Maria Sosso stories, Page 5
Monroeville scholarship recipient plans to keep giving back
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...
Garden greats: Ingomar club presents awards to creative students
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...
Richland retains Vogel as its garbage, recycling collector
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...
Hunting Hampton ghosts: Museum serves as frequent site for group’s detection efforts
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 partnering with PRC for glass recycling
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 retires from Pine Township
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...
Flour Power: Navy veteran brings global foodie experience to Hampton
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...
Pine Community Day set for July 15
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....
Holy Spirit Seminar returns to Greater Works Church in Monroeville
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...
Expanded Vegan Expo & Festival returns to Monroeville
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...
Traffic signal, road widening project coming to Richland intersection
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 revamping
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...
Pine-Richland siblings achieve Eagle Scout rank together
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...
Gateway student designs winning July 4 logo for Monroeville
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...
Miss Independence crowned in Monroeville
Winners were announced at the annual Miss Independence Luncheon on June 17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Monroeville. Finalists in this year’s scholarship contest were Michelina Estremera, Mallory Brown, Jayla Chase, McKenna Brown, Shanyn Mitchell, Hailie Ramey and Peyton Jones. Jayla Chase was named Miss Independence and McKenna Brown,...
Rotary Club of Monroeville awards five scholarships
The Rotary Club of Monroeville held its annual scholarship luncheon on June 8, presenting awards to Marina Grado, Sofia Hernandez, Julian Livingston, Kaitlyn Novak and Amiya White. The students were considered not solely based on their academics. The club’s scholarship committee considered if the students demonstrated a trade or talent...
Gibsonia couple fundraises for adoption through service project
Gibsonia residents Roger and Stephanie Poorman, along with a team of volunteers helped their friend, Patti Navilliat, by staining her deck and painting her deck furniture. It was a fundraiser, but not a typical one. The volunteers who came together on June 3 to help Navilliat also played a critical...
Pine hires new director of parks and open space
Pete Geis has been hired as Pine Township’s director of parks and open space. His predecessor, Joni Patsko, retired last month after 30 years of service to the township. Geis has spent the last 10 years as the director of parks and recreation at Cranberry Township and served the 10...
Divine Mercy Academy students present ‘Tangled’ in Monroeville
Divine Mercy Academy students presented their production of “Tangled” on May 30. Based on the 2010 Walt Disney Pictures film, which in turn draws from European fairy tales, “Tangled” follows long-haired heroine Rapunzel on an adventure to leave the tower in which she is held and see a vast array...
Monroeville observes Memorial Day
Commander of American Legion Post 820 Regis J. Dugan served as the master of ceremony for the Monroeville Memorial Day remembrance at Old Stone Church Cemetery on May 29. Deacon Mike Kelly of Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish opened the ceremony with an invocation. Gateway High School student Jayla Chase...
Young Monroeville author discusses book
Fourteen-year-old Kasia Cunningham, a local author and Gateway student, led a discussion on her book, “Growing Up Divided,” at Monroeville Public Library on May 25. The book chronicles her early life, raised in two conflicting households and educated in two distinct school districts. Despite experiences with bullying and discrimination, she...
Monroeville school’s walk-a-thon tops fundraising goal
Students and faculty members at Divine Mercy Academy have gotten their steps in, exceeding a fundraising goal in the process. The Monroeville school’s annual walk-a-thon was held on the afternoon of May 23. Kindergarten through eighth-grade students participated, acquiring pledges via mybooster.com. Every grade had the opportunity to contribute to...
Back to Roots: Monroeville event features seed swap, plant education
Monroeville Community Park West was blooming with activity on May 20, thanks to a Back to Roots event. The Monroeville Area Native Plant Group and the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of Wild Ones hosted the festivities. Nature lovers and budding botanists came out to swap native seeds, purchase native plants, listen...
Pine-Richland students transform tunnel with murals
The tunnel at the Pearce Mill Trail has a new look. Twenty-five Pine-Richland students worked to complete their mural tunnel project with the help of donations from five community organizations. Pine-Richland School District, Township of Pine, Rich-Mar Rotary, Pine-Richland Opportunities Fund, and Friends of Pine Community Parks sponsored the project....
Keeping tradition alive: Poor Yorick’s plans Shakespeare performances in Monroeville
Poor Yorick’s Players started with a dream in 2006: to bring Shakespeare in the Park to Monroeville and the Pittsburgh region. “We’re dedicated to keeping the historical tradition of Shakespeare alive by focusing on the universal impact of Shakespeare’s words,” Dana Babal, president and artistic director, said. The troupe’s mission...
