Michael DiVittorio stories
Leetsdale has a new borough manager
Leetsdale is under new borough management. Council voted 6-0 on Jan. 5 to hire Janet Hardy-Miklos as its new borough manager. Councilman Robert Benedict was absent. Hardy-Miklos, a resident of Vanport Township in Beaver County, officially started the following day. She takes over for longtime borough secretary/treasurer Jennifer Simek. The...
Fox Chapel-area communities reorganize their local governments to start the year
Fox Chapel-area communities reorganized their local borough and township governments Jan. 5. Aspinwall Scott Zimmerman was sworn in as mayor. He then administered the oath of office to council members Jeff Harris, Andrew Corey-O’Conner, Patti McCaffrey and Lara Voytko. Harris and Heth Turnquist were reappointed as council president and vice...
Lindsay Theater hosts Pittsburgh Zoo educators for ‘Zootopia 2’ screening event
The Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center hosted a pair of Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium experts to talk about and showcase animals as part of a special screening event for Disney’s animated film “Zootopia 2.” Zoo interpretation manager Jessica Ries and volunteer services manager Heather Berkey fielded questions from guests and...
Here’s how Quaker Valley area reorganized their local governments to start the year
Many Quaker Valley area communities have set their council and commission leadership as well as reappointed administrators and other local government officials. Aleppo Judy Haluka is the new commission president. She takes over for George Jones, who was sworn in to a new four-year term on the board Jan. 5....
Local ‘ICE Out for Good’ protests remain peaceful
As protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions took place this weekend across the nation, about 1,600 people participated in an “ICE Out For Good” demonstration Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh’s South Side, matched by smaller gatherings in Westmoreland and Washington counties. Pittsburgh protesters gathered near the Hot Metal Bridge...
Freezing roads, temperature drop could impact morning commute
With temperatures dropping to the mid-20s, the National Weather Service Pittsburgh is warning Monday morning commuters about hazardous travel conditions because of ice. Late Sunday, NWS officials said any roads that were wet may freeze overnight. They urged motorists to use caution and take it slow if out traveling. According...
Police: Man discovered beaten in Pittsburgh’s the Bluff neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are working to find out what led to a man being found beaten Friday evening. Public Safety spokesperson Eliza Durham said officers were dispatched to the intersection of Jumonville Street and the Boulevard of the Allies shortly after 11 p.m. for a person suffering from facial injuries. Officers...
Hotel Saxonburg sheriff’s sale postponed until May 15
The sheriff’s sale of a historic restaurant, bar and hotel in Saxonburg has been postponed. Hotel Saxonburg at 220 W. Main St. was expected to go up for public auction Jan. 16. The sale has been bumped to 11 a.m. May 15, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office. It...
State funding approved to fix Backbone Road in Sewickley Heights
A major road repair project in Sewickley Heights is closer to fruition following the approval of state funds. Backbone Road has been closed since landslides in mid-April 2024 caused significant damage to it between Little Sewickley Creek Road and Grouse Lane in Bell Acres. The area got so bad that...
Teen accused in East McKeesport killing charged as an adult
A Pittsburgh teen is being charged as an adult for allegedly killing a man in East McKeesport. Allegheny County Police on Tuesday announced they arrested Zylon Patterson, 17, in connection with a June 12 homicide. Police allege Patterson is responsible for the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Keith Pelmon of Penn...
Blawnox councilwoman crafts mini Moondog’s to celebrate business owner, music charity
Blawnox native Katie Specht-Coban sees her borough as a small world filled with big-hearted people. The daughter of the late Charles Specht, former president of the Pittsburgh Miniature Society, has carried on her father’s passion of crafting tiny locations and keepsakes. In December 2024, the councilwoman presented miniature scenes for...
Sharpsburg manager recognized for distinguished service
Sharpsburg officials know they have something special in borough Manager Christine DeRunk. Other entities are starting to take notice. She was given the 2025’s Distinguished Public Service Award from the Keystone State Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration. It was bestowed to the borough’s top administrator by Keystone...
Glen Osborne officials hold line on real estate taxes in 2026 budget
Glen Osborne property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes in 2026 as part of the borough’s budget. Council unanimously voted Dec. 16 to pass its 2026 budget and maintain the tax rate at 4.9 mills. The last time real estate taxes were changed was a...
Sewickley Academy students collect toys for East End Cooperative Ministry
Sewickley Academy’s holiday toy drive resulted in multiple gifts for a local ministry. School officials said they were able to donate seven large red giving boxes with toys and gifts to East End Cooperative Ministry in mid-December. The drive was from Dec. 2-15 and included efforts from fifth graders and...
Sewickley Public Library to host open house for parents, guardians of early learners
Parents and guardians of preschool and kindergarteners will have a special opportunity to mingle with school, daycare and related entities at the Sewickley Public Library. A special open house at 500 Thorn St. is set for 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 10. Organizers said the event brings together representatives from...
Pittsburgh rings in new year with First Night festivitiesVideo
Levi Griffith-Esposito’s New Year’s resolution is to be more creative and artistic. The Carson Middle School student is well on his way completing his first project, a multi-colored 2026 hat as part of Pittsburgh’s First Night Celebration. Arts and crafts were among the many activities Wednesday evening provided by the...
Leetsdale officer recognized for efforts in stopping suspect in nearby town
Quick thinking and reaction helped a Leetsdale police officer stop a burglary suspect in a nearby borough. Patrolman Steve Impell was recently recognized for his efforts in assisting Edgeworth police on Nov. 6. Edgeworth police Chief John Burlett told TribLive that officers responded to a burglary report along Oliver Road...
Aleppo officials hold the line on real estate taxes for 2026
Aleppo property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes to support the township’s 2026 budget. Commissioners unanimously voted Dec. 22 to pass next year’s spending plan and maintain the tax rate at 3.5 mills. The last time taxes were changed was in the 2014 budget —...
Glen Osborne Councilwoman Mary Scalercio remembered as dedicated public servant, educator
Mary Scalercio was someone who believed in leaving things better than when you found it. She took that approach in helping Glen Osborne with its parks and holiday preparations as well as general business during her 12 years on council. Scalercio was in the last weeks of her third term...
Sharpsburg library officials to revisit courtyard project after bids come in over budget
A courtyard renovation project at Sharpsburg Community Library is being sent back to the drawing board after contract bids for the work came in over budget. Council unanimously voted Dec. 18 to reject the bids. The vote was needed because the borough owns the building. However, the project is being...
Sewickley to improve pedestrian safety at major business district intersection
Sewickley officials plan to give one of the borough’s busiest intersections a pedestrian safety boost next year. Curb ramps at Broad and Beaver streets are in poor condition and don’t meet current code requirements, borough engineer Mike Galet reported. The intersection is also not well signalized for pedestrian crossings, increasing...
Pittsburgh Public Schools student dies after being hit by sliding vehicle in Carrick
A Pittsburgh Public Schools student has died after being struck by a vehicle in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. District officials said the deceased girl is Ishara Kami, 17, a senior at Carrick High School. Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian accident at about 2:50 p.m. Friday at the intersection of...
Leetdale officials seek public input for active transportation plan
Leetsdale officials are seeking public input on how they can make the borough more walkable, accessible and safe. An active transportation plan survey was recently launched to collect information, comments and concerns from everyone who travels within the Quaker Valley area borough, including residents, visitors and commuters. “What we really...
Aspinwall officials hold line on real estate taxes in 2026 budget
Aspinwall property owners will not have to pay more in borough real estate taxes next year. Council unanimously voted Dec. 10 to pass its 2026 spending plan and maintain the millage rate at 8.36 mills, including 0.5-mill for public safety. There were no changes to the budget from its proposed...
Blawnox has new messaging system for alerts, announcements to residents
Blawnox officials have signed on to a new messaging system to send emergency alerts and other announcements to residents. The borough recently switched from Rave Mobile Safety to CivicPlus for mass communications. Administrators said they were looking for a new system that was more user-friendly and allowed for more targeted...
