Patrick Varine stories, Page 19
Local competitors prepare for USA Dance National Ballroom championships, held in Pittsburgh
Sitting in a Murrysville restaurant on a chilly Wednesday in February, John and Deana Foley’s heads occasionally sway to the pop music on the radio. But if a tango or a foxtrot were to start up, John would have to battle the urge to don a topcoat and tails, sweep...
‘Anything Goes’ features humor, entries from the Great American Songbook
The Franklin Regional Senior High School auditorium will transport its audience back to the days of the Golden Age of Hollywood, big-band music and the end of prohibition in its spring musical. The high school’s Theatre Guild will stage “Anything Goes” on Feb. 27-28 and March 1-2, presenting a madcap...
Monroeville area: Library trivia, gospel performance, Gateway musical, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. ‘Good as New’ book sale The 30th annual “Good as New” book sale will be held March 21-23 at Monroeville United Methodist Church, 219 Center Road. A variety of fiction, nonfiction and children’s books will be available. Gently used puzzles...
Morning Roundup: Tractor-trailer fire closes Parkway West; delivery driver shot at in North Braddock
Here are some news items for Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025: Trailer fire shuts down Parkway West Four fire companies responded to a vehicle fire late Tuesday night that shut down a section of the Parkway West (Interstate 376). The fire, in the cab of a tractor-trailer in the westbound lanes,...
Monroeville Giant Eagle recalls bread
Giant Eagle officials have issued a voluntary recall of multi-grain sourdough bread sold at its Monroeville store on Monroeville Boulevard. A limited amount of bread, sold at the store’s bakery, was incorrectly labeled as “multi-grain Tuscany,” resulting in an undeclared sesame allergen being potentially present. It was discovered during a...
Police: Man dies in Route 28 crash after appearing to jump from moving vehicle
A man who police believe jumped from a moving vehicle was struck and killed along Route 28 in a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday morning. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Connell Nihei, 50, of Pittsburgh. The crash near Etna was reported shortly before 7 a.m., according to...
Morning roundup: McKeesport shooting victim identified; crews battle Murrysville fire
Here are a few news items for the morning of Feb. 25, 2025: McKeesport cemetery shooting victim ID’d Police have identified the body of a man found shot to death last week in a McKeesport cemetery. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Daniel Anthony Smith, 21, of Duquesne as...
Morning Roundup: Crews battle fire in Port Vue; 2 injured in Whitehall crash
Here are some overnight and early-morning new items for Monday, Feb. 24: Port Vue home damaged in fire A fire in Port Vue caused heavy damage to a home Sunday on the 1000 block of Alquin Street. The fire was reported shortly before noon. Port Vue Fire Chief Brandon Hale...
Butler author considers William Trent among ‘founding fathers of Pittsburgh’
William Trent is not necessarily a name that would come up in the typical American history class. But Butler native, historian and author Jason Cherry knows better. He knows Trent was considered one of the most influential backcountry merchants of the 18th century and was among the men who cast...
Franklin Regional kicks off 4th annual Kids of Steel program with over 250 studentsVideo
This month, Franklin Regional staff held a tug-of-war contest with students. It was part of the kickoff for the fourth annual Kids of Steel program at the district’s intermediate school. Kids of Steel was conceived by P3R, the nonprofit organization that manages the marathon and some 15 other running events...
From farmland to Miracle Mile: Monroeville poised for change as it marks 75 years
N. Michael Marie had a front-row seat as Monroeville grew from a farming community into the hub of activity that it is today. Marie, 72, is the owner of Nick Marie’s Esta Esta, the restaurant his parents, Nick and Helen Marie, opened in 1955. Marie grew up above the space...
How pet blood donors are saving lives
Usually, when someone’s pet is in the veterinary hospital, it’s a stressful time — something is wrong, and it’s gone beyond the usual vet visit. But on Feb. 15 at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Ohio Township, Ashleah Stone wasn’t worried at all about her 7-year-old greyhound, J.B. That’s because J.B....
Murrysville woman accused of falsely reporting the same diamond went missing twice
A Murrysville woman has been charged with attempted insurance fraud after investigators say she was paid to replace a lost diamond, found it but did not report it to her insurance company, then filed another claim that she’d lost it a few months later. Rachel DeSoto-Jackson, 36, of Murrysville was...
Veteran service group organizes birthday card campaign for WWII code breaker living in Monroeville
There is never a good time for war. But for Julia Parsons, the outbreak of World War II came at the right time. In 1942, Parsons was a senior at Carnegie Tech — soon to be Carnegie Mellon University — “about to graduate with a General Studies degree that equipped...
Murrysville area: Irish rock presentation, children’s dance classes and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Rock Talks explores Irish music The Murrysville Community Library and municipal recreation department will host another “Rock Talks!” session with speaker Erik Selinger. It will be at 6:30 p.m. March 11 at the library, 4130 Sardis Road in Murrysville. The topic will...
Franklin Regional curriculum committee to examine student cellphone policy
Some Franklin Regional school board members think the district should reexamine its current policy on student cellphone use. “Our current policy allows teachers to make their own decisions, and I just thought it was worth throwing out there,” said board member Deb Bucciero. “There’s all different kinds of research about...
Monroeville area: Library trivia competition, mini-golf fundraiser, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Trivia night at library The Monroeville Public Library will host a trivia night March 22 with cash prizes for the top two teams. Doors open at the library, 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd., at 6 p.m.; the event begins at 7...
Rugs N Stuff owners look to foster creativity, confidence
Tyler Weston sees tufting’s potential to nurture creativity. Tufting is the art of decorative rug design. Using an electric tool that resembles a cross between a sewing machine needle and a tattoo gun, tufters push yarn through the back of their canvas, tracing and eventually filling in an image from...
Jeannette art gallery hosts works by 35 local women artists
On March 8, You Are Here in Jeannette will host an artists’ reception for its “Women in Art” exhibit, currently on display at the Clay Avenue gallery. For two of the participating artists, it will be a doubly special occasion. Not only will the exhibit feature artwork from sisters Maria...
Scottdale community band seeks new members in preparation for 2025 season
The Scottdale Concert Band is seeking new members as it prepares to start rehearsals for the 2025 concert season. The nonprofit group is under the direction of Roderick Booker and assistant directors Frederick Collins and Lee Matchett. Rehearsals will begin at 7 p.m. March 4 in the band room at...
Mutual Aid, Murrysville Medic One hoping for additional community support
Ambulance services covering Westmoreland County are hoping to receive more support from the communities they serve, particularly as that number of communities has grown in recent months. “Bell Township, Avonmore, parts of Loyalhanna Township and Saltsburg are now divided up between us, Mutual Aid EMS and the Oklahoma ambulance service,”...
Under cover: Game commission releases bonus stock of pheasants in Pa.Video
Pheasant hunters aren’t just good at flushing out the birds they’re hunting. They’re pretty adept at figuring out where the Pennsylvania Game Commission is likely to stock them. As Warden Zebulun Campbell and his crew pulled into a small parking lot near Loyalhanna Lake on Thursday morning, a half-dozen hunters...
Murrysville area: FR students excel in music competition and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. FR students dominate Young Artists Competition Franklin Regional music students again dominated the winners’ list in the annual Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition. FR students swept the Level I (through ninth grade) instrumental category, with eighth grader Ava Zannikos (flute) taking...
Does your dating app match look like this? They’re probably not real
February is an expensive time of year to be falling in love, with Valentine’s Day and all. That goes double for someone who finds themselves caught in a catfishing scam, whether it’s through dating apps or some other form of conversation that doesn’t happen face to face. According to the...
Franklin Regional cheer squad makes semifinals in state championships
When most people in the community see Franklin Regional cheerleaders, it’s in the context of supporting another athletic team. “They see our athletes under the Friday night lights, or during basketball season, when they’re there to engage the crowd, entertain and support the team,” said FR cheer coach Ashley Harmon....
