Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 92
Oakmont officials want false alarms to stop
Oakmont officials have had enough of false alarms going off and draining police and fire department resources. Council on Aug. 16 unanimously approved advertising an ordinance to address the issue. “False alarms in any community are a challenge,” borough Manager Scot Fodi said. “This is one mechanism that we have...
Plum EMS to host car seat safety check at Holiday Park fire station
Plum EMS officials know making sure a car seat is properly installed in a vehicle and a child is safely secured prior to travel can be a challenge. That is why borough emergency responders are providing an opportunity to show parents and caregivers how to overcome that challenge this weekend....
Backyard wildlife habitat in Plum’s Holiday Park neighborhood is tropical paradise to its owners
Tucked away in the Holiday Park section of Plum is a tropical paradise packed with various plants, fish and crafted creatures. It has been said that deer jump fences for a chance to nibble on the flowers and vegetables that grow inside the wildlife habitat along dead end Kinzua Road....
Sewickley officials hire Donna Kaib as new borough manager
Sewickley officials have tapped Reserve Township manager Donna Kaib as their new top administrator. She was hired as the new borough manager via an 8-0 vote on Aug. 10. Councilman Tom Rostek was absent. Kaib was not at the meeting. Her start date is scheduled for Aug. 19. “We’re excited...
Pittsburgh charity party 100 years in the making set for Aug. 21 in Verona
Travelers Aid of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit agency focusing on removing transportation barriers for those in need, is celebrating a century of helping people in the Steel City area. A party is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 21 in Railroad Park in Verona. It will be hosted by...
Penn Hills School District hosts open houses at its 3 schools
Penn Hills families got a chance to tour the district schools and look at what is in store for their children a few weeks before the start of the new school year. The elementary, middle and high school doors were open for a couple of hours each on Aug. 10....
Joe Fischetti out as Plum buildings and grounds supervisor, employment search to start soon
Plum buildings and grounds supervisor Joe Fischetti has resigned after eight years as one of the borough’s top administrators. Council accepted his resignation and approved a separation agreement Aug. 9. Borough manager Michael Thomas said the deal comes with two weeks severance pay, three months of health care benefits and...
Plum Borough Community Library brings back its outdoor concert events
Plum Borough Community Library is a place to rock. That notion will be readily visible Aug. 24 with the return of the library’s Concert on the Concrete series. People of all ages are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for the event. Plum native and multi-instrumentalist and composer...
New English curriculum, renovated fitness facilities among changes awaiting Plum students
Plum School District officials plan to provide students with new academic opportunities and the means to become healthier individuals this coming school year. Families have the option of full-time in person instruction or full-time online learning through the district’s cyber academy. The first day of school is Aug. 19. “We’re...
Police say missing Bethel Park girl has been found
Bethel Park police said they have located a girl who had been reported missing. Brandy Keyock, 12, was reported to be found at 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, according to a post on the police’s Facebook page. She had been last seen Sunday afternoon. No other details were available....
Plans for Popeye’s Chicken franchise in Bethel Park approved
A Popeye’s Chicken franchise is coming to the Bethel Park Shopping Center along Library Road. Council unanimously approved its final major land development plan on Aug. 9. The restaurant will replace the current GameStop, a few blocks away from a KFC. It is unclear what will happen with the game...
Plum presents a Will Ferrell comedy classic for this month’s Movies in the Park series at Larry Mills Park
Plum’s Movies in the Park series returns to Larry Mills Park this weekend. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to watch the Will Ferrell soccer comedy “Kicking and Screaming” at the park off Fontana Drive on Saturday night. Gates open at 7 p.m. with the movie to start...
Oakmont Carnegie Library plans fundraisers
With the ever-changing pandemic protocols making large indoor gatherings difficult to plan, Oakmont Carnegie Library officials and board members had to think of new ways to help fund programs and building improvements. The result was the return of an outdoor event in which families can express their creativity and ride...
Police: Fire at Swissvale hot dog shop intentionally set, investigation ongoing
A popular Swissvale hot dog shop was closed Sunday after a fire. Police said they were dispatched to D’s Six Pax & Dogz around 2:30 a.m. for a dumpster fire. The Braddock Avenue business is in the Swissvale section of the Regent Square neighborhood that also includes parts of Edgewood...
Relay for Life of Riverview surpasses fundraising goal despite less participation
The past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions for Springdale borough resident Jamey Lavelle. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in April. Within a few weeks, he was promoted from supervisor to operations manager at Lower Valley Ambulance Service, where he has worked for about 24 years....
Western Pa. Firemen’s convention kicks off in New Kensington with parade, car cruise
Dozens of fire trucks from throughout the state made their way through New Kensington streets Saturday afternoon. It wasn’t for an emergency. Instead, it was to celebrate the start of the 128th annual Western Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association’s convention. Festivities kicked off with a car cruise and a parade. The convention...
Signature Dish: Crabcakes bring memories of a master to head chef at 424 Walnut in SewickleyVideo
This is part of an ongoing series highlighting Signature Dishes at locally-owned restaurants in the region. See Trib Total Media’s new online directory of restaurants, Dine Local, at dinelocal.triblive.com. Jimmy Zipparo, head chef and co-owner of 424 Walnut, cannot help but feel a little nostalgic making some of the meals...
Neighbor Spotlight: Oakmont conversations always a delight for historical society president
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...
Neighbor Spotlight: Bethel Park TV producer helps keep municipality in front of the camera
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...
Steel City Con returns to the Monroeville Convention Center on Aug. 13-15
The Monroeville Convention Center will once again be packed with artists, pop culture celebrities and enthusiasts as one of the state’s largest conventions makes its return to the municipality this month. Steel City Con is scheduled for Aug. 13-15 at 209 Mall Plaza Blvd. Attendees should use caution when parking....
Sewickley Night Mart event brings people from multiple communities to the borough
The sounds of classic rock and pop hits and the smell of barbecue, tacos and other food filled the main streets of Sewickley for a late-July celebration. Thousands of people packed parts of Beaver Street for the first of three Sewickley Chamber of Commerce Night Marts. The events are designed...
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce Street Sale brings crowd, vendors to the borough
A street sale designed to give Oakmont businesses and other vendors a boost returned to the borough and so did the crowds. More than 1,200 people were estimated to have walked and shopped up and down Allegheny River Boulevard on July 31 in the return of the annual Oakmont Chamber...
Doors close at North American Martyrs Catholic Church in Monroeville as parish hosts final Mass
Joseph and Rosemary Barbacci and other members of the North American Martyrs choir lifted their voices in unison for the last time at the Monroeville Catholic church. They had been a part of the worship team for about 30 years and came out of retirement to take part in the...
Plum High teacher among newest crop of state certified computer science educators
Plum High School math teacher Tamar McPherson recently joined an elite group of educators dedicated to the future of technology-based learning. She is one of 38 teachers in the state to become certified in computer science grades 7-12 through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The professional development opportunity was made...
Bethel Park School Board OKs reopening plan; review, revisions could come at Aug. 17 meeting
Bethel Park School District families will have three options to start the upcoming school year. Students can return to full-time in person learning; an online option through the district’s cyber academy and a third-party curriculum; and a separate, remote learning option run by district teachers using the district’s curriculum. The...
