Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 79
Route 356 in Butler County to have lane restrictions Saturday to address flooding
PennDOT officials said lane closures in both directions of Route 356 in Jefferson Township will take place Saturday. The northbound lane will be closed at the intersection of Route 356 and Bonniebrook Road, extending about 2,500 feet from the intersection in both directions, starting at 7 a.m. The southbound lane...
Some Fox Chapel Area parents lobby for masks to be optional at schools
Several Fox Chapel Area School District parents want administrators and elected leaders to rethink their health and safety plan and lift the district’s mask mandate. They have brought their concerns before the school board. Protests also have occurred outside the district’s administration offices. “Covid has affected every aspect of our...
Health care leaders and Alzheimer’s Association officials celebrate passage of state lawVideo
A new state law promotes Alzheimer’s awareness and, its backers say, will help provide assistance to families impacted by it and other degenerative diseases. Local health care leaders and other officials gathered Thursday at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network’s facility in Oakmont to celebrate the Early Detection and Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or...
Northbound Route 28 in Aspinwall to have single-lane restriction during the day starting Monday
Lane restrictions will start Monday on northbound Route 28 in Aspinwall, PennDOT announced. Single-lane and shoulder restrictions are planned between the on-ramp from the Highland Park Bridge to the Delafield Avenue exit starting Monday, weather permitting. Officials said they will continue as needed weekdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m....
Juices are flowing as Juicery at Oakmont opens along Allegheny Avenue
A Fox Chapel couple has opened a new business at the former Oakmont Bakery location along Allegheny Avenue. The Juicery at Oakmont has replaced Rev22 Salud Juice and Wellness Bar. The new smoothie and shake shop had a soft opening in November after some renovations and adding a new menu....
Briefs from Fox Chapel Area High School
Fox Chapel Area High School’s speech and debate team participated in the annual North Catholic High School Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament, held in-person on Dec. 11. Senior Patrick Alexander won an Outstanding Performance award by finishing in the top five. Approximately 270 students from 27 public and private high...
Quaker Valley School District makes masks optional when county is in ‘moderate’ covid transmission levels
Quaker Valley School District officials have updated their health and safety plan to make masks optional at all schools provided certain criteria are met. Board members voted 8-1 to have masks be recommended and not required when Allegheny County reaches what is considered to be in “moderate” transmission. Danielle Helkowski...
Parkway East reopened after police pursuit, crash in Squirrel Hill Tunnels
The Parkway East in Pittsburgh was closed both directions Wednesday afternoon in the wake of a police pursuit in which the suspect crashed his car in the Squirrel Hill Tunnels. Allegheny County dispatch said the incident began near the Tunnels shortly before 12:40 p.m. According to a state police release,...
Jefferson Hills Council has new leadership
Jefferson Hills Council is once again under new management. Melissa Girman-Steffey and Hilary Kingsley-Budd were both unanimously appointed president and vice president, respectively, Monday night. The unanimous votes came after other council members were nominated but failed to get enough votes. Councilwoman Nicole Ruscitto was also unanimously named president pro-tem....
Fox Chapel Area school board approves needs assessment to bolster district mental health services
Fox Chapel Area School District officials have taken another step this year to address mental health issues. The board unanimously voted Monday night to have a University of Pittsburgh professor do a school mental health needs assessment of prevention and intervention services and resources. Cost of the assessment is expected...
Excavators buried under water, mud in Cheswick
Cheswick officials are looking into what caused two excavators to be submerged up to their cabs in mud and water along the Allegheny River bank. Photos circulated throughout social media Saturday of at least two pieces of heavy machinery being used below the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks by Watercrest Way...
Sewickley selects glass recycling site
Sewickley officials have chosen a spot they hope will become a permanent glass recycling hub for the Quaker Valley community at large. Council voted 8-0 on Feb. 8 to recommend a portion of a Riverfront Park lot, near the park’s playgrounds, as the site for Quaker Valley Council of Government’s...
Sewickley officers heralded for arresting homicide suspect Samuel Lee Tolfa
Two Sewickley police officers were honored for their efforts in apprehending a suspect in an Avalon murder. Samuel Lee Tolfa, 32, was taken into custody in Hopewell on Jan. 22. He is accused of fatally shooting Jorden Lee Puskar, 21, of Coraopolis early that morning in the 100 block of...
Leet zoning hearing board denies Quaker Valley School District application regarding new high school
Leet Township zoning hearing board members have denied Quaker Valley School District’s special exception application for a proposed high school. The vote was unanimous following about an hour and a half of public deliberation Wednesday night – however, there was a caveat prior to the motion. Board members said they...
State grants sought for O’Hara Township Community Park bridge and trail repair project
O’Hara officials hope to use state grants to finance a repair project in the township’s community park. The footbridge over Squaw Run, a tributary of the Allegheny River, has been closed for more than a year due to failing gabion baskets located along the edge of the stream. Gabion baskets...
Italian Village Pizza in the Waterworks plaza moving to a new location
Italian Village Pizza along Freeport Road in Waterworks Mall is moving to a new location within the shopping plaza. It is relocating from its spot by the Ichiban Hibachi & Sushi Bar to a larger spot between the GNC and T.J. Maxx. The opening date is yet to be announced....
Plum School District’s Center Elementary interim principal formally appointed to position
Plum School District officials recently appointed Monroeville resident Maria Fajt as Center Elementary’s new principal. Fajt started this school year as interim principal at the K-4 school. District officials said former principal Jason Knisely had stepped down to go back in the classroom. He is also listed as the district’s...
Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to robbing downtown bank, attempted to rob another
A Pittsburgh man has pleaded guilty in federal court to bank robbery and attempted bank robbery charges. Timothy Sowinski, 53, admitted to the crimes before U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon, federal officials announced Wednesday. Officials said Sowinski entered the Northwest Bank on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh on March 12,...
Fox Chapel family enjoys winter fun at O’Hara Township Community Park
The winter weather did not stop a Fox Chapel family from having fun at O’Hara Township Community Park on Feb. 7 Hannah and Jon McGovern played with their children, Fiona, 2, and Finn. The children used the swings, merry-go-round and other playground equipment as they all made their way through...
Penn Hills School District officials pledge to keep property tax increase within state limits
Penn Hills School District property owners will not see real estate tax hikes beyond 4.7% as a result of the upcoming school year’s budget. District officials recently approved a resolution to keen any potential tax hike in their 2022-23 budget within the Act 1 index – a formula used by...
Multiple injuries in 4-vehicle crash on Greensburg Road in Lower Burrell
Multiple people were injured in a four-vehicle crash along Greensburg Road in Lower Burrell Tuesday afternoon. A small white school bus, a Cadillac Escalade, a Ford SUV and a white box truck collided near the intersection of Greensburg Road and Atlantic Avenue by East Coast Used Cars shortly before 3...
Fire chief: Verona resident displaced by afternoon fire
A Verona resident has been displaced due a fire at a two-story home near St. Joseph Catholic Church. No injuries were reported in connection with the Monday afternoon fire at 628 Center Ave. It was reported about 4:40 p.m. and firefighters from Verona, Oakmont and Penn Hills responded. Verona fire...
New animal hospital opens in O’Hara
A Fox Chapel area native has opened up a new business in her hometown. PetVet365, a full-service veterinary hospital along Freeport Road in O’Hara Township, welcomes pets of all shapes and sizes. It is owned and operated by Megan Garrison of Indiana Township along with her business partner and fellow...
Port Authority bridge in Mt. Washington to remain closed for repairs
Port Authority officials said a bridge that carries the South Busway over Saw Mill Run Boulevard in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood will remain closed indefinitely. Engineers on Friday discovered that a portion of the bridge had shifted, according to Port Authority of Allegheny County spokesman Adam Brandolph. Red Line rail...
Police: Pittsburgh man, woman charged with attempted homicide after infant hospitalized
Two Pittsburgh residents have been taken in to custody on attempted homicide charges in connection with a November incident involving an infant. City police have charged Teshawn Ahkir Williams, 24, and Tamaya Harris, 25, with endangering the welfare of children, criminal attempt homicide and aggravated assault, Public Safety spokeswoman Amanda...
