Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 89

Oakmont is expected to receive more than $648,000 in federal covid relief funds. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said he recently received confirmation from the U.S. Treasury Department about the American Rescue Plan Act money as well as the first of two installments. The funds are expected to be put into...

A new pump track at Creekside Park in Oakmont is nearly complete. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said some landscaping with topsoil and sod installation are among the details left to be finished. “We’re moving in pretty good time,” Fodi said July 7. “It’s a rather unique thing to look at....

A woman was run over and killed by a vehicle inside the UPMC East parking garage in Monroeville on Wednesday afternoon. A Monroeville 911 dispatcher said the incident took place around 2:15 p.m. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Josephine Mayni, 92, of McKeesport. Mayni was transported...

Property owners in the West Jefferson Hills School District will be paying more in real estate taxes next year. Officials raised rates to combat rising pension, salary and health insurance costs, as well as pandemic-related expenses. The board voted 5-4 on June 24 to adopt its 2021-22 budget with a...

Sewickley officials have tapped an attorney and former space craft design engineer as their new council member and approved a settlement agreement with their former borough manager. Brian Bozzo, 36, was appointed at a special meeting Tuesday night to fill the seat vacated by Ward 1 resident Christine Allen. Her...

Jody Dojonovic of Plum said her son, Thomas, had a warm smile that could light up a room. She hopes to once again light up a community in his memory. The second annual Thomas Jack Dojonovic Project Spread Positivity lantern release is set for July 21 at Larry Mills Park...

Rodlyn Checcio knows the importance of getting young learners engaged in reading. The Pleasant Hills resident has done her part to help children gain knowledge at the Penn Hills School District for nearly 30 years, including the past 16 as its elementary librarian. “I love the families, the kids,” Checcio...

One man was killed and another seriously hurt in a high-speed crash Monday afternoon on Route 28 in Harrison, according to state police. Robert Mark Walters, 68, of Fawn was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Walters was a passenger in a Chevrolet...

Kittanning police said a juvenile is in custody and has been charged for allegedly setting a string of fires Monday morning in the borough. Kittanning Hose Company No. 4 Assistant Chief Mike Swartz said about a dozen departments responded to four fires within a four-block radius, with the first call...

A man was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood Friday night. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said officers responded to 911 calls of a person shot along 200 block of Reifert Street around 8:30 p.m. Police found a man who had been shot in the...

Police have identified a man found shot to death in Wilkinsburg on Friday afternoon. Allegheny County Police said they responded to the 1900 block of Laketon Road shortly before 2 p.m. for a report of a man not breathing. First responders found Darnell Trowell, 53, of Wilkinsburg, dead of apparent...

Monroeville police want to warn the public about a phone scam involving someone impersonating an officer in order to obtain money. Police Chief Doug Cole said a woman told police June 30 that someone had called her claiming to be from the department and that a family member was in...

Riverview students will not have to miss out on opportunities, and Verona and Oakmont property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes as part the school district’s $24.2 million budget for 2021-22. The board unanimously approved next school year’s spending plan in June. It maintains the...

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...

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...

Penn Hills property owners will have to pay a little more in real estate taxes due to the school district’s $94.6 million spending plan for 2021-22. The school board June 30 unanimously passed next school year’s budget with a 1.3% tax hike. They set the tax rate at 30.0965 mills,...

The Plum Democratic Committee is working with the family of late mayoral candidate Shawn Marcellino to select a new person to run for the office in November. Committee chair Amy Wetmore said Tuesday they will meet July 14 to possibly select a challenger to incumbent Republican Mayor Harry Schlegel. “We...

The Allegheny Land Trust officials announced Wednesday that they have closed on the deal to purchase the former Churchill Valley Country Club. It’s an event more than two years in the making. The 151-acre site at the Churchill/Penn Hills border will be preserved for recreation. The Sewickley-based Allegheny Land Trust...

A carnival atmosphere, new community group and food vendor area combined with warm weather and no rain were all part of this year’s Summerfest in Plum. The annual seasonal celebration returned to Larry Mills Park on June 24-26 after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. Patrons responded in...

Chartiers Valley area property owners will have to pay a little more in real estate taxes next school year as part of next school year’s $72.1 million budget. School directors approved their 2021-22 spending plan with a tax hike of just under 3% in setting the new millage rate at...

Plum property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes, and students will not have to miss out on educational opportunities as a result of next school year’s budget. The Plum School Board voted 8-0 on June 29 to pass the district’s $65.7 million spending plan for...

A new Chase Bank is under construction in Bethel Park. The site is in the 5000 block of Library Road near Walmart. A. Martini & Co. of Verona is the general contractor. “We’re excited about Chase Bank coming to the community,” said Laurence Christian, Bethel Park municipal manager. “We always...

Bethel Park School District officials approved their 2021-22 budget with an estimated 3.5% tax hike. The board voted 8-1 at its June meeting to set next school year’s millage rate to 22.5272, an increase of 0.7618 mills. Board member Russ Spicuzza dissented. The hike equates to about a $116 increase...

Dancing is a major part of Michelle Kotsagrelos’ life. The Bethel Park resident has instructed many a soul in the traditional steps from the mainland and islands of Greece for more than 30 years. “It is so much a part of our lives,” said Kotsagrelos, assistant director of the Grecian...

Trent Blum has aspirations to become a firefighter. “I like being outside, (and) I like being able to help people,” said Trent, 14. “Having the opportunity to do all that would be quite amazing.” The Bethel Park teen heads into his freshman year of high school with a strong head...