Maria Sosso stories, Page 4

To keep roads in Pine township as safe to drive as possible in winter weather conditions, Pine supervisors approved a PennDOT agility agreement at the Oct. 2 meeting. “In talking to PennDOT, one of the big issues that has been arising in Pine is winter maintenance of the state roads...

Fans of “Bridgerton” and “Sanditon” flocked to Northern Tier Regional Library for a regency tea party on Sept. 23. Tea sandwiches, cookies, pastries and varietal teas were served as patrons took part in regency trivia and games. The lineup included raffles, music and prizes. “It was so much fun for...

Monroeville and neighboring communities united to participate in the International Day of Peace Celebration on Sept. 23. The ceremony occurred at the Monroeville Rotary Club’s dedicated Peace Pole and Pavilion 4 in Community Park West. In 2021, the club dedicated a peace pole with “Let Peace Prevail” translated into 38...

The Pine Athletic Complex in Pine Community Park was packed on Sept. 17 for the Pine Richland Rams Homecoming Volunteer Committee’s pep rally, Ram Fam. The event featured a parade, food trucks and a bonfire. The festival on the field showcased local organizations and sports teams running games and activities...

Divine Mercy Academy and Monroeville Rotary Club have partnered to provide community service opportunities for kids ages 5-13. While the EarlyAct Club at Divine Mercy Academy is the first of its kind in Monroeville schools, Rotary Club president Diane Milowicki hopes to create many more of these clubs in the...

Richland resident Justin Lee takes his son to play soccer at Richland Community Park, so when he heard that the field had been vandalized, he was concerned. “My son is in the under-5 group for soccer and they practice at Richland Community Park. When I saw what had been done...

Spectro Dolce Confectionery is officially open for business in the Monroeville Mall, providing sweet treats to customers and job and learning opportunities for those with autism. “Spectro Dolce is part of our Autism Employment Network. It’s a direct paid work experience for individuals with autism and other forms of neurodivergence....

Pine Township hosted its annual Touch-a-Truck event on Sept. 16 in the Pine Community Center parking lot. The family-friendly event drew a crowd of young residents eager to see, touch and learn about a truckload of vehicles. Franktuary and Kona Ice provided food and sweet treats. One of the highlights...

Pine residents can now drop off glass bottles, jars, and jugs of all colors at a permanent recycling station in the municipal building parking lot thanks to a grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The township celebrated the grand opening of its new recycling bin with a...

Northern Tier Regional Library eliminated fines as of Sept. 1. This decision comes as the result of an ongoing initiative to make libraries more accessible to the public. The Allegheny County Library Association piloted the program in September 2019 in nine of its member libraries, including Millvale, Monroeville and Penn...

Administrators and teachers at Divine Mercy Academy in Monroeville were eager to get students excited about the new school year at their back-to-school event on Aug. 22. “The event was really for our school families to start the year off on the right foot and enjoy the company of the...

Monroeville resident Enysah Roberts is all about giving back, and she plans to study subjects that will help her continue to do so. “I’m really interested in medicine and science and just helping people out, and I feel like medicine is the best way to do that,” she said. “I...

The Ingomar Garden Club recognized the achievements of local students with an awards lunch on Aug. 2. Each year, there are various youth award contests through the National Garden Clubs Inc., including the High School Essay Contest, Poetry Contest and Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl Poster Contests. This year’s theme...

Vogel Disposal Service will continue to be the garbage and recycling collector for Richland Township — though beginning in 2024, the method of collection will change and rates will increase. The current contract with Vogel Disposal Service expires at the end of 2023. The new contract with Vogel will be...

The Steel City Ghost Hunters held their first evening lecture on ghost hunting at Hampton’s Depreciation Lands Museum on July 22. The presentation included showcasing equipment used during their investigations and some of the methods employed by the ghost hunters. Heather Mahoney, Kim Justice, Lois Dix and Melissa Treglia have...

Pine Township is implementing a new glass recycling bin program as part of a new partnership between municipalities in Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Resources Council to provide reliable, uninterrupted glass recycling access. The glass recycling bins provide a contact-free, self-serve drop-off recycling service with flexible schedules and are free...

Amy Pampiks, director of human resources for Pine Township, is retiring after 18 years of service. “She’s really helped me in my transition as the manager here. She’s guided me and helped me understand how Pine Township works,” township manager Jason Kratsas said. Pampiks was recognized for her dedication to...

After 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Hampton resident Amy Knight has transitioned into a new form of service by opening Flour Power Cooking Studios — Pittsburgh, which recently marked its first anniversary. Her years in the Navy took her all around the globe, where she had the...

An annual tradition, Pine Township will hold its annual Community Day on July 15 from 4-9 p.m. at Pine Community Park. Pine residents will be able to enjoy food from local vendors, live music and activities for all ages. The Boy Scouts will be present for the grand opening ceremony....

Greater Works Church in Monroeville announces the much-anticipated return of its Holy Spirit Seminar, “Miracles Happen!” After a three-year hiatus, Greater Works’s doors will open to the community on July 10 to 14 with worship, empowering teachings and personal ministry. “I couldn’t be more excited to get it started again...

The Pittsburgh Vegan Expo & Festival has expanded this year to double as both a food and arts event, adding a second day of activities, as well. The festival, scheduled for July 8-9, was established in the 1990s by owner and CEO Amy “Amethyst” Cottrill, who has spent all these...

Following a traffic study for the intersection of Community Center Drive and Gibsonia Road in Richland, the installation of a traffic signal and left turn lane were deemed necessary to increase safety and ease traffic flow. The Richland board of supervisors voted on June 21 to authorize Trans Associates to...

Pine Parks and Recreation is getting a new look. The Pine board of supervisors approved a proposal from Pashek + MTR for $14,000 for Pine branding and sign standards at the June 19 meeting. The new signage is part of a rebranding project with sign standards that are modeled after...

Scouting has become something of a family tradition for recent Eagle Scout siblings Mathew and Teagan Yurocko. Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is no small feat, and it’s rare for siblings to achieve it. It’s a relatively new opportunity for a brother and sister to celebrate earning Eagle together...

The Monroeville Independence Day Parade Committee has selected Gateway student Briana Harper as its 2023 logo contest winner. This year’s Fourth of July parade theme is “Celebrate America.” The contest was open to Gateway students in grades K-12. Students submitted designs for a simple logo to represent the theme “Celebrate...