Joyce Hanz stories, Page 32

Experience a whimsical and traditional holiday walking tour of 200 life-sized nutcrackers on display in historic Steubenville, Ohio, located about 40 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. The Steubenville Nutcracker Village offers a free, 24/7 nutcracker self- guided outdoor tour opportunity through Jan. 7. Billed as the world’s largest collection of life-sized nutcrackers,...

The Kiski Area High School marching band capped its 2022 performance season with a national award. The band earned the 2022 Bands of America Class AA National Bronze Medal at the Bands of America Grand National Championships held recently in Indianapolis. The competition featured more than 100 high school bands...

The annual Light the Season holiday kickoff event is returning to Allegheny Township. Light the Season begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Allegheny Township Municipal Complex. The community gathering has been on hiatus since 2019 because of ongoing covid conditions and construction on the township building. Township...

Leechburg was among the towns across the Alle-Kiski Valley that had a Small Business Saturday event. The event was started by American Express about a decade ago to promote shopping at small businesses the day after Black Friday, which has been dominated by big box retailers. One of the visitors...

On the Saturday after Black Friday across America, shopping small can lead to big gains for businesses and customers alike. Small Business Saturday is an annual post-holiday shopping day celebrated nationwide that encourages shoppers to buy from small, local community businesses. Created by American Express in 2010 during a nationwide...

A new java spot is coming to Blawnox. Black Canary Coffeehouse, located in Springdale, is expanding with a second location at 276 Freeport Road. The flagship coffee and ice cream shop opened in 2021 in Springdale and is located at 636 Pittsburgh St. Co-owners Julie Kahlbaugh and Rodney Burrell said...

Free turkey meals were flying out the door Thanksgiving morning at St. Mary’s Church in Freeport. Four years ago, the parish began cooking, packaging and giving away Thanksgiving Day turkey meals with all the trimmings. It’s a no-strings-attached outreach — just a free hot meal on America’s day of giving...

More than 900 participants gobbled up the chance to run or walk during the annual Thanksgiving Day Kiski Valley Turkey Trot in Washington Township. The in-person race that draws runners from neighboring states kicked off at 9 a.m. under blue skies and below-freezing temperatures. Organizers set up multiple fire barrels...

After two seasons without, the holiday spirit returns to the stage at the Casino Theatre in Vandergrift. The annual Hometown Christmas show was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the covid-19 pandemic. This season, the production celebrates its 25th anniversary with “Our 25th Magical Lyrical Annual Miracle, Going Home.”...

A window of a hair salon in Downtown Pittsburgh was shattered Wednesday during a fight between teenagers, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI. “It’s awful,” Joe Cardamone, owner of Cardamone’s Hair Salon on Forbes Avenue, told WPXI. “The kids were arguing out front here. We were in here working with...

Time is running out for a person to cash in a $1.65 million-winning Pennsylvania lottery ticket sold last year in Kiski Township. The unclaimed Cash 5 winning ticket was purchased Dec. 16, 2021, at the BP Fueland on River Road. The ticket is on the verge of expiring if unclaimed by...

A group of eighth-graders at Dorseyville Middle School are volunteering their time to take others back in time to the 1940s. The school’s new LIGHT Center is hosting its first exhibit, a World War II display featuring a collection of artifacts on loan from faculty members. “The students were trained...

A new nonprofit in East Vandergrift is striving to support and increase activities in the borough. The East Vandergrift Community Foundation, established over the summer by a handful of residents, is hosting a holiday home-decorating contest. Borough residents are encouraged to participate, and homes will be judged by foundation members...

When Angela Vigna goes to work each day, she isn’t expecting accolades. In fact, she was surprised recently to learn she had been named the 2022 Pennsylvania State Education Association Dolores McCracken Education Support Professional of the Year. “I’m very honored. I love my job. Working with students has changed...

Hundreds of parade-goers braved freezing temperatures Saturday evening to kick off the holiday season with street fair in Oakmont. Oakmont’s Hometown Christmas Celebration offered an evening chock full of holiday entertainment, including an elf named Zippy. Sven Drop, 14, likes to dress up as holiday favorites like the...

The well-traveled Bonfire Shortcut detour along White Cloud Road in Allegheny Township will close most of the day Monday. The road is scheduled to be closed from 7 a.m. up until 5 p.m. The Bonfire Shortcut, which is township-owned, has become a detour route during major construction of Route 356....

Lindsey Smith has a way with words. The Leechburg native embraced writing and English from a young age, and now she’s using her decades of experience in the publishing industry with her latest venture: a bookstore and gift shop opening soon in downtown Leechburg. One Idea Books & Gifts will...

One of the most recognizable homes in holiday cinematic history is for sale. The iconic house from “A Christmas Story,” watched by millions every yuletide, was listed Monday. Vandergrift resident Lisa Dormire took a day trip last December to tour the home with a group of senior citizens from Redstone...

Portions of Route 356 reopened to motorists Tuesday evening in Allegheny Township. Allegheny Township Supervisor Jamie Morabito confirmed the reopening about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The road is open in both directions. He said the road will remain open until PennDOT resumes construction in the spring. It’s estimated the road will...

A Leechburg native is the newest face serving on Leechburg Council. Doreen Smeal was unanimously appointed to council Oct. 18 after the resignation of former Councilwoman Ruth Bender. Bender of Leechburg served almost three years and cited a hectic schedule for the reason for her departure from council. “Personally and...

Vandergrift native Bobbie Morda opened her dream jewelry store 34 years ago with a handful of necklaces and six engagement rings. Her store, Bobbie’s Jewelers, occupies a former barbershop at 173 Columbia Ave. in Vandergrift’s historic business district. “This comes from blood, sweat and tears. This was not turnkey,” Morda...

After a nine-month setback, development plans for a new senior citizen residential complex have resumed in East Vandergrift, Westmoreland County. The Morning Sun Senior Lofts project was awarded a $1.2 million grant this month from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and $1.3 million in low-income tax credits. The low-income...

A Springdale Township man who has been missing since Sunday was found Monday night, police said. Gerald Zilka, 70, was found near the Fox Chapel exit of Route 28, according to Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department chief Mike Naviglia. Zilka’s wife and daughter reported him missing after Zilka told his...

Gilpin officials are seeking additional public participation at an upcoming zoning ordinance update meeting. An in-person zoning meeting is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Gilpin Township Volunteer Fire Department, 113 Fire Hall Road. Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull said the informal meeting is open-house style, and...