Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 102
Plum School District officials to provide more personnel info prior to voting meetings
Plum School District officials plan to offer more personnel information prior to school board meetings. Since October 2017, names of potential hires and their positions, as well as resignations, retirements, salaries and other related information, were routinely hidden from the public until after the board voted on them. The personnel...
Neighbor Spotlight: Dolly Provenza defined Oakmont through education, recreation board work for more than 30 years
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Neighbor Spotlight: Communication is key for Bridgeville Police Chief Chad King
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh offering scavenger hunt in parks through April
YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh has planned a scavenger hunt in order to get families out of their homes and into the parks this spring. The hunt is throughout April. Participation is free. “We were trying to find ways to get families to go outside together,” said Todd Brinkman, YMCA vice...
Neighbor Spotlight: Sewickley Public Library executive director’s love of books goes beyond the building
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Plum School District summer programs designed to help students’ grades, mental health impacted by pandemic
Plum School District officials understand the covid pandemic has impacted families greatly the past year and plan to offer a summer program to help students’ mental health and grades. “One of the big shifts going into this summer is: We’ve been hearing from our teachers and administrators and families that...
Officials: 1 person injured in multi-vehicle crash in Ross
One person was taken to a hospital, injured after a multiple vehicle crash in Ross. Allegheny County dispatch said the crash occurred Wednesday shortly before 7 p.m. at the intersection of Rochester Road and Babcock Boulevard. The boulevard was closed from Cemetery Lane to Rochester Road for about an hour....
Penn Hills High School prom to take place at Heinz Field
Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitt Panthers football and major concerts is soon to be home to the Penn Hills High School prom. School district officials announced the senior celebration would make its return June 17 after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. “They deserve it,”...
Audit: Penn Hills School District closing reserve fund deficit
Hard work, bond refinancing and covid pandemic-related savings have helped Penn Hills School District cut an estimated $18 million deficit to nearly zero in five years, according to a newly released audit report. Auditor Mark Turnley said he is “guardedly optimistic” about the district’s financial future. “When you look at...
Allegheny Freedom Works inaugural Easter egg hunt draws crowd despite rain
There were rain clouds high above the participants of the inaugural Allegheny Freedom Works Easter egg hunt March 28. Officials said it did not dampen the spirits of participants, as more than 1,000 eggs with various treats were scattered for young scavengers to find. Hundreds of families from Plum and...
Police: Man shot in leg in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood
A man was taken to a hospital in stable condition after being shot in the leg in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood. Public Safety spokesperson Cara Cruz said officers responded to reports of a man shot around 8:30 p.m. Monday along the 200 block of Larimer Avenue. Police located the victim inside...
Whitehall Fire Department adds junior program to enlist young members
Caelan Austin of Whitehall hopes to follow in his grandfather’s firefighter footsteps. The 16-year-old has a solid head start as the borough’s first junior firefighter. “I’ve always had an interest in it, and always wanted to help out the community and serve the community,” Caelan said. “I’m excited, happy, a...
Plum VFD plans to replace aging rescue truck, needs borough funds
Officials at Unity Volunteer Fire Department in Plum need borough funding to replace an aging rescue truck. The current vehicle is 21 years old with a rusting frame and is expected to be put out of service within the year. “It is not structurally acceptable to give to somebody else...
Millvale family of 3 rescued from burning home, 2 firefighters injuredVideo
A Millvale family of three was rescued from their burning home by borough police Monday afternoon. Emergency responders were dispatched to 301 William St. shortly after 4 p.m. “Heavy fire from the porch area extended into the house,” Millvale fire Chief Karl Cavanaugh said “Crews were able to keep it...
‘Comeback Crawl’ designed to help Oakmont businesses set for Saturday
It is no secret that small businesses, such as family restaurants and corner stores, have been hit hard during the covid pandemic. With vaccinations on the rise and safety protocols loosening up, Oakmont Chamber of Commerce members believe now is a great time to encourage more people to come out...
Pittsburgh police: Man dies after being wounded in North Side shooting
A man shot Wednesday night in Pittsburgh’s Perry South neighborhood has died, police said Thursday morning. The shooting happened about 9:30 p.m. on Brightridge Street. Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert and found a man shot in the head with a possible puncture wound to his chest, said Public Safety...
Rotary Club plans to post a peace pole in Monroeville Community Park West
A new monument designed to promote peace and togetherness may soon be installed in a Monroeville park. Rotary Club of Monroeville members want to install a peace pole in the the botanical garden section of Monroeville Community Park West. “We want to draw the diverse community together,” outgoing Rotary president...
Warm weather and sun brings people and pets to Boyce Park in PlumVideo
People and pets from all over flocked to Boyce Park in Plum on Wednesday to enjoy the warm weather and sunshine. Temperatures were in the low 70s most of the day. Park walkers were treated to the flute playing of Penn Hills resident and retired teacher Mike Stur. The dog...
Plum dog washing event raises money for Monroeville Animal Shelter
A Plum pet grooming business recently raised nearly $400 for the Monroeville Animal Shelter. The Barker Shop along Saltsburg Road hosted a dog washing event March 21. Monroeville animal control officer and shelter coordinator Corye Ramsey and his family assisted volunteer Lisa Wisiloaky with bringing the 21 dogs in and...
Fundraising effort underway for Springdale father and son left homeless after house fire
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help a Springdale family recover from a house fire. Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the two-alarm blaze around 2:30 p.m. Friday in the 300 block of Orchard Street. Robert Collier and his son, Kendall, lost a lot to the flames including...
Plum approves agricultural advisory board, another step in protecting farmland
Plum officials have taken another step toward protecting farmland and developing “agricultural security areas.” An agricultural security area helps participating farmers in various ways including prohibiting municipalities from enacting laws or ordinances that would unreasonably restrict farm structures or farm practices within the ASA. It also discourages condemnation of agricultural...
Police: Motorcycle, Jeep collide near Penn Hills Elementary School, road reopened hours later
A man on a motorcycle was severely injured Tuesday afternoon after colliding with a Jeep near Penn Hills Elementary School. Police Chief Howard Burton said the crash occurred along the 1000 block of Jefferson Road around 4:15 p.m. The motorcycle rider was taken to an unnamed hospital. An Allegheny County...
Arson suspected in Penn Hills fire that left one man burned
A husband and wife domestic dispute may have been the spark that caused a Penn Hills fire Sunday afternoon. “It’s a possibility,” police Chief Howard Burton said Monday night. “We don’t believe it was an accident. We believe it was definitely set. It was arson.” Firefighters were initially called to...
Verona, Oakmont to host Memorial Day parade
Oakmont and Verona officials are working to restore the twin boroughs’ Memorial Day parade. The annual event to honor the men and women who fought and died for this country was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Both borough councils recently gave approval to their respective committees to begin...
Springdale father and son safe, sheltered after fire damages home
Kendall Collier was at work when he received an emergency call from his father Friday afternoon. “ ’Our house is on fire. Come home quick’ were his exact words,” Collier said, standing outside their three-story Springdale home. Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the two-alarm blaze around 2:30 p.m. along...
