to the county sheriff. The victim received a call with a caller ID reading “Allegheny Cnty Sheriffs Dept,” during which they were told that an arrest warrant had...
Walnut Grill at Waterworks shutters doors, reason for closing remains unclear
Walnut Grill at Waterworks near Aspinwall closed its doors on March 16 after 16 years in business. Though it is unclear if the closure is related, it comes about a month after the Allegheny County Health Department issued a consumer alert regarding rodent droppings and 11 dead mice, along with...
Pine-Richland School Board candidate pulls out of race amid accusation of falsifying petition signatures
A lawyer from Pine has withdrawn her candidacy in both primary races after a legal objection to her Democratic election petition alleged that several signatures were falsified. The objection, filed on March 17, questioned the authenticity of five signatures — 10 are required to run— on the petition of Kathleen...
Shaler Area marched in New York, Hampton in Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day parades
Two school districts from the North Hills marched in the nation’s largest two St. Patrick’s Day parades — in New York and Chicago — during festivities March 17. Hampton High School’s marching band ambled up Columbus Drive near Lake Michigan in Chicago, while its counterparts from Shaler Area High School...
North Hills junior 1 of 5 Americans selected to attend International Science School in Australia
A North Hills junior, after a rigorous admissions process, was selected as one of five Americans set to attend the prestigious International Science School at the University of Sydney this summer. Raine Dickinson said she became aware of the school while participating in a program with the STEM nonprofit Higher...
North Hills music teacher in the running for $10K Barry Manilow award
A North Hills High School music teacher is one of several area educators nominated to receive a $10,000 award from the Manilow Music Project, which is giving away grants to schools during 81-year-old Barry Manilow’s final arena tour. If Len Lavelle emerges victorious from a public vote, North Hills would...
Alioto’s, a longtime Etna staple, will close at the end of March
After decades of service, the owner of Alioto’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Etna announced it will permanently close its doors March 31. Lilli Mosco, who has owned the restaurant since 2009, said Alioto’s has not been able to “keep pace” in the face of rising costs, especially after the...
Objection to Pine-Richland School Board candidate petition alleges forged signatures
A legal objection requesting a judge set aside an election petition for a Pine-Richland School Board candidate alleges that several signatures appearing on her Democratic primary petition were falsified. To register for the Democratic primary, candidates must acquire 10 signatures from Democrats in their election region. The objection, filed on...
Pine-Richland board gives itself final power over book selections at school library
After months of tumultuous debate, the Pine-Richland School Board voted 5-4 Monday night to pass a new library policy, amid outcry from community members who have labelled it a “book ban.” The policy places the final power to add or remove district library books in the hands of the school...
Students in North Hills school districts continue to organize against hate ahead of upcoming conference
Students throughout Pittsburgh’s North Hills have persisted in organizing events and countering hate in their communities as they prepare to convene for a conference later this month at Acrisure Stadium with more than two dozen schools. The event is a follow-up to last October’s Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh,...
Shaler commissioners table Mt. Alvernia development discussions amid community concerns
After a more than two-hour meeting with extensive public engagement, Shaler commissioners voted March 11 to table a zoning ordinance that would have advanced a plan to redevelop the Mt. Alvernia property. The property, which straddles the border of Shaler and Millvale, was once the campus of the Sisters of...
Memorial Park Church in McCandless seeking to pack a quarter-million meals in upcoming drives
In two upcoming events, Memorial Park Church in McCandless hopes to pack 250,000 meals for local distribution, requesting aid from the public for the second event. Memorial Park, an Evangelical Presbyterian Church with about 1,000 members, is a “mission-based” congregation, according to its communications director, Greg Hollack. The upcoming events,...
6 people scammed after card skimmer found at 7-Eleven in Etna; more people likely affected
Several customers at a 7-Eleven location in Etna have reported fraudulent charges on their accounts after a card skimmer was found Monday on one of the store’s registers. Etna police Chief Tim Rodman said his department has received fraud reports from six residents so far, though it is likely more...
Pine to host 2nd Earth Day event with more environmental activities, vendors and 5K run
After large crowds and a positive reception last year, Pine is set to mark the second iteration of its Earth Day celebrations. The event, which will take place throughout the grounds of the Pine Community Center and its surrounding park, will feature workshops, merchants and food vendors, resembling something close...
Etna to relocate borough’s headquarters to higher elevation with purchase of building
After years of seeking higher ground, the Borough of Etna purchased a building March 7 that eventually will become the municipality’s new headquarters. The location, at 30 Pine St., sits almost directly above the current borough building at 437 Butler St. The 47,570-square-foot building is an industrial space formerly occupied...
Area fish fries gear up for lent, often with expanded menus
As Western Pennsylvania communities rev up the fryers for Lenten season fish fries, many churches and organizations have expanded their menus beyond the cod. Last year, during the first Friday of Lent, Kristen Jones said Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Department in Unity served 2,000 meals, using about 1,500 buns. Though the...
Projectiles launched, zombie art composed at annual Shaler Area STEAM competition
Teams from 16 schools applied their knowledge and creativity in a series of challenges Friday during an annual STEAM competition hosted by Shaler Area High School. The competition, which began several years ago with just six schools, features a daylong sequence of science, technology, engineering, art and math trials in...
Construction begins on Rachel Carson EcoVillage in McCandless
Construction on the long-awaited Rachel Carson EcoVillage at Providence Heights, a sustainable cohabitation of 35 units in McCandless, has broken ground after several years of discussions and rezoning. The village is located on land donated by the Sisters of Divine Providence near Cumberland Road and Babcock Boulevard adjacent to La...
Ingomar Living Waters fundraiser to help hydrate thousands around the world
Gazing out over Pittsburgh’s three rivers from the Carnegie Science Center, attendees of Ingomar Living Waters’ upcoming fundraiser will be considering the waters elsewhere. The group, founded as a charity organization among parishioners at Ingomar United Methodist Church in Franklin Park, has held its Turning Wine Into Water event since...
