Michael DiVittorio stories
Middle Eastern man living in Pittsburgh accused of fraud, ID theft in using a dead man’s name for years
Federal authorities have accused a Middle Eastern man of illegally living in Pittsburgh, misusing visas and providing a false name among other related offenses. Mahmoud Almasry, 44, also known as Mohammad Jiham, had been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of fraud and misuse of visas,...
Police arrest 2; find large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, crack, marijuana, $15k and a rifle in Penn Hills raid
Two people have been taken into custody following a drug bust in Penn Hills on Friday morning. Their names have not yet been released in connection with the investigation, and the charges against them are pending. Police executed a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of Idlewood...
Aspinwall Presbyterian Church members, friends say farewell to retired pastor
Members of Aspinwall Presbyterian Church celebrated the end of an era with the retirement of the Rev. Scott Hill. Hill, 65, has led the flock at the Center Avenue church for about 10 years; he was in his 36th year of ministry. His final service was Feb. 15. Hill plans...
Leetsdale seniors celebrate Valentine’s Day at the borough high rise
Many Leetsdale seniors were treated to a Valentine’s Day celebration at the community’s high rise. Mayor Sandra Ford, who was assisted by resident Lester Robinson in coordinating the event, said about 40 people were treated to a lovely afternoon on Feb. 13. “It was a good time to get together...
Leetsdale welcomes new administrative assistant, latest addition to borough office
Leetsdale officials have hired a longtime banker as their newest administrator. Council voted 6-0 on Feb. 12 to hire Danielle Jarrett-Flickner of Moon Township as the borough’s full-time administrative assistant. Councilman Roger Nanni was absent. Jarrett-Flickner was selected out of several candidates. She has about 40 years of experience in...
Sewickley, Divine Redeemer Parish officials to again debate Herbst House’s future
Sewickley and Divine Redeemer Parish officials once again will debate the future of a former convent and Catholic school. An evidentiary hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. March 26 at the borough building. The hearing is expected to resolve a legal dispute that the parish did not get a chance...
Leet commissioners postpone vote on proposed high school entrances
Quaker Valley School District officials hope to obtain Leet approval of an intergovernmental agreement involving entrances to the proposed high school in the township. That is going to take awhile as engineers from both parties address issues involving utilities, private property, right-of-ways and easements. The 167,000-square-foot school is planned on...
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee delivers Working Families Party’s response to State of the Union address
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, said the nation is in crisis and the American dream further and further out of reach as a result President Donald Trump. That message was part of her response to Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. The congresswoman from Western Pennsylvania spoke...
Town hall about proposed Pennsylvania cellphone ban in schools draws crowd
Momentum is growing for a push to ban cellphones in the state’s public schools. State Reps. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel, and Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, are among those spearheading House Bill 1814 to restrict cellphones in classrooms. It’s a proposed bell-to-bell ban, meaning students would secure their cellphones in a lockbox...
Sewckley lines up 4 streets for repairs in this year’s paving program
Sewickley officials are moving forward with plans to repair four streets this year. Council unanimously voted Feb. 10 to authorize borough engineer Mike Galet to prepare documents for the estimated $630,000 paving project. Streets include the lower portion of Crescent Avenue, Thorn Street from Peebles Street to the boundary, Ferry...
Aspinwall considering new infrastructure planning system
Aspinwall officials are considering a new infrastructure planning system to improve road maintenance and prepare for future projects. They have received proposals from and met with officials of Logan, Utah-based iWorQ Systems to use its public works software and analyze borough roads. If a deal is made, the company will...
Churches, fire departments, American Legions welcome fish fry patrons on 1st Friday of Lent
Mt. Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church and the Lower Burrell American Legion were among the church and secular groups that joined Friday in holding Lenten fish fries. The New Kensington fundraiser is led by parishioner Roseanne Tronka. The former wedding coordinator and caterer is familiar with serving food to lots...
House in Washington Township goes up in flames, neighboring houses sustain smoke, water damageVideo
Fire destroyed a Washington Township home Friday evening its two residents were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, fire officials said. Multiple fire departments responded to the blaze at 423 Hoover Drive around 7:20 p.m. Township Assistant Fire Chief Bob Baustert said a father and his adult...
61st annual Sewickley Invitational Paddle Tournament to take place this month
Paddleball enthusiasts will soon gather at several predominant Quaker Valley venues for the 61st annual Sewickley Invitational Paddle Tournament. This year’s contest features 160 players to be paired off into 80 co-ed teams competing in five different divisions. Many are from the Sewickley area. Festivities begin with revels at the...
St. James Church in Sewickley to host fish fry every Friday during Lent, including Good Friday
changes are coming to the lone Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh fish fry in the Quaker Valley area. Patrons of the Divine Redeemer Parish’s St. James Church in Sewickley will see a new express take-out line, department heads wearing headsets like NFL coaches as well as some changes to the menu....
Fox Chapel residents ask local leaders to consider resolution for noncooperation with ICE, Border Protection
Several Fox Chapel residents encouraged their elected leaders to pass a resolution establishing a policy regarding enforcement of noncriminal federal immigration laws. Specifically, they asked for something stating borough police will not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or those from U.S. Customs and Border Protection related to civil...
Penn Hills School District officials say messages about ICE being at high school are false
Penn Hills School District officials addressed social media rumors and said no Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were at any of its schools on Thursday. The message is in response to a TikTok video of a woman claiming ICE was at the high school. Superintendent John Mozzocio said the video...
Sewickley Heights police chief on administrative leave; investigation underway
Sewickley Heights police Chief James Harrison has been placed on administrative leave as the borough investigates alleged controversial communications. In a letter sent to residents earlier this month, borough officials said they received an anonymous letter containing purported copies of the communications and had been made aware that several residents...
Glen Osborne welcomes a new council member
Glen Osborne officials welcomed resident Jen Coyne as their newest council member. Council voted 5-0 Feb. 17 to appoint Coyne to fill the seat vacated by Anne Fruehauf. Councilman Gary Schurman was absent. Fruehauf, former chair of council’s finance committee, moved to nearby Edgeworth and resigned last month. Coyne’s term...
Sewickley Academy students build set, prepare for March musical
Sewickley Academy students have been hard at work for months both on and off stage in preparation for their upcoming musical. Everyone in the production plans to cut loose March 5-7 in Rea Auditorium and present “Footloose.” There are about a dozen students in the crew, nine in the orchestra...
Holiday Park VFD fish fry season started Ash Wednesday, runs through Good Friday
Fish fry season has begun and one of the major fundraising food providers in Plum is the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department. About 25 volunteers prepare and serve hand-breaded fried cod, pierogies, crab cakes, french fries, cole slaw, mac’n cheese and more. Led by fish fry coordinator Josh Scalamonga, more...
Oakmont approves resolution for non-cooperation with ICE and Customs & Border ProtectionVideo
Oakmont officials Tuesday night unanimously approved a resolution prohibiting the borough from engaging in noncriminal federal immigration law enforcement. The resolution also made clear Oakmont would not enter into a 287(g) agreement, which allows local police departments to aid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in immigration enforcement. The partnership is...
Fox Chapel hires new police chief
Fox Chapel officials have selected a longtime Swissvale officer as its new police chief. Council voted 6-0 on Feb. 16 to hire Charles Ellis Watson as the borough police department head starting next month. Council President Andrew Bennett was absent. Watson, 54, of Monroeville was selected following an extensive nationwide...
‘Something Rotten!’ going on at Fox Chapel Area High School
It is Benjamin Murray’s job this year to turn 110 energetic and precocious high schoolers into “Something Rotten!” The PG-13 musical is packed with ensemble numbers, tap dancing and adult humor. Murray, a longtime Fox Chapel Area High School musical director, was in rare form during rehearsal Feb. 11 refocusing...
Playground options under consideration for Leetsdale’s Henle Park
Alexander “Sasha” Napolitano hopes the next time he plays in Leetsdale’s Henle Park, it will be on some new climbing and spinning playground gear. The 14-year-old was among about a dozen Quaker Valley-area residents who got a look at new play area concepts for the park along Ferry Street on...
