Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 105
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...
Penn Hills police: 2 people hurt, including 1 with broken neck, from head-on crash
Penn Hills police are investigating a crash that sent two people to the hospital, with one driver switching cars and leaving the scene. Police Chief Howard Burton said the two-vehicle head-on crash took place Friday shortly after 11 p.m. along Frankstown Road near the Lime Hollow Road intersection. A woman...
St. Irenaeus in Oakmont offering more than some fish fries during the pandemic
Fish fry organizers at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Oakmont credit their volunteers for being able to offer a pre-covid menu and streamlined operations during the pandemic Lenten season. “We’re able to do this due to the time and dedication of the volunteers,” said event co-chair Caryn Cebulak. “People taking...
Neighbor Spotlight: Mona Costanza wears many hats as a Plum community leader
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...
Neighborhood Spotlight: Carnegie Carnegie curator Gilot has always had a passion for history
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...
Plans approved for a medical marijuana dispensary in Pleasant Hills
Plans for a new medical marijuana dispensary in Pleasant Hills are moving forward. Pleasant Hills Council recently voted 4-2 to grant site plan approval for the Ethos Cannabis business at 560 Clairton Blvd. Council President Cheryl Freedman and members Eileen Solinas, Nicole Leckenby and Robert Karcher voted in favor. Greg...
Excavation continues at Plum municipal site along Old Mine RoadVideo
Excavation continues along Old Mine Road in Plum for the borough’s new municipal center project. Massaro Construction Management Services is overseeing Rycon Construction crews at the site, which is next to the Renton Volunteer Fire Department and Plum EMS stations. Digging began in January and is expected to continue through...
Oakmont plans to construct a pump track through state purchasing program
Oakmont officials plan to skip the traditional project bidding process in favor of a state-approved contractor to create a pump track in Creekside Park. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said council is expected to hire American Ramp Co. through the state Department of General Services’ COSTARS program at its March 15...
Penn Hills School District officials tap Oakmont company to replace boilers
Penn Hills School District officials have contracted with an Oakmont-based company to solve boiler issues at the elementary and high schools. District plant manager Bora Caliskan said in August that two of five boilers at the high school and one of three boilers at the elementary school are not working....
Plum’s Tyler Jaecke sworn in as new Oakmont officer
Oakmont police has a new full-time officer. Mayor Christopher Whaley swore in patrolman Tyler Jaecke, 29, of Plum at Tuesday night’s meeting. “I like the area. I like the community,” Jaecke said. “I’d really like to work here. I knew some of the guys that worked here already, and they...
Dozens of Pine-Richland parents rally for more in-person learningVideo
Pine-Richland School District officials plan to gather more parental data as they work to offer five-day in-person learning to more grade levels in the next several weeks. A survey is will be posted today asking parents of students in grades 4-12 if they want full online learning, five-day in-person instruction...
Plum volunteers to bring back drive-thru Easter celebration in early April
Plum families will have a chance to socially distance with the Easter Bunny in a few weeks. A Drive-Thru Eggstravaganza is set for April 3 at the public works facility along Old Mine Road. It is organized by Plum Rotary president Mona Costanza and her volunteers. The idea for the...
Plum creates online proclamation application to help honor more residents
Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel believes the best part about his job as an elected official is honoring residents. “Our community is really great. People step up and do things. I try to get as much out as I can,” the mayor said. Trouble is, it can be difficult to recognize...
Several officials and business owners rally against a proposed PennDOT I-79 bridge tollVideo
A proposed toll to pay for a bridge widening project along I-79 in the South Fayette area is unnecessary and would cause undo hardship to motorists, as well as residents and business owners of several nearby communities, according to state and local officials. “This toll is a tax,” state Sen....
