Patrick Varine stories, Page 114
State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward reveals breast cancer diagnosis
State Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, revealed Tuesday that she has undergone treatment for stage-one breast cancer for several months and soon will undergo surgery with the hopes of preventing the disease from returning. Ward said she learned of the diagnosis in December, weeks after she won reelection and made history...
Work starts on paver pathway for Delmont Library’s Outdoor Learning CenterVideo
Delmont Public Library officials were hoping members of the public would buy 250 pavers to help them pay for a pathway connecting the elements in their Outdoor Learning Center. Instead, the public bought nearly 400, and on Monday morning, work was already underway. “We’ll have about 4,000 pavers,” Grassel said....
Murrysville-Export-Delmont covid figures tallied for the week of May 10, 2021
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,477 coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. In the past week, 15 new cases were reported. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the...
Trib earns 26 Keystone Awards, top honor for ‘Tragedy at Brighton’Video
The Tribune-Review received 26 Keystone Press Awards in the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association’s annual competition, including its most prestigious recognition, the G. Richard Dew Award, for its “Tragedy at Brighton” project. The Dew Award is presented to a news organization or individual across all circulation categories that has made an outstanding...
Pittsburgh Youth Chorus creates original piece, ‘Under One Sky,’ to wrap up year of virtual singingVideo
It’s been over a year of challenges for anyone who spends time singing in public. The Pittsburgh Youth Chorus is no exception, but its members are finishing 12 months of virtual rehearsals with an original song. The nonprofit PYC premiered its newest virtual choir video, “Under One Sky,” composed by...
Murrysville administrator: Jake brakes are ‘a necessary evil’
Jake brakes on large commercial hauling trucks may not be music to the ears, but according to Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim Morrison, they’re “a necessary evil.” Morrison was responding to recent complaints about rigs using their jake brakes on Route 22. “When you have trucks coming down Route 22 doing...
Superintendents call on General Assembly to back Gov. Wolf’s education budget proposal
If the $1.3 billion investment in education comes through that Gov. Tom Wolf included in his proposed state budget, it would just about make up for the increased costs Pennsylvania schools are set to absorb between this and next school year, according to Jamie Baxter, policy director for nonprofit Allies...
Export relocates multi-ton war memorial closer to downtownVideo
It took most of the day on Thursday, but several regional contractors relocated the Export war memorial from the American Legion on Kennedy Avenue to spot near the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, closer to the borough’s downtown area. Work crews from Mangery & Suns and McColly Memorials in Greensburg — the...
Murrysville recreation department gears up for a busy summer
Following a summer full of postponements and cancellations — fueled by uncertainty over what type of events could be safely held amid the covid-19 pandemic — Murrysville recreation officials are ready to help the region’s children get out and about. “We just wanted to plan as many outdoor activities as...
Franklin Regional French teacher earns ‘Global Educator’ designation
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 recreation officials bring back revamped summer playground program
After taking last summer off due to covid-19 concerns, the Murrysville Recreation Department is hoping to bring back a revamped version of its annual summer playground program. The primary changes to the program — which has hosted children ages 6-12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a rotating schedule...
Export officials vote to keep $8 sewage surcharge in place
Two Export council members want the borough to keep its word and remove an $8 surcharge on sewage customers that was originally intended to expire after a year. But ongoing expenses related to its long-term flood control plan and its participation in a state environmental consent order kept that from...
News and events in the greater Murrysville area for the week of May 3, 2021Video
The following news and events are happening in the coming weeks in the Star’s coverage area. To submit briefs or upcoming events, email pvarine@triblive.com. Delmont Concert Band to play Ligonier concert series The Delmont Concert Band will play as part of the 71st annual Sunday Evening Band Concerts sponsored by...
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials have money left over for another 750 feet in Export
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials may not have determined precisely how they’re going to finish the section connecting Export and Delmont, but leftover funding from the trail’s fourth phase will extend it another 750 feet eastward. Construction of the trail’s fourth phase, connecting Murrysville and Export, wrapped up with some money...
Murrysvile-Export-Delmont covid figures tallied for the week of May 4, 2021
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,462 coronavirus cases in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. In the past week, 10 new cases were reported. The health department this week released updated figures for the three ZIP codes that comprise the...
Franklin Regional proposed budget would raise taxes to state-imposed limit for 4th year
Franklin Regional School District officials next month will consider a 2021-22 budget that raises property taxes to the state-designated limit for the fourth year in a row. The school board unanimously approved a proposed $63.9 million budget with a projected $437,000 deficit. The budget would raise local property taxes to...
Shop’n Save just outside Trafford set to reopen May 13
Trafford residents will get their nearby Shop’n Save back shortly, as the new owners for the Broadway Boulevard location in southern Monroeville prepare to reopen the store on May 13. “We redid the whole decor, new painting, changed out old cases, redid the floor,” said owner and manager John Rohaley,...
Franklin Regional Thespian Club goes live for spring play, ‘The Dining Room’
Ian Sunny has played plenty of characters during his four years in the Thespian Club at Franklin Regional Senior High School. For his final production, he and seven cast mates will get the chance to revel in not one, but up to four “final” roles. “This is a chance to...
6 GOP candidates will battle for 4 open seats on Murrysville Council
Six Republican candidates, including two incumbents, will contend in May’s primary for a chance at four open Murrysville Council seats in the general election. With no Democratic candidates filed, the winners in next month’s primary are virtually guaranteed a council seat. Jason Lemak, 43, is an electrical engineer who has...
Trafford Middle School to close this weekend, extracurriculars canceled
Trafford Middle School was notified Friday of a fifth positive covid-19 test within a 14-day period, and the district will close over the next two days at the direction of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. “Fortunately, the two-day closure will be Saturday and Sunday, so the school will be able...
Studies show covid vaccine protects twice as long as natural immunity
New medical studies are examining both the length of natural immunity in patients who have recovered from covid-19, as well as the effectiveness of the Moderna vaccine in producing antibodies to combat the virus. A study published in BioMed Central found that fewer than half of 37 covid-positive patients retained...
News and events in the greater Murrysville area for the week of April 29, 2021
Submit news and events to the Murrysville Star by emailing pvarine@triblive.com. Food collection event set for May 1 Busy Beaver and the Rotary Club of Delmont-Salem will host a May 1 food collection event for the Westmoreland County Food Bank. It will be from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the former AMC...
Franklin Regional Thespian Club goes live for spring play, ‘The Dining Room’
Ian Sunny has played plenty of characters during his four years in the Thespian Club at Franklin Regional Senior High School. For his final production, he and seven cast mates will get the chance to revel in not one, but up to four “final” roles. “This is a chance to...
Classic, custom cars line Level Green to show support for child battling cancer
Oliver Tester, 5, of Level Green, is a big fan of the Subaru WRX. So when staff at Tester’s school, Level Green Elementary, decided to organize a drive-by on April 24 in support of Tester, who has been battling high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma, they made sure the car company’s sporty compact...
President Biden name-checks Pittsburgh in speech to CongressVideo
President Joe Biden invoked the Steel City in his speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, asking why wind turbine blades can’t be made in Pittsburgh rather than Beijing, China — essentially challenging U.S. businesses to bring manufacturing jobs back from overseas. President Biden: "There is simply...
