Joyce Hanz stories, Page 25
Gilpin family celebrates million-dollar lottery win in Allegheny Township
A Leechburg Area High School senior is having a summer to remember. Summer St. John, 17, celebrated the news Tuesday of her mother’s million-dollar lottery win with a commemorative check presentation at the Giant Eagle in Allegheny Township. Summer and her parents, Paul and Tricia St. John, shared hugs, smiles...
Vandergrift’s 1st female mayor remembered for her dedication, kindness and work ethic
A former Vandergrift mayor and longtime Leechburg Area School District educator is being remembered as a dedicated servant in two neighboring communities. Barbara Jo (Sendry) Turiak died on June 20, 2023 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was 70. Turiak lived in Vandergrift for more than 19 years, often...
Summer festival returns after 17-year hiatus in Allegheny Township
After a 17-year absence, Allegheny Township Community Day returned Saturday on the grounds of Kiski Area High School. Held as a partnership between the township and Kiski Area School District, the day featured, food, live bands, games and visits by police, fire and other emergency vehicles for kids to explore....
Colorful turnout for Vandergrift PRIDE festival
Saturday’s mix of rain and sun was a perfect recipe for a rainbow and visitors to Vandergrift’s first PRIDE in the Park festival made sure there were many to see. Supporters of the LGBTQ+ community wore rainbow-themed clothes and even had PRIDE-themed desserts to enjoy at Kennedy Park. Shannon Gourley,...
String of stolen and vandalized signs deemed ‘serious’ safety issue in Allegheny Township
A spate of stolen and vandalized traffic signs along two rural roads in Allegheny Township have officials seeking the public’s help in apprehending the thieves. “We’ve been here seven times since January,” said Allegheny Township Public Works Director Roger Schwarz, while standing next to a recently replaced stop sign Thursday...
Swifties gather on Pittsburgh’s North Shore for pre-concert ‘Tay-gating’ parties
The day has finally arrived. The day that Swifties have been waiting months for — Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” comes to Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Fans began arriving early, even thought the parking lots weren’t scheduled to open until 1:30 p.m. And most gates opened at 4:30...
Kiski Area addresses student safety concerns at intermediate school, plans to hire additional resource officer
The Kiski Area School District is collaborating with Allegheny Township officials in an effort to help curb ongoing safety issues at Kiski Area Intermediate School. “Since the return to normal in-person education (after the pandemic), we’ve seen a dramatic increase in fighting as well as other less-than-positive interactions,” said Allegheny...
Leechburg Area School District’s proposed budget holds line on taxes
Leechburg property owners can expect no tax increase in their school property taxes for the coming school year. The Leechburg Area School Board unanimously passed its $15.6 million preliminary budget for 2023-24. “Folks have been hit hard with inflation and need a break,” board President Anthony Shea said. “Also, the...
$1 million scratch-off ticket sold in Allegheny Township
A million-dollar scratch-off ticket was sold at a grocery store in Allegheny Township. Pennsylvania Lottery officials announced Wednesday a winning ticket for Hasbro’s “The Game of Life” was sold at the Giant Eagle, 41 Towne Center Drive. The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the ticket. Scratch-off tickets...
New owners plan renovations to Leechburg B&B, eye former church as rental venue
A Chicago couple have traded in their big-city lifestyle for small-town living. “I wanted to buy an old church or house — and I got both,” said co-owner Jason Fitzpatrick, who originally was from Butler County. Fitzpatrick, 48, and husband Thomas Murphy, 32, who married seven years, began their search...
Faces of the Valley: Ken Kaminski has volunteered his time in the Alle-Kiski Valley for nearly 50 years
Ken Kaminski has blazed a trail volunteering in nature, emergencies and fires across the Alle-Kiski Valley since he was 14. Giving back to his community is a mainstay for the 63-year-old Allegheny Township resident. Kaminski’s nature-loving mission involves volunteering as president of the Roaring Run Watershed Association in Kiski Township....
Former ATI property on the market in Leechburg
Leechburg officials are hopeful a newly available riverfront property will entice a buyer or developer looking to invest in a scenic location. A 2.83-acre property along the Kiski River, previously used by ATI’s idled plants in Bagdad and West Leechburg, went on the market May 8 for $1.39 million by...
Kiski Area alum killed in crash remembered for kindness, work ethic
Family and friends are mourning the sudden death of a standout student hockey player from Washington Township. Alex Presley Orange, a 2020 Kiski Area High School graduate and PennWest University California student, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a car crash. He was 21. His parents, Todd Orange and Leesa...
Wildlife officers free deer of plastic feeder stuck around neck in O’Hara
A whitetail deer, seen for weeks by Fox Chapel area residents sporting a large, white, plastic feeder around its neck, was freed Thursday morning, thanks to the persistent efforts of Pennsylvania Game Commission officials. Commission officials spotted the deer early Thursday in the Orchard Hill/Driftwood area of O’Hara and were...
Efforts underway to help free deer in Fox Chapel area from plastic bucket stuck around its neck
A young buck in the Fox Chapel area got itself in a jam a few weeks ago when it somehow got its neck stuck in a plastic animal feeder. It has been spotted by area residents with the container still around its neck. O’Hara resident Melissa Marlo said she has...
Vandergrift Pool remains closed for repairs; reopening expected in July
Poolgoers hoping to cool off at a popular summer swimming destination in Allegheny Township will have to be patient. The Vandergrift Pool, officially named the Joseph A. Petrarca Memorial Pool, remains empty and closed. The pool at 1639 La Belle Vue Road has not opened for the season because of...
With primary win, councilwoman poised to become Leechburg’s 2nd female mayor
New female leadership appears to be on the horizon in Leechburg. Councilwoman Doreen Smeal, 69, scored a victory on the Democratic and Republican primary elections in the race for mayor, all but securing a victory in November. The only thing that could stop her from winning is somebody mounting a...
Mingle on Market hopes to again highlight Leechburg’s character, spirit
A seasonal socializing and shopping event is returning to Leechburg. Mingle on Market, sponsored by the Leechburg Area Community Association, had a successful inaugural year last summer, and organizers are hopeful the event will continue to bring people together to shine a spotlight on the borough. The community association is...
Daycation: Go sky high with skydiving in Mercer
A high-flying adventure awaits those brave enough to jump out of an airplane in rural Mercer. Skydive Pennsylvania is the only full-service skydiving facility in Western Pennsylvania, located at the Grove City Airport. Owner Cecil Smith, 66, has logged more than 5,912 jumps in his 49 years of skydiving. Smith...
Retiring from retirement: Whether for financial reasons or boredom, a growing number of older adults are rejoining the workforce
Michael Trenga was retired two days before he jumped back into the workforce. The decision was financially motivated. “I retired on a Friday and went back to work on a Monday,” said Trenga, 71, of Leechburg. “Without my job, I would have to cut back on a lot — not...
Incumbent supervisor ousted by newcomer in Allegheny Township
After a narrow win via write-in votes, Republican newcomer Jeff Pollick has defeated longtime incumbent Supervisor John Rennick “Ren” Steele in Allegheny Township. Pollick edged Democratic write-in Allegheny Township supervisor candidate Joseph Ferguson by 11 votes, clinching a win on both ballots in the primary, according to official results from...
Freeport Area drama students pull in 6 Mancini awards
The cast, crew and staff of Freeport Area Senior High School’s 2023 spring musical production of “No, No, Nanette” reached a milestone Sunday. Freeport won six awards at the Henry Mancini Awards, an annual event honoring and celebrating excellence in high school musical theater in Butler, Lawrence, Beaver and Mercer...
Vandergrift community garden kicks off planting season, seeks volunteers
A gardening group in Vandergrift is looking to recruit a few green thumbs. Members of the Vandergrift Parent Project gathered Sunday to prep, weed, dig, plant and water new plants in the 2023 Vandergrift Community Garden. Located in Franklin Park at 284 Franklin Ave., the garden is in its fourth...
Leechburg Area Pool won’t receive 2nd half of pledged covid-relief money from Gilpin
An effort to raise money for a new water slide at Leechburg Area Pool is causing a splash in Gilpin. In a post Wednesday to the pool’s Facebook page, pool secretary Steve Senjan, a former Gilpin supervisor, criticized Gilpin officials for not following through on their $25,000 pledge to the...
New juice-themed cafe slated to open in Aspinwall
A juice-themed, fresh-foods cafe is moving into a prime corner location in Aspinwall. Vibrant Sunshine Juicery Cafe is set to open in late summer. “It’s a dream location for our business because of neighborhood access, proximity to St. Margaret hospital, easy access from Route 28 and Freeport Road, has onsite...
