Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 74
Baldwin High grad uses art, video games as creative outlets, wins award at Steel City Con costume contest
Atlas Bayens needed to find a way out of a funk. The Whitehall teen, like many youths, was experiencing stress, anxiety and other emotions fairly strongly a few years ago. Things got even tougher during the pandemic. It was through video games that Atlas found a way out, and a...
Emergency response at Pennsylvania American Water facility in Baldwin Borough
Allegheny County hazmat teams and Baldwin Borough first responders were called out to the Pennsylvania American Water facility Thursday afternoon. County dispatchers said an incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. at 380 Becks Run Road. It was unclear what caused the emergency. No injuries were reported as of 6:20 p.m....
Sharpsburg seeks nearly $25 million in federal grant money to aid private developer
Sharpsburg officials have applied for a $24.4 million federal grant to help with transportation infrastructure for the Allegheny Shores development. Council unanimously voted at a special meeting April 9 to seek the grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE program, which stands for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and...
Quaker Valley School District to raise real estate taxes 2.9%
Quaker Valley School District property owners should expect to see an uptick in real estate taxes of 2.9% as a result of next school year’s budget. Board members unanimously voted to approve the 2022-23 proposed final budget on April 12. Its formal adoption is scheduled for May 18. The budget...
Several couples get engaged at Steel City Con
Steel City Con at the Monroeville Convention Center is known for providing people an opportunity to meet celebrities, get autographs and find comic and pop culture memorabilia of all sorts. Within the past year, it has been a place for something else for at least three couples: romance. Shawn Savage,...
Year-’round dog park being proposed in Aspinwall
Aspinwall officials are pondering a permanent spot to put a dog park. The borough has such a space during the winter months at Ben Killian Field along Field Avenue. It’s open from Nov. 1 through March 31. Council members earlier this month talked about having a dog park in the...
Sewickley borough building, parking lot to be upgraded through state grant
Sewickley officials are seeking a little more than $1 million in state funds to fix up the borough building and surrounding amenities. Council voted 6-0 on April 12 to apply for a local share assessment grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. Councilman Todd Hamer was absent. Borough engineer Mike Galet...
Foxwall EMS subscription drive is underway
Foxwall Emergency Medical Service has launched its annual subscription drive. The advanced life support ambulance company serves Fox Chapel and Aspinwall. It has a mix of paid staff and volunteers with at least two people available each shift, each and every day. Subscriptions are one way of making ends meet....
Gun safety event planned in Penn Hills
Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office and state Rep. Tony DeLuca have partnered to provide a gun safety event in Penn Hills. Sheriff deputies will be at the lawmaker’s district office at 7205 Saltsburg Road from 9-11 a.m. April 23. People can learn about gun safety and receive free gun locks while...
Sharpsburg council formally approves contract with consulting business founder
Sharpsburg officials took a public vote April 9 to hire Jason Dailey and his company, Dailey Operation Consulting, for temporary administration and managerial services after first voting to hire him in February during a closed-door meeting, a possible violation of the state’s Sunshine Law. The law requires that all votes...
Jefferson Hills council moves to permanently decertify Gill Hall VFC
Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company will not return to service in Jefferson Hills as long as the current council majority is in power. That message was delivered April 11 as borough officials voted 5-2 against reinstating the idle fire department, restoring its run cards, having its vehicles back on borough...
Sewickley officials hire grant writer to help get money for new projects
Sewickley officials hope to acquire more funds for projects through the assistance of a grant writer. Council recently appointed Kimberley Hileman to seek such financial opportunities in order to benefit the borough. “Like many small communities with aging infrastructure, we have a backlog of capital needs,” council president Cynthia Mullins...
Oakmont firefighters to get new ladder truck, sell 2 old vehicles
Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department plans to replace two old trucks with a new, larger ladder truck. A 2022 Sutphen Aerial platform truck is scheduled to be delivered in August. The vehicles being sent to auction are a 1971 Mack Aerial ladder truck and a 1996 Pierce Engine. Fire Chief Joe...
Fox Chapel Area grad creates painting commemorating alma mater’s WPIAL basketball championship
Fox Chapel Area High School’s 2022 championship-winning basketball team has been immortalized not only in the WPIAL history books, but through the artistic talent of an alum. George Williams, art teacher and boys soccer coach at Seneca Valley High School, crafted a painting based off a team photo following the...
Police: Ohio man charged with assaulting man, woman in Allegheny Township
An Ohio man has been charged with assault in connection with a fight Wednesday in Allegheny Township. Bradley Diana, 22, of Columbiana was arrested after police said he sliced another man’s head with a large metal file and punched a woman during an altercation at the Sandalwood Apartments. Police said...
Volunteers needed for Plum’s annual Clean-Up Day
Volunteers are needed for Plum’s sixth annual Community Clean-Up Day, scheduled for April 23. They are asked to report to the public works facility at 2001 Old Mine Road between 8-8:30 a.m. A continental breakfast including coffee and Oakmont Bakery goods will be provided. Participants receive T-shirts, gloves, trash bags...
Plum’s Easter celebration drive-through for 3rd straight year
Plum officials are gearing up for the borough’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza. It will take place April 16 in drive-thru fashion for the third straight year at the public works building, 2001 Old Mine Road. The free event is for borough residents only and limited to the first 700 children who...
Sharpsburg council to meet in special session Saturday, April 9
Sharpsburg Council will conduct a special public meeting Saturday night to address several issues, one of which involves the hiring of an interim borough manager in a closed-door session instead of a public vote. Council last month introduced former Crescent Township administrator Jason Dailey as the temporary replacement of former...
Pittsburgh teen, 13, reported missing since Saturday
Pittsburgh Police are seeking the public’s help with locating a missing teen. Jordan Boyd, 13, was last seen in Observatory Hill around 6 p.m. Saturday. Authorities described the boy as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with brown eyes and black hair, and possibly wearing black clothing...
Penn Hills man admits to roles in robberies in Penn Hills, Pittsburgh
A Penn Hills man has admitted in federal court to being a part of spree of robberies in his hometown and Pittsburgh, authorities announced Tuesday. Rudolph McBride 24, pleaded guilty to four counts each of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Authorities...
Plum Council OKs $900,000 contract to repave 20 streets
Plum officials plan to spend a little less than $900,000 to repair 20 streets. Council recently awarded this year’s paving project to Derry Construction. Derry was the lowest of nine bidders at about $892,300. The borough allocated about $775,700 in state liquid fuels tax money for street reconstruction this year....
Fox Chapel Area High School to host final blood drive of school year
Fox Chapel Area High School students need help giving the gift of life. The students will host a blood drive 7:30 a.m. to 1:3o p.m. April 21 at 611 Field Club Road in O’Hara Township. The school district has partnered with Vitalant for years. Vitalant staff members draw the blood...
Sharpsburg to form parks and recreation commission
Sharpsburg residents will soon have another way to influence the borough’s recreational offerings and opportunities. Borough council is in the process of forming a parks and recreation commission, spearheaded by Councilwoman Carrie Tongarm and Councilman Peter Adams. “I think we have a great opportunity to get more of our residents...
Sharpsburg hires interim borough manager without a public vote
Sharpsburg Council hired an interim borough manager in February during a closed-door session with no public vote in what could be a possible violation of the state’s Sunshine Act, according to a legal expert. “The law requires that all official action take place at a public meeting, and there’s no...
Harrison dog training business approved, opening day set for Friday
The Harrison commissioners have approved the addition of a pet day care and boarding service at an existing dog training business in the township. Ringer’s Pet Dog Training, at 3041 Freeport Road, is expected to open for business Friday morning with the additional services, which owner Kim Ringer wasn’t allowed...
