Joyce Hanz stories, Page 47
Feline fans needed: 2 Alle-Kiski cat rescue groups seeking volunteers
Calling all cat lovers. Two local groups dedicated to helping homeless and feral felines are in need of additional helpers. Cat Crusaders of Leechburg and Homeless Cat Management Team of Tarentum both work to feed, house and tend to cats in need — with a primary focus on providing low-cost,...
N Stuff Music in Blawnox expands with Next Door Cafe and Little Lesson House
The beat goes on for the Sarra family. Bob Sarra and his two sons, Jason and Justin, are co-owners of N Stuff Music, a music instrument store at 468 Freeport Rd. in Blawnox. The business recently expanded to the two buildings on either side of it, which were remodeled into...
‘Family-friendly’ businesses slated for retail plaza across from Kiski Area High School
A local businessman is hoping to fill two Allegheny Township storefronts with family-friendly businesses after purchasing the spots in the high-traffic area in September. Keith Fetterman bought two commercially zoned buildings at 181 and 183 Hyde Park Road, situated across from Kiski Area High School. Fetterman, who lives in Allegheny...
Allegheny Township officer retires after 35 years in law enforcement
A generous high school graduation gift has served Todd Veselicky well. Veselicky, 53, graduated from Kiski Area High School in 1986 and was pondering his next move. “I was not college material,” said Veselicky, a lifelong resident of East Vandergrift. Veselicky was friends with numerous police officers and first responders...
PennDOT, Alle-Kiski municipalities treat roads differently when the snow starts to fall
The first significant snow of the season blanketed the Alle-Kiski Valley on Thursday evening leaving motorists with a mixed bag of road conditions for their Friday morning commute. Almost 2 inches of snow fell in New Kensington, and Westmoreland County saw a snowfall of between 2 and 5 inches in...
Kiski Area bus driver shortage could force district into remote learning
A shortage of school bus drivers continues to wreak havoc on transportation routes in the Kiski Area School District. In a post Wednesday to the district’s Facebook page, officials described the problem as “extreme.” The driver deficit has resulted in frequent morning and afternoon bus route pickup cancellations and delays....
Fox Chapel Area schools break fundraising record for charity
The Fox Chapel Area School District has set an all-time annual fundraising record for a local charity. Students helped raise more than $107,000 during a monthlong districtwide campaign that culminated in a livestreamed telethon Dec. 23. Over the past 32 years, the district has raised more than $1 million for...
Taco Bell to open this year in Allegheny Plaza, but target date not announced
Construction on a new fast-food dining option is progressing in Allegheny Township. A new Taco Bell restaurant is expected to open as early as next month at 500 Hyde Park Road in Allegheny Plaza, but project officials are keeping mum on an opening date. On Tuesday, a spokesman from PBI...
Del Vecchio’s owner runs business in the same Vandergrift house where he grew up
From an early age, Tommy Scanga felt at home in a kitchen. “I cook. That’s what I do,” said Scanga, 62, a lifelong Vandergrift resident. Cooking alongside his mother, Mary Ann Scanga, Tommy Scanga learned at an early age how to make Italian staples such as homemade sauce with meatballs,...
New Year’s Day dodgeball tournament draws small, but enthusiastic turnout in first year
The Dodgefathers arrived dressed to impress. The five-member dodgeball team, made up of middle school-age boys from Wheeling, W.Va., journeyed Saturday to West Deer to compete in the inaugural New Year Smash Em Dodgeball Tournament. Sporting matching custom T-shirts with a sporty play on the classic Italian mafia film, the...
Vandergrift’s Meals On Wheels in dire need of volunteers
These days, Vandergrift Area Meals on Wheels is rolling along with fewer volunteers. The independent nonprofit with a mission of providing fresh and wholesome meals to older folks in Vandergrift and Allegheny Township is in “great need” of volunteers, according to food service director Buster Burnham. Burnham, a one-man chef...
National Weather Service says meteors are likely to blame for New Year’s Day boom in Pittsburgh
The National Weather Service said the loud boom and shaking ground reported Saturday by people across a large swath of suburban Pittsburgh likely was caused by an exploding meteor. Shannon Hefferan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon Township, said a flash was reported on satellite data about...
Powerball jackpot climbing at $441M, but not nearly a record
Lora Trenney of Kiski Township is feeling lucky. The 40-year-old bartender at Cicero’s Bar and Grill in Leechburg bought a Powerball ticket Tuesday during her work shift. The lottery jackpot swelled to an estimated $441 million with a cash option of $317.5 million for the Wednesday drawing, according to the...
Allegheny Township female police officer set to retire after 31 years
A longtime public servant in the Alle-Kiski Valley is retiring. Police Officer Anita King will wrap up her law enforcement career of 31 years on Jan. 3, her last day of active duty with the Allegheny Township Police Department. King has, who has served with the department since 1990, was promoted...
Newest elected supervisor eager to get to work in Allegheny Township
Allegheny Township residents can expect to see a lot of newly elected Supervisor James Morabito. “I plan on being here at the township building weekly,” said Morabito, 58, a small business owner for 35 years. “I’m going to be hands-on, going over details of daily and weekly activities.” Morabito, who...
New Italian market preparing to open next fall at site of former Fazio’s store in Vandergrift
A new Italian market is coming to Vandergrift. Fasano’s Italian Store and Deli is set to open next fall in the former Fazio’s Italian Store, at 301 Longfellow St. Fazio’s shut its doors in 2015 after co-owners Joseph and Teresa Spina made the decision to close for health-related reasons. Fasano’s...
Kiski Area students raise more than $12K for charities with annual Cav-A-Thon
Students from the Kiski Area School District have been having fun, fundraising. The district’s annual Cav-A-Thon wrapped up this week, raising more than $12,500. The event raises money for Alle-Kiski Valley charities. “It will be shared with the Alle-Kiski HOPE Center, Kiski Valley Food Bank and the Stuff-A-Bus organization,” said...
Alcoa-inspired flagpole with metal Christmas tree shines on near Route 66 in Gilpin
A flagpole in Gilpin has a unique holiday addition, compliments of a former Alcoa employee. “It’s Dad’s Alcoa flagpole tree,” joked Joseph Kovalchik of his late father’s handmade aluminum creation. John Kovalchik worked for 34 years as a maintenance electrician at Alcoa’s research lab in New Kensington. He died in...
1,000 candles set to glow in Washington Township
A neighborhood in Washington Township is set to glow with more than 1,000 candles on Christmas Eve. Washington Acres will host a luminary evening beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. Light Up Washington Acres is sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 211, based in Delmont. The event serves as a fundraiser for...
Parking meters in Vandergrift to get stylish enhancements
Some parking meters in Vandergrift are set to receive a fancy, metal makeover. The Vandergrift Improvement Project (VIP) is moving forward with plans for the Streetscape project, with 10 custom-made V-shaped metal baskets to be installed over parking meters along Grant and Columbia Avenues in the historic shopping district. “The...
3 newcomers will join reelected incumbents on Vandergrift Council next month
Vandergrift Council will welcome three new faces when it first meets in 2022 on Jan. 3. Daisha Clayton was appointed Dec. 6 to fill a seat left vacant by the resignation of Karen McClarnon last month. Recently elected to four-year terms on council, Democrat Marilee Kessler and Republican Jody Sarno...
Champion’s Crusaiders Rescue appeals to animal lovers to continue mission
In the early months of the pandemic, as pets were in high demand for adoption, Amber Phillips decided to go out on her own. The trained veterinarian tech had worked for years at Golden Mile Animal Clinic in Plum and Kiski Valley Animal Clinic in Allegheny Township. Opening Champion’s Crusaiders...
New York Subs in O’Hara sells quality and quantity
The motto at New York Super Subs in O’Hara doesn’t mince words. “It’s two feet and a pound of meat,” said owner Clint Vinson. Tucked away in a small strip mall along Freeport Road, the Italian-influenced deli serves up specialty subs, homemade sauces, salads, meatballs and more. “We sell quality...
Fresh-cut Christmas trees in short supply this season
Where are the fresh-cut Christmas trees? That’s what some Alle-Kiski Valley businesses are asking as fresh-cut trees are in short supply — or completely sold out. A large vacant lot has been empty for weeks at Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township. In previous years, it still would be offering...
From Hollywood to home, Allegheny Township chaps maker roped an interesting life
At 94, Tom Phillips’ hands have served him well. The Leechburg native and Allegheny Township resident wakes up early each day and gets to work making custom leather chaps. He’s been at it for 60 years. “It’s my hobby,” he said. “I start at 6 o’clock in the morning and...
