Patrick Varine stories, Page 44
DEP grants permit to PennEnergy to draw water from Big Sewickley Creek
Following a nearly three-year process of identifying deficiencies and submitting amended water management plans, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection granted a permit for fracking company PennEnergy Resources to draw millions of gallons of water from the Big Sewickley Creek. The permit allows the Cranberry company to place and maintain...
McDonald’s flips the Golden Arches upside down in anime promotion
In the 1983 anime adaptation of “Cat’s Eye,” a thinly disguised version of the Golden Arches showed up in the form of “WcDonald’s,” a barely-fictional, trademark-bypassing fast-food franchise that has gone on to appear in many more anime, manga and related cartoons over the years. Forty years later, McDonald’s is...
Morning Roundup: GoFundMe for injured paramedic; sea lion dies at zoo
Here are a few morning news items from Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. GoFundMe started for injured Lower Kiski paramedic A fellow emergency worker has started a GoFundMe for the Lower Kiski Ambulance paramedic injured in an ambulance crash early Wednesday morning near the Waterworks shopping center on Freeport...
Lower Kiski medic seriously injured in Pittsburgh ambulance crash
A medic from Lower Kiski Ambulance Service was seriously injured when the ambulance she was in crashed Wednesday near The Waterworks mall in Pittsburgh. According to a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh Public Safety, the crash was reported around 4 a.m. along Freeport Road near the strip mall and Walnut Grill restaurant....
Monroeville woman dead in SUV crash
A Monroeville woman died of injuries suffered in a fatal crash Tuesday evening in Monroeville. Emergency responders were called to the intersection of Haymaker and Ramsey roads around 7:45 p.m., according to TribLive news partner WTAE, for a report that an SUV had struck a utility pole. Kimberly Andonisio, 47,...
Pa. Senate taking comments on 10-year plan to help state’s seniors
Members of the Pennsylvania Senate are seeking public comments following the publication of “Aging Our Way, PA: A Plan for Lifelong Independence,” a 10-year plan to support the state’s older residents. “Every Pennsylvanian deserves to live and age with dignity,” Sen. Maria Collett, D-12, said. “This comprehensive and innovative plan...
Morning Roundup: St. Patrick’s Day Parade details; nearly 3 dozen cats rescued from Westmoreland home
Here are a few morning news items for Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. St. Patrick’s Day Parade details Parade committee members have released the details for Pittsburgh’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16. The celebration is set to begin at 10 a.m. as parade participants gather near the Greyhound...
Delmont officials consider options for former police station
Delmont officials would like to use the area previously occupied by their police department, and also make some much-needed updates to the building’s handicapped access. They’re hoping a federal grant focused on large facilities projects could help them transform the former police station into a public community area. The American...
What they’re saying about Jaromir Jagr’s jersey retirement
Jaromir Jagr watched his No. 68 float up into the rafters in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, a powerful moment in a long and storied career that still has yet to reach its conclusion. One matter Jagr — who both owns and continues to play for a Czech hockey team —...
Morning Roundup: Fire destroys Penn Township garage; McKnight Road restrictions begin
Here are a few morning news items for Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Penn Township garage destroyed by fire An explosion and subsequent fire destroyed a garage in Penn Township late Saturday night. TribLive news partner WTAE reports that dozens of firefighters worked late into the night battling a fire which...
Modern music, personal tragedy inform Carnegie Mellon professor’s classical compositionsVideo
Nancy Galbraith has been publishing her orchestral musical compositions since 1979. But even four-plus decades is a drop in the bucket, compared to the centuries’ worth of classical music written over the years. Galbraith, 72, composition chair and professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said her composing style has come a...
Export native recognized by borough for contributions to development, conservation
Larry Larese recognized the value of the former school building in Export when its use was discontinued by the Franklin Regional School District. “My sister was part of the last class to graduate from there in the early 1960s,” said Larese, 76, of Murrysville. “I know how much that building...
‘Rock of Ages’ musical a throwback to big guitar solos, bigger hair
Westmoreland Performing Arts Professional Theatre Company will transport theater fans back to a time of big guitar solos and even bigger hair as they present the musical “Rock of Ages” on Feb. 23-24. “It’s a party!” said director Tony Marino. “You’re going to sing along with pretty much every song,...
Homestead native will tell ‘The Story of Whiskey’ at West Overton Village
Robin Robinson began his entertainment career as a comedian in the 1970s. He convinced a band at the old Portfolio bar in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to let him use their microphone for a little stand-up comedy during the set break. But while he’ll crack plenty of jokes during a March...
Delmont claims local American Legion improperly sold former post
Delmont Borough officials say their local American Legion improperly sold its former post to the next-door neighbor, and suggested the man should retain an attorney. Matthew Cunningham, 33, received a letter from borough Solicitor Dan Hewitt after agreeing to purchase the post’s property at 64 Freeport St. in November 2023....
Federal prosecutors: East Hills felon ‘repeatedly endangered the community’ by firing machine gun in several incidents
A former East Hills man and convicted felon was sentenced to a decade in federal prison on Friday, after he was found in possession of a machine gun that prosecutors said was fired during multiple shooting incidents in Pittsburgh and Penn Hills. Oronde Shelton, 51, was sentenced following conviction on...
Murrysville area: SportZone seeks naming rights proposals, and more
SportZone seeking proposals for naming rights The Murrysville SportZone is accepting bids for arena naming rights at the athletic complex on School Road South. The 30,000-square-foot sports and event complex hosts dek and inline hockey, volleyball, wrestling, soccer and in recent years, mixed-martial arts and boxing matches. For more, email...
Franklin Regional Theatre Guild recognizes emotional weight of ‘West Side Story’
Last year, Franklin Regional student actors playing the leather-jacketed T-Birds in “Grease” called themselves a gang. But it’s quite a leap from the goofy high-school antics of “Grease” to the actual gang violence of this year’s musical, “West Side Story,” which opens March 7. “‘Grease’ is a fun, dumb show,”...
Monroeville officials: Hobby Lobby welcome, just not at convention center
Monroeville municipal and tourism officials want to make it clear to Hobby Lobby: the arts and crafts business is welcome to come to town, but they don’t want it taking the place of the Monroeville Convention Center. Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock and Visit Monroeville Board Chair Amanda Settelmaier sent a...
Franklin Regional to install weapons detection system at senior, middle schoolsVideo
Franklin Regional School District will install a weapons detection system at both its senior high and middle school, according to a letter sent to district families earlier this week. The OpenGate Weapons Detection System, which will be installed based on the recommendation of the district’s safety committee, is a portable,...
Monroeville couples celebrate 60-plus years of marriage at Valentine’s Day vow renewals
Virginia Farkas was emotional about renewing her vows on Valentine’s Day with her husband of 62 years, Bernie. But the main emotion she had about her wedding day makeup was slight annoyance. “That’s as good as it’s going to get,” she said with a laugh, looking into her mirror as...
Looking for a logistical nightmare? Try to get rid of a piano
Getting into the piano business is a heavy decision. While that’s a bit of a bad pun, it’s also the truth. Piano dealers mostly have their own infrastructure in place to deal with one of the world’s heaviest instruments. But for people who have a piano and don’t want it...
Starbucks moving into former Boulevard location in Salem
Commuters on Route 22 will have another spot to grab their morning coffee later this year, with a Starbucks moving into the former Boulevard Restaurant location at the Hollywood Square shopping Center in Salem. “It’s going to be a drive-thru plus café,” said Jeff Paul, who owns the building which...
Annual fish fry season returns
The following are fish fry fundraisers scheduled to begin in the region. Allegheny County • Christ the Divine Shepherd, 245 Azalea Drive, Monroeville; 4:30-7 p.m. Feb. 16 and 23; March 1, 8, 15 and 22. CDSfishfry.org. • Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy, 205 Brilliant Ave., Aspinwall; 11 a.m. to...
Audubon Society wants eyes to the skies for annual Great Backyard Bird Count
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Audubon Society held its annual Christmas Bird Count. This month, they’ll ask avid avian watchers to cast their eyes to the skies once again for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count from Feb. 16-19. In Monroeville, the local library will host a...
