Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 103
Some Sewickley restaurants say loosened covid restrictions won’t have much impact
While some covid restrictions for businesses throughout the state may soon be lifted, some Sewickley restaurant owners say the changes will not have a significant impact on their operations. Gov. Tom Wolf on March 15 announced he would roll back a slew of mitigation measures effective April 4, including the...
Verona to host drive-in Easter movie instead of egg hunt this year
Verona parks and recreation board members want to do something different for Easter this year due the covid pandemic. A special drive-in movie night in Railroad Park has been planned in lieu of the traditional egg hunt. “We’d love to see it full,” said Trish Hredzak-Showalter, councilwoman and recreation board...
Plans for Verona’s 150th anniversary celebration nearly complete
Verona’s 150th anniversary is such a huge deal it will be celebrated with at least four separate events throughout the year, organizers announced. “I think people are excited about it,” said Jessica Varone, founder and chair of Verona Community Group (VCG). “It’s been hard for us to make plans due...
Families from several communities play at Plum park Tuesday afternoon
Families from Plum, Monroeville and other communities took advantage of the sun and mild weather by heading outdoors for a little fun. Some showed up at the O’Block Playground on Monroeville Trestle Road in Plum for swinging on swings and climbing on playground equipment on Tuesday afternoon....
Riverview School District to offer all students full-time, in-school instruction starting in April
All Riverview School District students will have the option of full-time, in-person or virtual instruction starting next month. It is part of the district’s plan to eliminate its hybrid model where students are split into two groups with each having a couple of days of in-class instruction and virtual learning...
Verona, Oakmont planning 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 due to the pandemic. Both borough councils recently gave approval to their respective committees to begin...
Plum’s Oblock Junior High on remote learning Wednesday due to covid cases
Plum School District’s Oblock Junior High School students will be remote learning Wednesday due to covid cases. District officials said six students tested positive for the virus, and 48 people will need to quarantine. Contact tracing is underway to determine who may have been in close contact with the staff...
Sewickley gets Netflix makeover as part of new film projectVideo
Several Sewickley residents and business owners were excited for the borough’s closeup as Netflix production crews were in town filming scenes for an upcoming project. “I think this is a really pretty area, and think it’s nice that people would want to feature it in some film,” said Kimberly Anderson,...
Oakmont officials approve paving, line painting contracts
Oakmont officials tapped a Valencia-based company to cover this year’s paving program. Council unanimously voted to award a nearly $302,000 contract to Shields Asphalt Paving. Borough manager Scot Fodi said he is familiar with the company from when he worked at Middlesex and Pine townships. Shields was the lowest of...
Riverview High School music department’s drive-thru pasta dinner fundraiser set
Riverview High School music department’s annual pasta fundraiser will be a little different this year due to covid-19 restrictions. A drive-thru event is set for Sunday, March 28 from 3:30 p.m. until the food runs out at the high school, 100 Hulton Road. The Easter bunny will be on hand...
William Shatner to headline Monroeville’s Steel City Con in June
Organizers of Steel City Con, the largest pop culture gathering at the Monroeville Convention Center, have announced a new special guest headliner. Hollywood icon William Shatner is scheduled to attend the first two days of the convention set for June 11-13. The Emmy award-winning Canadian-born actor, writer, producer/director is best...
Divine Mercy Academy in Monroeville on remote learning due to covid cases, staffing
Divine Mercy Academy in Monroeville switched to remote learning this week due to four positive covid cases and staffing concerns, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh officials announced Wednesday. All athletic practices and games were also suspended until Monday, when in-person instruction is expected to resume. Officials said school families were notified...
Oakmont, Verona named banner communities by Allegheny League of Municipalities
Oakmont and Verona have been named banner communities by the Allegheny League of Municipalities. The program recognizes communities that show a commitment to professional development, prudent fiscal management, transparency, accountability, and proactive communications to engage community stakeholders. The two were among 68 communities and five municipal authorities recognized this year,...
Depreciation Lands Museum in Allison Park to host volunteer orientation, preparing for new season
Depreciation Lands Museum, a Colonial era living history settlement in Allison Park, is gearing up for a new season and welcoming new volunteers. Volunteers, also called interpreters, dress in 18th century garb and demonstrate what life was like during that time period. There are some hands-on activities such as spinning...
Verona finance director Jerry Kenna resigns; council hires new bookkeeper, payroll service
Verona finance director Jerry Kenna has resigned from the borough, again. The former borough manager turned money manager submitted his resignation via email, which was read by council President Nancy Carpenter at at council’s March 9 meeting. “Due to the growth of my business and my family, it is time...
South Fayette High School teacher suspended after issuing ‘inappropriate’ assignment
A South Fayette High School social studies teacher has been suspended after issuing a controversial assignment about slavery. The assignment was titled “Is The Slave Trade Profitable?” It asked students to be a ship captain in the 1700s and budget the buying and selling of slaves, asking whether they would...
Police: 3 people shot in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood, 2 are critical
Multiple people were shot in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood, Public Safety officials reported Tuesday night. Allegheny County 911 dispatch confirmed police were called to Suismon and James streets around 9:20 p.m. Officials said three men were taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds, two in critical condition and one...
Jefferson Hills to explore use of bus garage as substation for JHFR, Gill Hall stays closed
Jefferson Hills officials want to explore the use of a bus garage and other sites as a possible substation for Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue in lieu of reinstating the Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company. A bus garage along Gill Hall Road in Jefferson Hills may be used as a substation...
Volunteers, seniors needed for Cleanup Week in Plum
Plum officials are looking for volunteers and seniors to join in April’s Cleanup Week. It’s an expansion of the borough’s annual Cleanup Day to celebrate Earth Day. This year marks the fifth effort. Last year’s cleanup was canceled due to the pandemic. Cleanup Week is April 19-24 with the last...
Teen killed in single-vehicle crash in Ross
Ross Township police are investigating a crash that killed a 17-year-old boy Sunday. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased at Jacob Weiland of Pittsburgh. The crash occurred shortly after 9 p.m. along the 300 block of McIntyre Road. Weiland was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the...
Plum Community Library reopens to the public with some limitations
Plum Community Library reopened March 8 to patrons after months of being closed due to the covid-19 pandemic with a few differences. “We are excited to see our users, who we haven’t seen in a while, and welcome them back to the library,” Director Pam Calfo said. The library closed...
Police: Man in custody after standoff in Oakmont
An Oakmont man was taken into custody Monday morning in connection with an overnight standoff with borough police and Allegheny County SWAT. Officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Allegheny River Boulevard shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday for a welfare check on a man threatening to harm himself. Police...
Penn Hills High School students honor Black and women’s history with project
With February being Black History Month and March Women’s History Month, Penn Hills High School English teacher Rachel Schifino had students develop artwork based on literature that recognizes both. “We’re creating a collaborative slide show of image macros (posters) to showcase the beauty and experiences of Black women through the...
Plum EMS reaches 30-year milestone
An ambulance company in one of Allegheny County’s largest boroughs has reached a milestone. Plum EMS turns 30 this month. Tom Izydore, retired paramedic and current board member, said he is excited the company reached this moment and recalled how it all started. “As far as things that we’ve done...
Police: Shots fired from several cars along Route 28, 2 people hit
State police are investigating a shooting along Route 28 that left two people hospitalized with gunshot wounds. Police said the incident occurred Saturday around 3:30 p.m. near the Route 8 exit in Sharpsburg. When troopers arrived, Pittsburgh police were on the scene with a vehicle “which had several indications of...
