Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 109
Penn Hills man accused of driving through protesters last summer pleads guilty
A Penn Hills man accused of plowing through a group of protesters with his car last summer pleaded guilty Wednesday in Allegheny County Court to assault and related offenses. As part of a plea deal, David Fiori Jr., 63, admitted to three counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly...
Whitehall native Susan Orsega selected as acting U.S. surgeon general
Rear Admiral Susan Orsega was in her Maryland home in late January when she received quite possibly the most important phone call of her life. President Joe Biden selected the Baldwin High School graduate to serve as acting U.S. surgeon general as Dr. Vivek Murthy goes through the nomination/confirmation process...
Jefferson Hills council tells Gill Hall VFC to merge or stay off borough dispatch
Jefferson Hills officials have given an ultimatum to Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Co. — merge or remain off borough dispatch. Council voted 4-3 Monday night to recertify the idle department provided it joins Jefferson Hills Fire Rescue. President Karen Bucy, vice president Dave Montgomery and council members Francis Sockman and...
Netflix to film part of ‘The Chair’ in Sewickley in March
Sewickley officials have given the green light to a Netflix project to be filmed in the borough. Council voted Feb. 9 to approve a request for roving closures of several streets and the use of five police officers on March 15. Crews are expected to be working from at least...
Police say woman found dead in Lawrenceville
Pittsburgh police are investigating the death of a woman in Lawrenceville Monday night. Officers responded to a report of a vehicle that struck a utility pole around 9 p.m. along the 4400 block of Davison Street, Public Safety spokesperson Maurice Matthews reported. It was there first responders discovered the driver...
Plum paving contract awarded to Oakmont company
Plum officials have tapped an Oakmont-based construction company to pave more than 20 streets and alleys this year. Council unanimously voted Monday night to award its paving project to A. Folino Construction. They were the lowest of nine bidders at about $872,500. The borough budgeted about $900,000 for paving this...
Civilians, emergency responders honored for helping to save Plum woman from fire
Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel honored the residents and emergency responders who helped save a woman from a fire last month. The fire took place at about 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 7 at 211 Frontenac Road. A 77-year-old Plum woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation after being rescued from...
Several Downtown Pittsburgh streets to be closed Saturday morning
Several streets in Downtown Pittsburgh will be closed Saturday morning so crews can install new cooling towers on the roofs of EQT Place and One PPG Place. Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri said roads closures will occur from 7-11 a.m., weather permitting. Togneri said the operation may be moved to...
Police: Man shot three times in Penn Hills gas station lot
A Monroeville man was hospitalized after being shot three times in Penn Hills on Thursday night. Police Chief Howard Burton said the shooting took place around 11:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a Sunoco gas station along Rodi Road. Two men had apparently got into an argument inside nearby...
Police: Man burned to death in his Penn Hills home
A Penn Hills man burned to death inside his home along Southern Avenue, police Chief Howard Burton reported. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday identified the victim as Herman Hill, 74. Burton said Hill’s girlfriend had come by the house around 5:10 p.m. Thursday to pick him up...
Family launches online petition to make Verona police cars more identifiable
Zachary Rutherford loves police and plans to get into law enforcement when he gets older. “They can help people, and it’s like a cool job,” said Zachary, 11. It is because of that admiration and respect that he wants people to know when officers, or at least their vehicles, are...
Oakmont announces streets to be paved, project to be advertised later this month
Oakmont officials plan to spend about $350,000 to pave eight streets and a boat ramp as part of this year’s road improvement program. The paving project advertisement is expected to be approved at the Feb. 15 council meeting with possible contract approval in March. Streets to be improved include: •...
Neighbor Spotlight: Oakmont woman continues charitable actions learned in childhood
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...
Police: Stabbing in Pittsburgh’s South Side, suspect in custody
Charges are pending against a Pittsburgh man authorities said stabbed a teenager in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood. Taylor Clark, 32, was apprehended after a street fight near the intersection of East Carson and South Seventh streets around 7 p.m. Tuesday, Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri reported. The victim, an...
Plum elementary student writes his 1st horror book, hopes to make a series
A national writing contest and love of horror has inspired a Holiday Park Elementary student to pen his first book. Josh Ingram, 11, of Plum recently released “Light: A Forgotten Monster.” The self-published book tells a story about a group of juveniles at a sleepover. A friend of the main...
Oakmont code enforcement job to be open, garbage hauler vows to address complaints
Oakmont officials will soon need a new code enforcement officer and building inspector. Both services have been handled the past few years by Code Enforcement Agency, a private municipal inspection company out of Jefferson Hills. Borough Manager Scot Fodi informed council at Monday night’s workshop meeting that CEA has decided...
Month in review: A look at the top stories from the Verona area in JanuaryVideo
Here is a look at what happened in Verona this past month. • Trish Hredzak-Showalter was unanimously appointed to fill the vacant seat of former council president Pat McCarthy, who resigned due to health reasons a few weeks ago. Hredzak-Showalter is the chairwoman of the parks and recreation board and...
Ex-Plum star, NFL punter Pat McAfee gives Nesbit’s Lanes fundraiser big boost
A GoFundMe effort to help Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum exceeded its $100,000 goal with the help of an athletic alumnus. The page was created Jan. 29 by Verona bowler David Poremba, who heard about how the covid pandemic had caused league games to be canceled and hundreds of players to...
Streets for this year’s Plum paving project announced, contract to be awarded Feb. 8
Plum officials plan to repair more than 20 streets and alleys as part of this year’s paving program. Bids are expected to be opened Thursday and a contract awarded at Monday night’s council meeting. The borough budgeted about $900,000 for paving. Assistant borough manager Dave Soboslay said they were hoping...
Upgrades underway at Cribbs Field in Verona
Upgrades are underway at Cribbs Field in Verona. Plum-based Pampena Landscaping & Construction demolished the old pavilion, and excavation was done in preparation of the new building. The park is off Second Street and South Avenue. “It’s really exciting. It’s long overdue,” said Janet LoAlbo, councilwoman and parks and recreation...
GoFundMe effort launched to help keep Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum in business
Kirk Klasnick watched with pride as his son, Ken, bowled strikes in a Sportsmen’s Bowling League game at Nesbit’s Lanes Friday night. The Gilpin family has made the trek to the Plum bowling alley for many years. “I have three generations here,” said Kirk Klasnick, 57. “My dad (Bob), myself...
GoFundMe effort launched to help keep Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum in business
Kirk Klasnick watched with pride as his son, Ken, bowled strikes in a Sportsmen’s Bowling League game at Nesbit’s Lanes on Friday night. The Gilpin family has made the trek to the Plum bowling alley for many years. “I have three generations here,” said Kirk Klasnick, 57. “My dad (Bob),...
Oakmont Carnegie Library closed until Monday due to staffer’s positive covid test
Oakmont Carnegie Library is closed until Monday due to a staffer testing positive for the coronavirus. Officials said via social media that the library at 700 Allegheny River Blvd. will be cleaned and staff will self-quarantine. Virtual programming and email services are available. Oakmont Library is closed until 2/1 due...
Verona officials hire consultant to help with borough manager search
Verona officials have hired a consultant to help them with their full-time borough manager search. Borough officials seek a replacement for Jerry Kenna, who resigned as borough manager effective the end of January. Council voted 5-1 on Tuesday to contract with Susan G. Hockenberry Coaching and Consulting through April 30...
Verona Council appoints new member to replace its former president
Verona Council selected a borough recreation leader as its newest member. Trish Hredzak-Showalter was unanimously appointed to the elected board Tuesday. She fills the vacancy created by former council president Pat McCarthy, who resigned due to health reasons a few weeks ago. McCarthy, 71, a former drug agent in the...

