Patrick Varine stories, Page 113
National Westmoreland Glass Collectors Club show, convention returns this weekend
Despite growing up in the area, Ken Kosoglow never purchased any Westmoreland Glass when the company was still in operation. But, over the past two decades, he and his wife became enamored of the lamps, plates, glassware and other items the company produced during its nearly 100 years in business....
Delmont gives Apple’n Arts organizers the go-ahead to plan fall festival’s comeback
As more and more public events begin happening in the wake of slowing covid-19 infections, Delmont officials gave Apple’n Arts organizers the go-ahead to start preparing for a 2021 festival. “I’d say go for it, whatever you can do, do it,” borough Councilwoman Becky Matesevac said. The Delmont Apple’n Arts...
Patient flown from West Newton motorcycle crash
One patient was airlifted to an area hospital following a motorcycle crash in West Newton on Tuesday afternoon. Westmoreland County 911 officials said the crash involving a motorcycle and a tri-axle truck was reported around 3:45 p.m., near the intersection of Route 136 and Thelma Drive in West Newton. “From...
Contractor dispute forces Franklin Regional to use contingency funds for Sloan playground
Several Franklin Regional school directors have been critical of the cost of change orders associated with the district’s ongoing Sloan “elementary campus” project. Now, pending approval by the board’s legal counsel, they will dip into their construction contingency fund for more than a half-million dollars so students at the new...
Murrysville-Export-Delmont area adds only 2 covid cases in the last week
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows only two new coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area in the past week. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the area. The new cases bring the total to 1,497 in...
Community mosaic project draws contributions from Pittsburgh and beyond
Shawn Gold of Butler was vacationing in Puerto Vallarta on the western coast of Mexico when he began noticing some of the striking public art installations in the area. “I looked into them and met a woman, Natasha Moraga, who is creating just unbelievable works of art, including community mosaics,”...
Murrysville Community Park amphitheater concept proposes long-term vision
Murrysville officials got several different visions this month of what an amphitheater and recreation space in Murrysville Community Park could look like. Having delayed the project last year during the pandemic — and armed with a nearly $300,000 grant from the state — council hired a consultant earlier this year...
‘On the Move’ in the Murrysville area for the week of June 17, 2021Video
Here are just a few of those in the Star’s coverage area who are “on the move” in one way or another. Submit listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Franklin Regional seniors Ian Sunny and Alaina Shook are the recipients of this year’s $1,000 Franklin Regional Education Association scholarships. The association presents the...
Murrysville officials will consider new hauling contract with Republic Services
While the cost of just about everything seems to have risen over the course of the covid-19 pandemic, the price Murrysville residents pay for trash hauling and recycling may stay the same, at least for the coming year. Three haulers provided bids for a combined Murrysville/Export hauling contract, with the...
Penn Area Library’s new director looks toward more public events, community outreachVideo
James Facer arrived at his new position — executive director for Penn Area Library in Penn Township — by an interesting route. The Tacoma, Wash., native was living in Chicago when his wife, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, got a job in Pittsburgh in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic....
‘Paw Patrol’ pups star in their own feature film this AugustVideo
I thought we had moved beyond the “Paw Patrol” phase in my household. Oh, certainly, we had the Paw Patroller, the mobile tactical vehicle that a group of small dogs without thumbs somehow manages to drive. We had at least three versions of my now-8-year-old son’s favorite member of the...
Scouting family from Murrysville helps others find their way through park trailsVideo
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...
Murrysville tennis club looks to add outdoor courts, host sanctioned tournaments
The Murrysville Racquet Club would like to add a half-dozen outdoor courts to its Norbatrol Court property, giving it the ability to host U.S. Tennis Association tournaments. “We’re looking to have six courts because that’s the standard by which the USTA governs the type of tournaments they’d like to host,”...
Murrysville-area news and briefs for the week of June 3, 2021
Here are just some of the things happening in the Star’s coverage area in the coming weeks. To submit an event or a news brief, email pvarine@triblive.com. Veteran banner sales in Delmont Delmont officials are accepting additional requests for veteran banners to be hung in the borough. Banners are $105...
Turnpike engineer: Next leg of Mon Fayette Expressway likely to start construction next year
The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s chief engineer said roughly $1 billion in funding is in place to continue the Mon-Fayette Expressway from Route 51 to Route 837. It’s a project whose first phase is set to begin next year and last until 2027. The turnpike commission is finishing up work on the...
3 cases added to Murrysville-Export-Delmont covid tally in past week
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,497 coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. In the past week, three new cases were reported. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the...
Penn-Trafford video production students earn 3rd ‘Best Newscast’ award in 4 yearsVideo
If the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences had a category for overcoming adversity, students and staff from Penn-Trafford High School’s video production program probably would have won that award as well. Instead, they had to settle for being named best newscast for the third time in the past...
2-car crash briefly closes Route 30 in Hempfield
Two people were taken by ambulance from the scene of a two-car crash shortly before noon Friday on Route 30 in Hempfield, fire officials said. The crash involving an Equinox sport utility vehicle and a Subaru was reported around 11:45 a.m. at the West Road intersection with eastbound Route 30,...
News and briefs from the greater Murrysville area for the week of May 27, 2021
Townsend Park concert schedule announced The Murrysville Recreation Department has released the schedule for its summer concert series, “Tuesdays at Townsend,” taking place at Townsend Park. The free concerts will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the park, and each concert will also include regional food trucks and breweries:...
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces reopening, improvements at Western Pa., West Virginia sites
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District is announcing the reopening of select facilities at district-managed sites in anticipation of the 2021 recreation season. “We invite the public to come out and safely enjoy our beautiful reservoirs and parks. Our rangers and resource managers across the district have done...
Signature Dishes: Wade’s brings made-to-order doughnuts to Export’s breakfast tableVideo
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. If too much business is a problem, Karen Wade and her husband, Alan, were on the verge of having a...
Murrysville family’s story highlights importance of public adoptionsVideo
Theresa Gutierrez has a lot of love to give. After losing her husband nearly a decade ago, Gutierrez raised her eldest daughter, now in her mid-20s, and her son Brandon, who is now 16. Just about a year ago, Theresa and Brandon welcomed 10-year-old Phillip into their home, and as...
Pittsburgh police arrest suspect in Downtown bank robbery
Pittsburgh police have arrested man in connection with a Downtown bank robbery Wednesday afternoon. Dante Engram, 33, address unknown, was arrested following the robbery, reported around noon on the 900 block of Fifth Avenue. A witness told police a man had walked into the bank with a note, then left...
Murrysville-Export-Delmont covid figures tallied for the week of May 26, 2021
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,494 coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. In the past week, four new cases were reported. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the...
Franklin Regional begins making plans for return to normalcy in 2021-2022 school year
Franklin Regional School Board members were briefed Monday night on what Superintendent Gennaro Piraino hopes will be a return to some semblance of normalcy, after more than a full school year completed under covid-related restrictions. Piraino said the strategy will be to keep options open for district families. “Right now,...
