Patrick Varine stories, Page 122
Feds seek to boost pandemic student nutrition card benefits by 15%
The federal government plans to issue Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to eligible schools and students beginning in early spring, following President Joe Biden’s executive order last week boosting those benefits by 15%. Through P-EBT, eligible students receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards used to purchase food....
Covid numbers tallied Jan. 25 for Murrysville-Export-Delmont area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,106 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those positive results, 62 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP...
Westmoreland symphony’s next livestream to feature Cleveland cellistVideo
There is certainly no love lost between Pittsburgh and Cleveland’s football teams. But unless he tries a dirty tackle on the conductor, no one is likely to boo cellist Mark Kosower, even if he does hail from the Browns’ hometown. Kosower, principal cello for the Cleveland Orchestra, will be the...
Murrysville-Export Rotary donates cots to emergency management team
The Rotary’s motto is “People Helping People.” So when Murrysville-Export Rotary President John Hartman heard that a longtime law enforcement friend needed some help, he was ready to go. Both Hartman and Murrysville Police Capt. Chuck Tappe underwent police training together. But neither was anticipating the need that arose. “Last...
Delmont library’s ‘soft’ grand opening continues through SaturdayVideo
The new Delmont Public Library building is a tribute to the people who helped build its past and a monument to future possibilities. The library began the first day of a three-day soft grand opening Thursday, spreading out the celebration in light of health and safety concerns over covid-19. Grand...
Events in the Murrysville area, Jan. 21 and beyond
Here are news briefs and event listings for the Murrysville Star’s coverage area. Submit an event or a news brief by emailing pvarine@triblive.com. Delmont library to host French program The Delmont Public Library will host a “Love My Library” program on Feb. 13. Or, as the French would say —...
As covid crisis deepens, opioid crisis continues in the background
As President Joe Biden settles into office amid the coronavirus pandemic, nonprofits and organizations battling drug addiction are urging the new administration not to lose sight of the national opioid crisis that predates covid-19 and has not slowed. “At the same time the coronavirus death toll grows, there is another...
Murrysville seeks consultant to move forward with amphitheater project
Murrysville officials hope to break ground on an amphitheater and performance space at Murrysville Community Park by late spring or early summer. Council on Wednesday voted to reissue a request-for-proposals for a project consultant. A similar request last year returned proposals that Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said ranged between $60,000...
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board expected to push in-person learning back to April
Pittsburgh Public Schools Board members are expected to make the “tough decision” next week to postpone the return of in-person learning until April 6, after the district’s spring break, board president Sylvia Wilson said Wednesday. “No one wants students back in school more than I do,” Wilson said. With covid-19...
McKeesport man sentenced to 5 years on drug, weapons charges
A former McKeesport man who was arrested in connection with a 2019 fight and shooting at Monroeville Mall was sentenced to just over 5 years in federal prison following a conviction on narcotics and weapons charges. Jared Ogrosky, 23, formerly of Bowman Avenue, McKeesport, was convicted of narcotics trafficking and...
Police seek suspect in Sharpsburg armed robbery
The Allegheny County Police are seeking information on a man who robbed the Family Dollar in Sharpsburg on Wednesday. County police responded to a request for assistance by Sharpsburg police after the Family Dollar on the 900 block of Main Street was robbed at gunpoint. Investigators described the suspect as...
TribLive Taste Test: National Peanut Butter Day is coming up!Video
This Sunday, Jan. 24, is National Peanut Butter Day! And what better way to celebrate than buying most of the major store brands of peanut butter to figure out which is the best? TribLive Taste Test team members were originally hoping to do a blind taste test to try and...
Harris vice presidency marks several ‘firsts’
When Alyson Holt pursued a degree in electrical engineering, she was keenly aware of how few fellow students looked like her. “Women were 6% of the students,” said Holt, 48, of Murrysville. Holt came from a family full of technology careers — both grandfathers were engineers, and her grandmother and...
Delmont’s new library set for grand opening
Through grants, community donations and fundraising, Delmont Public Library officials raised more than $1 million in four years and, this week, they will welcome the public into a new library building. Large benefactors came in the form of a $400,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and a matching...
Covid numbers tallied for Murrysville-Delmont-Export area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,044 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those positive results, 45 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP...
Murrysville still seeking consultant for amphitheater project
Officials on Wednesday will consider advertising a more specific request for a consultant to help plan an outdoor amphitheater near Murrysville Community Park. Despite a $299,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, council members opted to delay construction of the amphitheater last spring, in part due...
Beat the winter blues with wildlife and Westmoreland’s beautiful viewsVideo
The winter of 2021 is shaping up to look much like the spring, summer and fall of 2020 — at least when it comes to most forms of in-person socializing. But one place that has remained safe for activity throughout the pandemic has been the great outdoors, and that certainly...
Temporary waiver will allow qualified pharmacists to order, administer covid vaccines
Referring to pharmacies as “critical public health partners” in Pennsylvania’s plan to increase access to covid-19 vaccines, Gov. Tom Wolf approved a temporary waiver to allow state-licensed pharmacists to order and administer the shots once the vaccine is widely available. “Many Pennsylvanians will go to their local pharmacy for vaccination,”...
Amerisafe brings ‘hugging station’ to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville
Amerisafe workers brought their “hugging station” to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville recently. The station — where the company and center staff set up dual plastic sheeting over a doorway — comes equipped with “sleeves” to allow residents to interact with family, giving many the chance to hug a loved one...
Murrysville-area happenings, Jan. 23 and beyond
Jan. 23 food drive at high school Franklin Regional junior Garrett Deller decided late last year to take his volunteer service with the Westmoreland County Food Bank to the next level, joining with fellow National Honor Society students to host a biweekly food drive at the Westmoreland Farms clubhouse. Deller...
Murrysville area police blotter, Jan. 14
Charges filed with Export District Judge Charles Conway’s District Court. All persons charged have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty or pleading guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Collins Yochembeng, 31, of Penn Hills, with driving under...
Franklin Regional student, volunteer groups battle food insecurity
Franklin Regional junior Garrett Deller decided late last year to take his volunteer service with the Westmoreland County Food Bank to the next level, joining with fellow National Honor Society students to host a biweekly food drive at the Westmoreland Farms clubhouse. Deller said his goal was to arrange for...
Delmont to begin next round of pollution-reduction improvements
Delmont Council on Tuesday hired a company to help implement its 2021 and 2022 pollution-reduction plan that is required by the county and state. Communities with municipal separate storm sewer systems, or MS4s, are required to obtain an MS4 permit. Those communities are also required to come up with a...
Franklin Regional students sign petition requesting more support from district
Franklin Regional school officials are asking for feedback from students about this year’s educational model, a few days after a Change.org petition titled “Franklin Regional Students Need Support” garnered more than 1,000 signatures online. High school Principal Ron Suvak said students would receive a form on Tuesday “seeking feedback on...
Covid numbers tallied for Murrysville-Export-Delmont area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows just under 1,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those 999 positive results, 67 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for...
