Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 10
Former HGTV star Leanne Ford is ready to make another investment in Sewickley
Celebrity interior designer-turned-Sewickley business owner Leanne Ford plans to expand her reach in the borough by transforming a former flower shop into an Airbnb. The building is a 2,170-square-foot, three-story Victorian-style structure at 524 Locust Place. It was bought for $665,000 in July 2024 by Axel LLC, according to online...
Fox Chapel Area School District automated message of students missing school sent in error
Multiple Fox Chapel Area School District parents and guardians received an erroneous automated message that their child was absent from school Wednesday. Officials posted a message about the error on the district’s website and Facebook page. Several parents/guardians expressed their frustrations and concerns about the incident. One called it a...
Penn Hills home invasion under investigation
Penn Hills police are working to identify who invaded someone’s home in the municipality’s Rosedale neighborhood. Police Chief Jason Bonace said the incident took place around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, along Moore Avenue. Bonace said it remains an active investigation, and no further details were released as of Wednesday...
Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce calling this year’s Night Mart season a success
Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce officials are celebrating what was described as a successful Night Mart season. Night Marts are the summer vendor and artist gatherings the last Friday of June, July and August in Sewickley’s business district. Organizers estimate between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended the final Mart of...
Pittsburgh police help nab Chester man who was one of Pa.’s most wanted fugitives
A Chester man who spent more than nine months as one of the 10 most wanted fugitives in Pennsylvania was arrested Monday night at a home in Pittsburgh’s North Side, the U.S. Marshals Service said. Daryl Beckett Jr., 36, was arrested by Pittsburgh police and Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency...
Leet officials approve new war memorial plans, park projects
Plans for a memorial honoring current and former soldiers from Leet are moving forward. Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 8 to award an $11,000 war memorial project to Rochester-based Rome Monument. The granite structure will be built in the heart of Ambridge Avenue Park, a short walk from the township office....
Military veterans gather at Lamp Theatre to commemorate the end of WWII
Three words always come to mind for the Rev. Dan Lawrence of Murrysville Alliance Church when he speaks to his flock as well as at military funerals and commemorations. They are God, family and country. Those values were present Sunday afternoon in Irwin as the pastor delivered the opening and...
Explosion and fatal fire investigation continues in East Huntingdon
The Greensburg-based fire marshal for the Pennsylvania State Police continues to investigate what caused an East Huntingdon mobile home to explode Saturday, killing an elderly man on his porch. Firefighters from multiple communities responded to the incident about 4:15 p.m. in the 100 block of Round Top Court. The mobile...
Sewickley Harvest Festival draws 6,000 people despite spotty weather
Kelsey Taroli could not stop smiling at the Sewickley Harvest Festival earlier this month. The 9-year-old and her family had just moved this summer from Chesapeake, Va., to the borough and were in the midst of one of its largest community celebrations. What made her smile the widest was not...
Morning Roundup: Man stabbed in Carrick; Sewickley library closed due to water damage
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Saturday, Sept. 20: Man in stable condition after stabbing A man is recovering after being stabbed in the neck in Carrick. Pittsburgh police were dispatched around 2:10 a.m. Saturday to the 2300 block of Brownsville Road for reports of...
Business tax proposed in Blawnox
Blawnox officials are considering implementing a business tax that would charge $400 to those providing goods or services in the borough. The potential new revenue stream for the small Allegheny County municipality was proposed at a council meeting on Sept. 10. Borough officials hope to have a draft ordinance ready...
Duquesne University basketball player charged with assault
A Duquesne University basketball player has been charged with simple assault for allegedly punching a woman during an argument last month. Pittsburgh police filed the charges against city resident Maximus Edwards, 23, on Aug. 3. The woman, who Edwards knows, reportedly flagged down officers at the intersection of Penn Avenue...
Old Thunder Brewing reveals official Blawnox centennial brew
Blawnox officials have tapped Old Thunder Brewing Co. to create the official beer of the borough’s centennial celebration. The 100th anniversary event is set for noon-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Blawnox Community Park. Old Thunder co-owners Josh Taylor, Rob Dillman and Zach Gordon debuted cans of its festive libation,...
Leet commission president Martin McDaniel honored by QVCOG
Leet Commission President Martin McDaniel was recently honored for his years of public service to the Quaker Valley area. The former Edgeworth borough manager received a proclamation from the Quaker Valley Council of Governments during its annual reception at the Edgeworth Club on Aug. 28. It was also McDaniel’s 78th...
Former Leetsdale firehouse, spa turned into dream home
A former Leetsdale spa and firehouse is undergoing another transformation to become a dream home for an engaged couple. Adrienne Parkes and Charlie Dees moved to 85 Broad St. in May and plan to marry on Halloween. In the meantime, they’re renovating what once served as the borough building, police...
Infields at the Aspinwall ball fields being improved
The fields at the Aspinwall Recreational Area along Field Avenue are getting an upgrade in time for fall ball. Crews from Mars-based Treesdale Landscaping Company went to work on the infields in both play areas on Sept. 2. Work includes removing humps on the infield edges that roll into the...
Sharpsburg Community Library courtyard to be renovated
Sara Mariacher has a vision of people reading, doing crafts and enjoying each other’s company outdoors. The Sharpsburg Community Library branch manager sees just that in the near future for the courtyard at 1212 Main St. “I’m an idea person,” Mariacher said. “We’ll definitely be incorporating more outdoor activities into...
Sewickley police to get new set of firearms, related equipment out of caution
The Sewickley Police Department will receive new firearms to replace ones that officials are concerned might misfire. There have been multiple reports and numerous lawsuits filed in the past few years regarding Sig Sauer P320 guns going off by themselves. The pistol made by the New Hampshire-based gun manufacturer was...
Sharpsburg awards paving contract, welcomes new public works laborer
Sharpsburg officials plan to spend about $133,000 to repave a pair of roads this fall. Council unanimously voted to award paving contracts to Donora-based El Grande Industries on Aug. 28. Roads to be repaired are Ali Street and Penn Street, from School t0 Ninth streets. Borough Manager Christine DeRunk said...
Missing man found dead in Ohio River near Rivers Casino
After searching for a missing man, Pittsburgh police confirmed he was found dead Tuesday morning in the Ohio River near Rivers Casino. TribLive news partner WTAE reported that the body pulled from the river was Stephen Williams, 42, who was last seen leaving the Downtown Wyndham on Friday night. According...
Conference at Allegheny County Courts set to discuss Herbst House
A stagnated battle over the preservation or destruction of an old Catholic school and convent in Sewickley may soon resume. A status conference at Allegheny County Courts has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 3 at the City-County Building. The borough requested the conference after “various settlement efforts” reached an...
Contract talks between Glen Osborne, Sewickley police have begun
Contract talks have begun between Glen Osborne and Sewickley Police Department officials with the goal of getting a new deal done in the coming months. Glen Osborne contracts out its law enforcement services to the neighboring Sewickley force. The current five-year contract expires at the end of this year. Borough...
Aspinwall police lead children’s bike ride, watch movies with families
Aspinwall police led children on a bike ride through the borough and mingled with families at a movie night at Ben Killian’s Field on Aug. 15. It was all part of a Party in the Park celebration shortly before the start of the new school year. Mayor Joe Noro said...
Pittsburgh Irish Festival serves up food, music, heritage in 34th year
Bennett Ruemler waved a small Irish flag in celebration of a big victory Friday. The 3-year-old from Robinson struck the pot of gold in a Leprechaun’s Landings game during the 34th annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival’s opening day. It was a huge moment for Bennett and his mother, Natalie Ruemler, who...
Sewickley to adjust timing of traffic lights at several intersections
Sewickley pedestrians and motorists may soon see a change in how they manage major intersections in the borough. Officials want to give walkers a three-second head start before traffic lights or turning arrows turn green. Intersections to be adjusted include Ohio River Boulevard at Chestnut Street, River Street and Walnut...
