Patrick Varine stories, Page 55
R.K. Mellon Foundation commits $1 million to Maui fire relief efforts
The Richard King Mellon Foundation will donate $1 million in grants to support recovery efforts on Maui after devastating wildfires on the Hawaiian island. “I extend my sincerest ‘mahalo,’ or thank-you, to the big-hearted board of trustees at the Richard King Mellon Foundation,” said Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a Pittsburgh-area...
Remembering Flight 93: 9/11 ceremony honors passengers, crew members
About 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, Terry Butler of Somerset headed to his job in Stonycreek, already very concerned. He had heard about terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. Then he looked up and saw a plane. “It was...
Murrysville waits to move forward with short-term rental ordinance
Murrysville council members are debating an ordinance regulating short-term rentals through companies like AirBnb and VRBO. The council has split over the rental issue perceived by some as limited in scope and by others as a question of personal safety for neighbors in a residential area. “So far, I’ve heard...
Historical society, author will mark 75th anniversary of Donora smog disaster
Seventy-five years ago this October, residents in the Mon River mill town of Donora noticed something wrong with the air, something different from the typical steel-industry smog that characterized the region at the time. The nearby U.S. Steel Donora Zinc Works had released two dangerous gases, hydrogen fluoride and sulfur...
1980s Pittsburgh rockers Haywire plan full-band reunion shows in New Kensington, Warrendale
When three members of the 1980s Pittsburgh rock group Haywire reunited in 2021 for a couple of intimate acoustic shows, they had a great time, but something was missing. Two things, actually: bassist Pete LaCava and drummer Steve Juffe were both in the throes of cancer treatment. Lead singer Arte...
Prime Stage Theatre to host open auditions for upcoming season
Prime Stage Theatre officials will host open auditions for their 27th season Sept. 16-17 in Pittsburgh. Auditions for the “Season of Courage and Discovery” will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 and 4-9 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Prime Stage Studio, 840 West Saw Mill Run Boulevard in...
Local, state, federal officials to mark 22nd anniversary of Flight 93 crash on 9/11
Monday will mark the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of United Flight 93, meant for an additional attack that was foiled by the plane’s passengers. Local, state and federal officials will be in attendance at ceremonies...
‘Read-in’ highlights representation in books frequently targeted for banning
When Mackenzie Fangman read “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, it was an awkward experience at times. “It made me cringe to read, but it was a cringe of self- recognition,” said Fangman, 26, of Greensburg, who also is gender-queer. “And if it made me feel that way as an...
Injured player flown by medical helicopter from Kiski-Laurel Highlands football game
Laurel Highlands football standout Antwan Black Jr. was transported by medical helicopter from Kiski Area after suffering an injury during a game Friday night in Allegheny Township. First responders called for a medical helicopter around 9:40 p.m., in response to Black’s injury at the game at Richard Dilts Field on...
Fire at McKeesport high-rise injures 3, displaces 200
Three people were transported to the hospital, two in critical condition, following an apartment fire Friday afternoon that displaced about 200 residents in McKeesport. Firefighters were called to the McKeesport Towers, a housing authority high-rise on Sixth Street, shortly before 3 p.m. for a report of an apartment fire. “We...
Police: Quarry worker dies after becoming trapped in limestone hopper
State police are investigating the death of an Indiana County quarry worker who died after becoming trapped in a limestone hopper Friday morning. First responders were called just before 10:30 a.m. to rescue a man who had become trapped at Ridge Limestone, a quarry on Coleman Road in Young Township....
Saint Vincent professor seeks public participation in spotted lanternfly research
Saint Vincent professor and entomologist Michelle Duennes was walking the lots at a Steelers tailgate last year near Heinz Field. But she wasn’t looking for the perfectly grilled kielbasa. She was looking for spotted lanternflies. “We were also looking at the license plates of people who came from out-of-state,” Duennes...
Historical society readies for annual Murrysville Heritage Festival
Considering the disdain children seem to have for putting away their clothes, Carol Interieri isn’t sure what they love so much about colonial-era laundry demonstrations. “They just can’t enough for some reason,” she said with a laugh. Intrieri and other members of the Murrysville Historical Preservation Society will put local...
Murrysville area: Corn maze, bike raffle, local live music and more
Corn maze opens The Gearhard Farms corn maze is open through Oct. 29 in Murrysville. The maze is cut into a different pattern each year, and participants are invited to try and map out the picture as they make their way through. The maze is open Fridays from 5-9 p.m.,...
Franklin Regional students will create, sell 3D-printed products through foundation grant
Generally speaking, math class is math class. Students learn math. In English class, students read and write. But teachers at Franklin Regional School District’s intermediate school will blend elements from across the educational spectrum as they work with a group of students to stock and run a student store. “Leadership...
East Allegheny is latest school district to install cameras to catch bus safety violatorsVideo
East Allegheny School District officials say they are tired of motorists ignoring state law prohibiting them from passing stopped school buses. Through a partnership with local law enforcement and the safety company BusPatrol, the district now has measures in place to identify the license plates of drivers who put students...
Export native retires after Naval Air Force Atlantic command
During his time commanding the Naval Air Force Atlantic, Export native Rear Adm. John Meier helped to ensure the highest state of readiness in the U.S. Navy. Meier graduated from the U.S. Navy Academy in 1986, and was winged as a naval aviator in 1988. According to his official biography,...
Governor touts Connellsville as an example of success investing in outdoor recreationVideo
Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln needs only to look around if he wants to see the impact that outdoor recreation has had on the Fayette County city. There’s a restaurant and event center being developed near the Connellsville Comfort Inn, along with another new restaurant nearby. Independence Health System is working...
Murrysville area: Franklin Regional gets top marks, Rotary Oktoberfest, local live music and more
Franklin Regional ranked among top 30 in Pa. Franklin Regional Senior High School was nationally ranked among the top 40% of American high schools by U.S. News & World Report. The magazine annually ranks more than 17,000 high schools. FR was ranked 27th best in Pennsylvania, eighth in the Pittsburgh...
Where’s the beef? More than 30 cattle missing from Fayette County farm
A Perry Township farmer is asking for help finding more than 30 cattle that left their enclosure when a gate was left open over the weekend. “The utility companies were up in our hay field repairing poles, and either West Penn Power or one of their contractors left the gate...
AARP recruiting volunteers for Westmoreland tax-preparation sites
Despite clearly having five letters, “taxes” is a four-letter word for a lot of people. Many would prefer to have nothing whatsoever to do with them. That’s where Bob Schumacher of Penn Township comes in. He can’t make your taxes go away, but he hook you up with someone to...
Standout Monessen basketball player charged with marijuana possession, criminal trespass
A standout player on Monessen High School’s basketball team is charged with drug possession after police said he and two juveniles were found smoking marijuana in an abandoned house. Police were called to the 600 block of Reed Avenue in the city just before 1:15 p.m. Sunday. The building’s owner...
Trafford’s Theatre Factory to debut play this weekend at Pittsburgh New Works FestivalVideo
When Josette Kurey realized she would be directing actors Ron and Mary Ferrara of Vandergrift as part the world premiere of a new play about a married Italian-American couple from Queens, N.Y., she knew things were on the right track. “They’re almost playing themselves, married Italian grandparents. It’s very funny,...
Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts cold, snowy winter for Pennsylvania
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been issuing weather predictions since 1792, and the forecast for the 2023-24 winter is calling for plenty of snow. “Most areas of the United States that typically see snow should be prepared for crisp temperatures and oodles of fluffy white throughout the season,” almanac officials...
Murrysville council approves injection well ordinance
While Murrysville officials might revisit the ordinance they approved this month regarding injection wells, several of the concerns expressed by residents and council members appear to be addressed through existing laws and regulations. Staff and council have been working on the specifics of an ordinance to add injection wells to...
