Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 75
Sewickley Academy buys property next to shopping center in Edgeworth
Sewickley Academy officials have purchased a property in Edgeworth but are offering no details yet about plans for the site. A lot of nearly 42,600-square-feet at 627 Beaver Road was purchased in early April for $825,000, according to the Allegheny County real estate website. The lot includes a two-story red...
Sharpsburg Community Library welcomes back youth programs coordinator, appoints 1st teen coordinator
The Sharpsburg Community Library recently welcomed a new staff member and a familiar face to run its teen and children and youth programs, respectively. Kiki Raines of Wilkinsburg was recently hired to fill the Cooper-Siegel Community Library branch’s new position to come up with youth activities. “I really want to...
Fox Chapel to spend more than $1 million to rebuild 10 roads this year
Ten Fox Chapel roads are expected to be rebuilt this year as part of the borough’s road paving program. Council unanimously voted April 18 to award a $1.369 million contract to Wampum-based Youngblood Paving. Borough Manager Gary Koehler said the company was the lowest of four bidders and has done...
Police: Man shot multiple times in McKees Rocks
A man was taken to a hospital in critical condition after being shot multiple times in McKees Rocks, according to Allegheny County Police. Police said the shooting occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Helen and Ella streets. Emergency responders found a 26-year-old man who had been...
Fox Chapel graphic designer proposes alternatives to borough’s historic logo and street signs
Fox Chapel resident Bill Kolano believes his town has an image problem. Specifically, the image that serves as the borough’s logo, on street signs and newsletter. “It’s time for a refresh,” the longtime graphic designer told council at its April 18 meeting. Kolano, president of Kolano Design, presented a couple...
Pittsburgh police: Help needed to find thefts suspect
Pittsburgh police detectives are asking for help to find a suspect. Ellis Jackson, 59, is wanted for multiple counts of theft from a motor vehicle, criminal mischief and access device used to obtain property/service. Thefts occurred the last several months in the Strip District and Uptown areas, Public Safety spokesman...
Attempted firing of a Leet Township police officer under investigation, police chief put on paid administrative leave
An investigation is underway involving the attempted termination of a Leet Township police officer. The officer in question has yet to to be formally identified. Commissioners established an investigatory committee and authorized attorney Lisa Mantella of the Pittsburgh-based Leech Tishman law firm to launch an investigation at a meeting March...
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 during 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...
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...
