Kellen Stepler stories, Page 45
Demolition progress continues at Springdale site — but not at the boiler house
As structures at the former power plant in Springdale continue to be demolished, except the boiler house, some people might have noticed another structure being erected: a fence around the property on Porter Street. “That fence that’s on Porter is a security fence when, eventually, the administration building and wall...
Upper Burrell to fix Michael Drive, Menk and Laing roads this summer
The Upper Burrell supervisors have paved the way for improvements on three roads this summer. Supervisors awarded contracts on Wednesday to seal coat Michael Drive and Laing Road and do overlay work on Menk Road, said township engineer Mike Moore of Bankson Engineers. Work is to be completed by Sept....
East Deer, Lower Burrell gear up for big St. Patrick’s Day events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Two large St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are being held in the Alle-Kiski Valley on Saturday, March 16. St. Patrick’s Day weekend will see the largest event to date at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s East Deer headquarters. Irish City Celebration, an almost-all-day event, is expected to draw nearly 2,000 — more than...
Ethiopian-American new pastor in Lower Burrell says church is about community
The Rev. Owar Ojha Ojulu’s path to Grace Community Presbyterian Church in Lower Burrell is nothing short of extraordinary. Born and raised in Ethiopia, Ojulu, 46, recently was named minister of the church at 2751 Grant St. “Church is about the community. Church is about healing people. There’s no church...
Collier artist’s work to be featured in upcoming children’s museum exhibit
Kathleen Zimbicki’s upcoming showcase at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is proof that art is for all ages. A legend in the Pittsburgh art scene, Zimbicki’s most recent work features her watercolor pieces with drawings done by her great-grandchildren and neighbor children on top of the paint. A display of...
Collier Scout recognized by commissioners for Webb Field project
Chartiers Valley sophomore Justin Bonkoski, 15, of Collier, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout — the highest rank in Scouting, following his project at Webb Field in Collier. Justin said his Eagle Scout project stemmed from the efforts of his brother, Michael, to clean up and repaint the dugouts...
Saxonburg’s borough manager headed to court, accused of shooting dog
Saxonburg’s borough manager is headed to Butler County Common Pleas Court on charges accusing him of shooting his neighbor’s dog. Charges against Steven May were held for court Tuesday after a hearing before District Judge Jack D. Ripper in which eight people testified. May, 43, is charged with a felony...
Springdale woman named Miss Smiling Irish Eyes for Pittsburgh
A Springdale High School graduate is Pittsburgh’s Miss Smiling Irish Eyes for 2024. Madalyn Byrnes, 21, of Springdale will be featured in the March 16 St. Patrick’s Day parade, which starts at 10 a.m. “I was overjoyed,” Byrnes said. “This has been something I have been working toward for a...
Chartiers Valley elementary students learn CPR
Students at Chartiers Valley’s elementary schools are learning a life-saving skill. Chartiers Valley’s Primary and Intermediate schools participated in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser earlier this year. Students learned hands-only CPR during physical education classes. “We were very impressed with how it went,” said Suanne Estatico, physical...
East Deer, Oliver Outdoor state their case in billboard court battle
The fate of electronic billboards in East Deer is in the hands of an Allegheny County judge. The township and America First Enterprises, which does business as Oliver Outdoor, stated their cases in court filings regarding the status of three billboards that had been approved by the East Deer Zoning...
Indiana Township woman to star in feature film ‘The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro’
A moral of “The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro” is to learn from history. Those behind the feature film, produced in Western Pennsylvania, are hoping the production makes some history as well. “It encompasses multiple genres, but it’s like a history, supernatural, comedic Scooby Doo, in a way,” actor Madeline...
Shaler woman writes sequel to book about abduction as an Allegheny Township child
Laura Mason Lockard says she had “what some people would call a near-death experience” when she was a girl in Allegheny Township. In 1981, when she was 11, she was abducted and assaulted by a man police thought could have been a serial killer. Lockard, now 54 and living in...
Springdale injunction attorneys again spar over exhibits, filings
Another battle of documents is being waged in the Springdale boiler house implosion litigation. Allegheny County Judge John T. McVay Jr. on Thursday granted a motion from Charah Solutions, owner of the former power plant in Springdale, that seeks all of the exhibits residents submitted on the last day of...
Springdale Township and Harmar ink 20-year water contract
Springdale Township and the Harmar Water Authority signed off on a 20-year deal that eventually will cap increases at 3% each year for the township’s rate for bulk water. The agreement “keeps the rate the same through 2024 and 2025, to $2.95 per 1,000 gallons that we’re paying now,” Commissioner...
In brief: Bridgeville, Carnegie area news and events, week of Feb. 26, 2024 and beyond
Collier appoints new commissioner, finance director Kari Suter was appointed to Collier Township’s board of commissioners, filling a vacancy left by Tim Young’s recent resignation. Commissioners also hired Jennifer Foster as finance director. Foster’s previous experience includes being a finance officer in the Army. “It sounds like this is a...
Penn State New Kensington rallies against proposed cuts to branch campuses
Anthony Palyszeski can speak firsthand about the impact his time as a student at Penn State New Kensington has had on his life. “My years at Penn State New Kensington turned me into a professional, to enter the workforce with pride,” said Palyszeski, 27, of Harrison, a network coordinator at...
Carnegie, family to restore historic stone pavilion
A local family and Carnegie Borough are working to restore a historic pavilion at Carnegie Park. Borough officials, and descendants of Domenico Masciantonio, are in the midst of a project to restore the Stone Pavilion at Carnegie Park to its original look and feel. “It’s a legacy,” said Masciantonio’s grandson,...
Lower Burrell aims to improve communication, collaboration among community groups
More than three dozen community groups in Lower Burrell gathered last week to share information and determine how they might pool resources. The event, organized by city officials, drew representatives from 38 organizations, including youth sports boosters, civic groups, parade organizers, businesses, schools, police, firefighters and Lower Burrell’s parks commission....
Cheswick, Springdale, Springdale Township to pursue 3-way garbage collection bid
Three communities in the Lower Valley are hoping to limit trash collection costs by joining together to advertise for garbage collection bids. Cheswick, Springdale and Springdale Township officials this week approved advertising a three-way bid. Springdale Township and Cheswick did a dual bid for refuse collection six years ago, and...
Councilmen say there’s not much Springdale can do with railroad intersection
There’s not much that Springdale Borough can do with an apparently complicated railroad crossing near Colfax Street. About 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, a tractor-trailer’s dolly legs got stuck under the rail at the Colfax Street crossing, police said. The driver, unable to get the rig off the tracks, evacuated the truck...
Riverview students to have virtual learning after 2nd reported gas leak this week
An odor of gas, the second in four days, was reported late Thursday morning at Riverview Junior-Senior High School in Oakmont, forcing the evacuation of students and staff. A smell of natural gas was reported about 10:45 a.m. in one of the school’s science rooms. Superintendent Neil English said students...
Springdale, Riverview enter into junior high baseball club co-op
School rivals in the Lower Valley are teaming up in yet another sport. The Allegheny Valley and Riverview school boards approved a cooperative sponsorship agreement that would allow seventh through ninth grade baseball players at Springdale to participate on the Riverview junior high club team. Springdale and Riverview already operate...
Chartiers Valley senior with drive for engineering named to 18 under Eighteen
Gabriella Ballock first met Chartiers Valley teacher Chuck Barber when she was a new student and couldn’t get inside the high school building. Barber, an applied engineering and technology teacher, opened the door to let her inside the school. And as Ballock entered the engineering and shop facility, she knew...
Train, truck collide at the same Springdale crossing as 3 previous wrecks
A tractor-trailer and a train collided Wednesday morning near the Colfax Street crossing in Springdale — the third such wreck in less than three years, and fourth since 2018. Springdale police Chief Derek Dayoub said his department was notified of the crash at 9:25 a.m. “The truck’s dolly legs got...
Postal service changes course on mailbox move on Lower Burrell’s Michigan Avenue
The U.S. Postal Service is rescinding a recent notice sent to residents of Lower Burrell’s Michigan Avenue that required them to move their mailboxes to the street by May 15. Michigan Avenue residents received letters earlier this month from the New Kensington Post Office informing them that their mailboxes must...
