Kellen Stepler stories, Page 56
3 hospitalized in Route 28 crash in East Deer
Three people were taken to local hospitals as a result of a crash Monday on Route 28 in East Deer that snarled traffic in the northbound lanes for nearly two hours. At 3:24 p.m., officers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Route 28 in East Deer,...
ScareHouse at Pittsburgh Mills to hold ultimate zombie dress-up competition
Those who think they have what it takes to be “Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie” should shuffle their way to the Pittsburgh Mills mall Monday night. The ScareHouse is seeking people to dress up like zombies and compete for the title of Pittsburgh’s ultimate zombie Monday at 8 p.m., with entry beginning...
Harrison girl plans ice cream social to raise money for Lower Burrell’s police dog, Buc
A Harrison girl known for raising money for area police departments is coordinating an event for Lower Burrell’s police dog, Buc. Kaley Bastine, 11, will be holding an ice cream social to raise money for Buc from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mogie’s Irish Pub, 3210 Leechburg Road. “It’s...
Allegheny Valley School District renews Superintendent Pat Graczyk’s contract through 2029
Patrick Graczyk will lead the Allegheny Valley School District through the 2028-29 school year. The school board Aug. 15 approved Graczyk’s contract for a term effective July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029. He will receive a base salary of nearly $182,000 for the 2024-25 school year, according to the...
Springdale promotes 2 police officers to sergeant
Two Springdale police officers soon will be referred to as sergeants. Council approved the promotions for Paul Perriello and Fred Hockenberry at its meeting Aug. 15. “I’m just happy that I have a supportive mayor and council. I look forward to bolstering our department and continue to grow it for...
West Deer, Deer Lakes schools renew police agreement
West Deer’s police department will continue to station officers at Deer Lakes schools. Township supervisors and the school board approved a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies for policing at Curtisville Primary Center, East Union Intermediate Center and Deer Lakes Middle School. Police Chief Robert Loper told supervisors Deer...
Deer Lakes welcomes 6 new teachers — and a therapy dog — for 2023-24 school year
Deer Lakes School District is welcoming several new initiatives and staff members when classes begin Wednesday. Spokesman Shawn Annarelli said the district will implement its Portrait of a Learner initiative this year, after it being in the works for about a year. The implementation won’t change the curriculum, but rather...
Penn State athletes take to downtown New Kensington for community service project
Penn State New Kensington students welcomed themselves to the community by giving back to it. About 120 student-athletes and their coaches took to downtown New Kensington on Friday afternoon to clean up the community as part of a back-to-school community service project. Assignments included cleaning Fourth Street and the outside...
New Acmetonia Elementary School playground could be a reality
The wheels are starting to turn on a proposal for a playground at Acmetonia Elementary School in the Allegheny Valley School District. The school board will vote on approving funds for a playground at Acmetonia during its Sept. 12 meeting. School board member Amy Sarno and Acmetonia’s PTA have been...
Therapy dogs provide comfort in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood
Gloria Frick says everyone knows the power dogs can have on a person’s well-being. On Thursday, Frick and other members of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs brought some four-legged comfort to Ridge Top Park in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, where six people were killed in a home explosion Saturday. Those...
Rustic Ridge residents meet with Plum officials as community begins to recover
Plum, Allegheny County and American Red Cross personnel shared resources to help residents in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood during a meeting Thursday night, in the wake of a house explosion in the neighborhood Saturday that killed six. “We want you to know that there’s a large community here that’s...
East Deer zoning board recommends approval of 3 billboards; decision pending on a 4th
East Deer’s zoning hearing board found the township’s zoning ordinance is exclusionary regarding billboards and recommended, for now, approval of three of four billboards proposed by America First Enterprises. The board held a public hearing on America First Enterprises’ proposal for four billboards in the township June 29. The company,...
Springdale High School to establish Mabel C. Pratt scholarship fund after late music teacher
An Alle-Kiski Valley music teacher’s legacy will be remembered now in the form of scholarships. Allegheny Valley school directors on Tuesday accepted a distribution from the estate of Mabel C. Pratt for $10,000 to create the Mabel C. Pratt Music-Arts Scholarship Fund. The move is in accordance with Pratt’s will....
Springdale formally joins Riverview in 3 sports
Springdale and Riverview will put the rivalry aside — at least in three sports. The Allegheny Valley School Board on Tuesday gave final approval to a cooperative agreement that allows the schools to have partnerships in wrestling, softball and golf. Board member Paula Moretti said the schools have had an...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Burrell administrators shift for upcoming school year
New initiatives and administrative staffing changes are planned as the Burrell School District prepares for the upcoming school year. Brian Ferra, formerly the principal at Charles Huston Middle School, will be the principal at Stewart Elementary. Travis Welch, Huston’s assistant principal, will be the building’s new principal, and Krista Pisano...
Allegheny Valley School District to offer new learning, technology for upcoming school year
It has been a busy summer of planning in the Allegheny Valley School District. When students return Aug. 21, there will be several new programs in place, including a reading series for elementary students, a math intervention pilot program for first and third graders and technology upgrades districtwide. Superintendent Pat Graczyk...
‘Just heartwarming’: Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games to be held in September in Lower Burrell
Courtney Kobelenske recalls seeing a sea of purple shirts, signaling they were volunteers for the inaugural Alle-Kiski Inclusion Games, last fall at K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Park in Lower Burrell to set up for the day’s activities. Then came the blue shirts — representing the event’s participants — to...
East Deer’s summer celebration set for Memorial Field
Food, games and live music are just some of the attractions available when East Deer celebrates summer on Saturday, Aug. 19. The township’s summer celebration will hit East Deer Memorial Field from noon to 8 p.m. “It’s grown into a very good festival for our community,” said township Commissioner Tony...
Monarch Hospice to host bereavement walk
A Lower Burrell hospice care provider will hold its traditional walk and celebration of life this fall for those who have lost loved ones within the past year. The fourth annual Memorial Walk and Celebration of Life, sponsored by Monarch Hospice, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept....
Leechburg celebrates back to school with block party
Leechburg-area students got a warm welcome back to school Saturday on Main Street. Sponsored by the Leechburg Ministerial Association, families and community members descended upon the inaugural Back 2 School Block Party for free school supplies, food, refreshments, games and more. “I am amazed to see how much our community...
Group of Deer Lakes French students gets first-hand look at culture on overseas trip
Years spent learning French in the Deer Lakes School District came to life last month for some students and their families. The group visited Europe and soaked up knowledge in France, Monaco and London, said Deer Lakes French teacher Desiree Rotondo. She said the trip was planned for July 2021...
Springdale, Riverview may team up in softball, wrestling, golf
Bitter rivals in Lower Valley high school athletics scene may be teaming up in three sports. Allegheny Valley school directors are considering a cooperative sponsorship agreement with the Riverview School District for its softball, wrestling and golf programs. “We believe that creating positive, meaningful relationships with our neighbors such as...
Riverview School Board to interview candidates Aug. 14 for 2 vacancies
The Riverview School Board has two vacancies to fill. Superintendent Neil English said board members Jeanine Hurt-Robinson and Jane Miller have resigned from the panel. Their resignation letters weren’t immediately available. In an updated statement Wednesday, the district said that after consulting with the county department of elections, the school...
Kids games to return at St. Margaret Mary Parish’s annual festival
An annual Lower Burrell festival will be returning to St. Margaret Mary Parish church grounds later this week. The St. Margaret Mary Parish Festival of Friendship will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the church at 3055 Leechburg Road. “Our main thing is that we...
