Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 95
Verona Councilman Michael Forbeck resigns to take state government job
Verona Council has a vacancy. Councilman Michael Forbeck has resigned from his elected post a little more than one-and-a-half years into his first four-year term. Council President Nancy Carpenter said Forbeck submitted his letter of resignation July 5. The letter indicated he is stepping down to take a state government...
Plum officials plan to borrow $7.6 million to boost new borough building, stormwater, capital projects
Plum officials are in the process of securing an estimated $7.6 million bond to bolster a new borough building project, stormwater management projects and repurpose the current municipal site. Borough Manager Michael Thomas said bond counsel Pat Healy is working to acquire the funds. Council is expected to approve a...
South Park woman arrested in connection with Bethel Park burglaries
Bethel Park police have arrested a South Park woman in connection with multiple burglaries in the borough. Stephanie Jean Britten Harper, 38, is charged with defiant trespasser, theft, driving with a suspended license and two counts of criminal trespass and burglary. Police said charges stem from recent overnight burglaries along...
Oakmont officials mull use of more than $648,000 in federal covid relief funds
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...
New ‘pump track’ at Creekside Park in Oakmont nearly complete, other projects planned for this year
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....
Police: 92-year-old woman dies in vehicle/pedestrian crash in UPMC East garage in Monroeville
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...
West Jefferson Hills School District budget hikes taxes nearly 4%
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 has a new council member, officials approve separation agreement with former manager
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...
Lanterns to be released in memory of Plum high school student who died 2 years ago
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...
Penn Hills Elementary librarian awarded grant for new books
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...
Fawn man identified as victim of fatal Route 28 crash
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...
Juvenile charged in connection with 4 fires in Kittanning
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...
Police: Man shot in Pittsburgh’s Arlington neighborhood
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...
53-year-old Wilkinsburg man found shot to death
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 warn of phone scam involving officer impersonator
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 School Board passes 2021-22 budget, no tax hike or program cuts
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...
Plum mother competing in Mrs. International Pageant
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: Evey True Value owner Andy Amrhein is dedicated to Bethel Park
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 School District officials approve 1.3% tax hike as part of 2021-22 budget
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,...
Plum Democrats working with family of late mayoral candidate to find replacement for November election
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...
Allegheny Land Trust closes deal to acquire the former Churchill Country Club for about $3 million
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...
Thousands return to Larry Mills Park in Plum for Summerfest
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 School District raises taxes, plans facility upgrades as part of 2021-22 budget
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 School Board passes 2021-22 budget: No tax increase or program cuts
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...
New Chase Bank coming to Bethel Park
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...
