Patrick Varine stories, Page 114
Robinson stenographer earns national recognition, certification
During her early days as a court reporter, Karyn Valeriano found that two years of training at the Community College of Allegheny County didn’t help her nerves when a couple of attorneys started arguing and talking over top of one another. “As I gained more experience and confidence, I realized...
Last week of April honors ‘father of Pennsylvania forestry,’ Joseph T. Rothrock
Joseph T. Rothrock dedicated much of his life to educating Pennsylvanians about the importance of the forests and natural areas that were once much more abundant in the Keystone State. Born in 1839 in Mifflin County, Rothrock began his career as a botanist and surgeon before starting the “Michaux Forestry...
Pittsburgh jazz legend Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines to receive historical marker in DuquesneVideo
James Johnson, who runs the Afro-American Institute of Music in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, said it would be tough for any jazz piano player to go through life without being influenced — consciously or not — by the legacy of Earl “Fatha” Hines. Born in 1903 in Duquesne, Earl Kenneth Hines...
Local health systems look to CDC guidance on resuming J&J covid vaccinations
U.S. health advisers on Friday urged resuming covid-19 vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot, saying its benefits outweigh a rare risk of blood clots — in line with Europe’s rollout. Federal health officials uncovered 15 vaccine recipients who developed a highly unusual kind of blood clot, out of nearly...
North Huntingdon police locate missing 11-year-old boy
North Huntingdon police located a missing 11-year-old shortly before 10 p.m. Friday night, after a roughly four-hour search of the Penns Woods area east of White Oak Park. Police said neighbors assisted with the search, and thanked the community for its help in a Nixle alert message sent shortly after...
Charges filed in Murrysville area for the week of April 19, 2021
Charges filed with Export District Judge Charles Conway. All individuals have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Tony L. Randolph, 48, of Castle Shannon, with driving under the influence (refusal), endangering the...
News and events in the Murrysville area for the week of April 26, 2021
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 Theater parking lot off of Hollywood Boulevard, near Delmont. Food bank...
‘On the Move’ in the Murrysville area for the week of April 22, 2021
Murrysville officials declared April 21, 2021, as “Coach Botta Day” in honor of Franklin Regional football coach Greg Botta, who is retiring after 27 years with the team. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work and live in this community for a long time,” Botta said. “It means...
Savini makeup school grad wins contest to spend 1st night in ‘Buffalo Bill’s House’Video
When Jeannette Milo was a student at Tom Savini’s makeup effects program in Monessen, she watched movies such as “Silence of the Lambs” with the goal of one day working on such a film. Little did she know, a decade later, she’d be the first person to spend the night...
New Jersey company to expand its presence at Westmoreland business park
Directors for the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. have approved an option agreement for a lot at the Westmoreland Business & Research Park that will add a new manufacturing facility and office building, along with potentially 50 new jobs. The agreement gives WAB Associates six months to finalize the $218,050...
Murrysville girls mind the goal for 16U national championship contendersVideo
Two Murrysville teens will be protecting the net when the Steel City Selects 16U girls’ ice hockey team heads to Denver for the Chipotle-USA Hockey Tier II National Championships at the end of the month. For the team’s starting goaltender, Abby Manzewitsch, 16, it will be the third time in...
Trio of Pa. bills addresses gaps in drug rehabilitation process
Pennsylvania legislators unanimously passed several bills Tuesday aimed at ensuring that friends and family of people struggling with addiction issues are kept “in the loop,” so to speak. House Bill 944, written by State Reps. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer, and Eric Nelson, R-Westmoreland, would require in-patient rehabilitation facilities to notify a...
Pittsburgh police: Missing 12-year-old boy safe
A 12-year-old Pittsburgh boy who had been missing for about two days has been found and is safe, city police said Tuesday afternoon. Brice Rose had last been seen on Sunday in the city’s Warrington neighborhood, where he resides, police said....
Pine-Richland community shows ‘silent support’ for fired football coach Eric KasperowiczVideo
Reaction to the firing of Pine-Richland high school football coach Eric Kasperowicz has been swift and strong. It has ranged from confusion and anger over the school board’s lack of an explanation — citing their policy not to comment on personnel matters — to students rallying outside their football stadium,...
Murrysville-Export-Delmont covid figures tallied for the week of April 19, 2021
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,431 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March 2020. Twenty two new cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP codes...
Murrysville history group excited to show off refurbished carriage, replica chuck wagonVideo
When the Murrysville Historical Preservation Society is back to hosting regular public events, its members will have two new pieces of local history to show off. The society recently acquired both a replica covered wagon and the original carriage used by Dr. George Orbin Hall, a Murrysville-area physician in the...
Franklin Regional Junior Olympics wrestler earns 2nd state title in 3 years
Franklin Regional Junior Olympics wrestler Kaydon Ferrell captured his second state title in three years this month at the Keystone State Youth Wrestling Championships, held at the Monroeville Convention Center. “It was pretty hard,” said Ferrell, 11, of Murrysville. “He was way heavier than me. I was the lightweight in...
Craft beer makers look to region’s farms to grow grainsVideo
The only local thing about regional craft beer right now is the water, according to farmer Vince Mangini of Crabtree. For example, at All Saints Brewing in Hempfield, founder Jeff Guidos typically gets his malt from German and other European companies. Through Food21’s “Farm to Tap” program, Mangini wants to...
Grants help grow community gardens across Western Pa.Video
A community garden can bring together residents who never met, and its bounty can help feed the growers and others through donations. That’s why several community garden organizers throughout Western Pennsylvania were so happy to receive grant funding or in-kind donations to get their gardens started. “We got some help...
West Virginia University student, 20, dies after fall from parking garage
A 20-year-old West Virginia University student is dead after falling from a parking garage on the Morgantown campus Friday afternoon. University police responded shortly after 12:30 p.m. Friday to the University Place garage for reports “that a person either fell or jumped from the parking garage and landed on the...
Murrysville area events, April 19, 2021, and beyond
Cornerstone to host ‘Spring Fling Thing’ for children Cornerstone Ministries will host a free children’s carnival, 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., May 14 at the church, 2200 Cornerstone Lane in Murrysville. There will be carnival games, a kid-friendly escape room, balloon art, crafts, a kids’ train and a performance by...
Murrysville area charges filed, April 15, 2021
Charges filed with Export District Judge Charles Conway. All individuals have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • John B. Colonna, 61, of Jeannette, with simple assault and harassment following a Feb. 13...
Delmont will seek grant to develop ‘active transportation plan’ for borough
As Delmont officials work out the particulars of a recreation plan for the borough, volunteers are pursuing a state health department grant that could help fund the development of a transportation plan. Both are planks of an overall comprehensive plan, something the borough has been working on in small chunks...
Johnstown-area Rotarian suspends Appalachian Trail fundraiser hikeVideo
Rotarian Owen Standley referred to his fundraising hike north along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail as “Owen’s Odyssey,” the latter of course meaning “a long or wandering voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune.” His goal was to raise $100,000 for the Rotary’s fight to eradicate polio worldwide. And...
15-year-old boy dead in Lincoln-Lemington shooting
A 15-year-old boy was killed after a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood Tuesday night, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Don Angelo Castapheny of Pittsburgh was pronounced dead at the scene. Police from Zone 5 responded to the 1300 block of Montezuma Street around 9:10 p.m., and shortly after...
