Patrick Varine stories, Page 127
Franklin Regional taking letters of interest for school board seat
The Franklin Regional school board is accepting letters of interest for a new member, after officially accepting the resignation of Director Gary English earlier this month. The board has 30 days to appoint a new member to fill English’s seat, and did not take any action to fill it Monday...
Westmoreland prison, manor register additional coronavirus cases
An additional seven guards and nine inmates have tested positive for coronavirus at the Westmoreland County Prison in Hempfield, bringing the total to 11 guards and 45 inmates. The courts have halted transfer of inmates to the courthouse in Greensburg, according to county Solicitor Melissa Guiddy. “All inmates will appear...
Rotary names Sardis VFC president as 2020 Volunteer of the Year
The Paiano family of Murrysville knows a bit about firefighting. Before spending 28 of his 35 firefighting years as president at Sardis Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Joseph Paiano Sr. learned about the long hours and sacrifice of the job through his father. When Paiano is at the station these...
Tractor Supply ‘chicken swap’ moving from Delmont to Export
For about a decade, animal enthusiasts have gathered the first Sunday of the month at Tractor Supply in Delmont for the chicken swap. The agriculture chain has held the swaps at locations across the country for years. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, they slowly began dwindling. “Since covid hit,...
Delmont seeks bids for 1st phase of $4.85 million sewage project
Delmont officials are seeking bids for the first phase of a proposed $4.85 million project to address sewage overflows. As part of a consent order finalized with the state Department of Environmental Control in late April, borough officials have proposed relocating and replacing a gravity line and a force main...
Basket raffle, Christmas brunch, car parade happening in Murrysville area
Here are a few upcoming events in the Murrysville area: Basket raffle to benefit kidney transplant patient Export Floral will hold a basket raffle to benefit a former employee, Stacey McKay Campbell, who is in need of a second kidney transplant. The basket is worth more than $275, and the...
Frost advisory issued for Friday night into Saturday
If the last few plants from your summer garden are still hanging on, it’s time to bust out the row covers. That is literally the first piece of advice — “take steps now to protect tender plants” — in the National Weather Service’s preparedness section, for a frost advisory starting...
Murrysville-area emergency responders get more than $100,000 for covid-related expenses
Millions of dollars in grants are on the way for Pennsylvania’s fire departments and ambulance agencies struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. About 90 Westmoreland County fire departments are getting more than $2 million. Fourteen EMS agencies in the county are set to receive about $210,000 total. That includes Murrysville Medic...
Franklin Regional will host homecoming prior to Friday’s game
While homecoming is a tradition at high schools and colleges across the U.S., there’s not likely to be anything traditional about it this year, given the additional health and safety guidelines in place during the coronavirus pandemic. At Franklin Regional, the homecoming ceremony Friday night, including crowning of the queen...
Historic Delmont ‘traffic dummy’ on display at Greensburg Street park
Delmont residents passing by the Rose Wigfield Parklet in recent weeks may have noticed a stone pillar, with a small glass fixture set into a spherical opening, has been moved to a much more prominent spot. While it certainly bears little resemblance to its modern cousins, the pillar controlled traffic...
Covid-19 numbers tallied for Penn-Trafford area
The most recent state data show fewer than 250 people in the Penn-Trafford Star’s coverage area have had confirmed cases of coronavirus since the start of the international pandemic in March, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The health department on Monday released data showing 242 confirmed cases of...
Covid-19 numbers tallied for Murrysville-Delmont-Export area
The most recent state data show less than 160 people in the Murrysville Star’s coverage area have had confirmed cases of coronavirus since the start of the international pandemic in March, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The health department on Monday released data showing there were 159 confirmed...
Franklin Regional adds some flexibility to attendance policy for covid-cautious absences
Franklin Regional officials have updated the district’s attendance procedures to give students more academic flexibility, if parents choose to keep them home over potential covid-19 symptoms. The district has come in for criticism from some parents since the start of school, for encouraging students to stay home if they think...
Pittsburgh-area man found safe after search in Keystone State Park
A Pittsburgh-area man who was reported missing Saturday evening in Keystone State Park in Derry Township was found Sunday night, a state police spokesman said. Search dog teams, dive crews and state police spent Sunday searching for Donald A. Metzger, 39, of Ross. He was found Sunday, Trooper Steve Limani...
Virtual Zumba session will benefit breast cancer nonprofit
When Jocelyn Blystone of McMurray was diagnosed with breast cancer a little less than three years ago, the 33-year-old Zumba instructor found a tremendous amount of support in the community of people attending her classes. “They really rallied around me, and we decided to put this hobby to good use,”...
‘Amazing Trail Race’ raises money for Heritage Trail events, maintenanceVideo
Lisa Lotito, vice president at the Level Green Community Women’s Club, was already a big fan of both the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, and CBS show “The Amazing Race.” And when she heard that trail officials were thinking of hosting a trail scavenger hunt for children, it dovetailed perfectly with an...
School districts re-examine attendance policies amid new educational model
School districts throughout the region are asking families to act with an abundance of caution when it comes to students exhibiting potential covid-19 symptoms. If a student is showing any of the 13 symptoms closely associated with the virus, districts are asking parents to keep them home. That didn’t work...
Virtual 5K draws awareness for World Mental Health DayVideo
Every year the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Keystone Pennsylvania chapter raises awareness about mental health issues and raises money to address them through its NAMIWalks 5K. This year, the event will be virtual, with participants choosing their own activities, rather than the traditional 5K walk at Monroeville Community Park....
Upcoming events in the Murrysville Star’s coverage area
Murrysville Halloween parade canceled The Rotary Club of Murrysville-Export has officially canceled this year’s Halloween parade due to health and safety concerns associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Library will host car parade for ‘Queen of Storybooks’ The Murrysville Community Library will recognize retiring children’s services librarian Carol Siefken with an...
Murrysville Council explores special tax levy for fire company equipment, repairs
Over the summer and at previous Murrysville Council meetings, Chief Administrator Jim Morrison noted that the municipality will need to identify new revenue sources to provide the same level of services residents now enjoy. That extends to emergency services as well, and council on Wednesday discussed a proposed ordinance to...
Mt. Pleasant gazebo decked out for breast cancer awareness fundraiserVideo
Not long after Val Tressler was diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided she needed to get to work not only helping herself but others as well. “I was diagnosed at 43, and I have a mother I lost to breast cancer and an aunt who is also a survivor,” Tressler...
Export Council notes: Borough moves ahead with Halloween parade plans
The borough and fire department will go ahead with the borough’s annual Halloween parade, set for Friday, Oct. 30, but the post-parade socializing and hot dogs at the firehall will not take place this year for health and safety reasons. Registration for the parade will begin at 5 p.m. outside...
Murrysville FlexScreen owner enters equity partnership with ‘Shark Tank’ investorVideo
When Joe Altieri was in his Plum garage working on a prototype for a flexible window screen, his vision was to build a successful business. Getting that business, FlexScreen, to the point where he could garner rapid interest from multiple investors on ABC’s “Shark Tank” turned out to be icing...
Export officials move ahead with timbering plan for borough property in Murrysville
Export officials gave their forestry consultant the go-ahead Tuesday night to have herbicide applied to the understory of borough property off Borland Farm Road as they begin a timber management program. “We got good feedback from lumber companies, and we’re ready to move forward,” forestry consultant Dave O’Barto told council....
Derry Township tremor reclassified as mine collapse
If an earthquake happens and nobody feels it, did it really occur? Not if it turns out to be a mine collapse. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a 2.9-magnitude tremor early Tuesday, centered in an area east of Gray Station Road in Derry Township, was actually the collapse of...
