Patrick Varine stories, Page 63
Turnpike officials break ground on next phase of Mon/Fayette ExpresswayVideo
On Monday , Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials broke ground on the next phase of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, a $214 million contract for a three-mile section from Route 51 to Coal Valley Road in Jefferson Hills. The current expressway runs 54 miles from I-68 near Morgantown to Jefferson Hills. When completed,...
Excela, Butler change name to Independence Health System
After merging to create Western Pennsylvania’s third-largest health system, Excela Health and the Butler Health System have a new name: Independence Health System. The system includes Butler, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals, with 7,300 employees and more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers. “Having the wider resources of...
Invasive Asian tiger mosquito loves the standing water near your house
As spring comes into full bloom, flowers aren’t the only thing popping up. Mosquitoes are also spawning in small, mostly natural pools of standing water. After those pools dry out, a cousin moves in. And it’s known to be an aggressive biter. The Asian tiger mosquito, an invasive species first...
White Valley church in Export can be traced back to area’s first settlers
Scott Duff of Export remembers being a kid and catching salamanders in a stream not far from where the White Valley church stands in the borough, on Roosevelt Avenue. In the cemetery on the church grounds, there are two thin, well-worn headstones. “If you come out here in the morning,...
Franklin Regional recognized as model for education excellence by national association
The Franklin Regional School District was among six in the U.S. to be chosen by the School Superintendents Association as a model of positive change in public education. The association recognized Franklin Regional as a 2023 spring “Lighthouse System,” adding it to the 120-member Learning 2025 Network, a group of...
Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Murrysville marks 200th anniversary
Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Emmanuel Reformed Lutheran Church can trace their beginnings back to the same group of German Lutheran immigrants, some of the first Europeans to settle in the area that would become Murrysville. Unfortunately, both churches also had to share in the frustration of having their 200th anniversary...
Funk to strings to old-school crooning, music acts spring into Western Pa.Video
From new-school funkiness to old-school crooning to an entire town full of bands, Pittsburgh has a variety of musical acts headed to the region this spring and early summer. Here are just a few upcoming shows, festivals and recent releases. Millvale Music Festival About 300 bands, all of them local,...
Western Pa. musicians Andy Davis, SourMash nominated for Josie Music AwardsVideo
Two Western Pennsylvania musical acts are back in the running for the Josie Music Awards, the nation’s largest independent music awards ceremony. Mt. Pleasant native Andy Davis earned a half-dozen nominations in the Fans’ Choice (Male), Artist of the Year (Modern Country — Male), Entertainer of the Year (Male), Vocalist...
McKeesport cheer team wins IASF Worlds championshipVideo
Members of the Rain Athletics Aqua team were at their final regular-season cheer competition, a little less than a month from competing for an International All Star Federation’s Worlds championship, when they got some very bad news. During a heavy storm the final weekend of March, wind had torn the...
Uncontested primaries still have implications for Murrysville, Export and Delmont
While the Murrysville Star’s coverage area included several non-competitive primaries, those elections — and one lack of an election in particular — hold several implications for Murrysville, Export and Delmont moving forward. Murrysville In Murrysville, where three seats are in play, incumbent Mac McKenna (34%) will move ahead to the...
Murrysville area: Chalk art festival, Memorial Day ceremonies, FR senior parade and more
Chalk Art Festival in Delmont The Delmont Public Library and the Delmont Visionary Committee will host a Chalk Art Festival with Erik “The Chalking Dad” Greenawalt from 12:30-4:30 p.m. June 4. The afternoon will also include magician Billy Heh and live music by Keyboard Kevin along with food, Kona Ice,...
Laurel Hill State Park to host Wildflower Weekend hikes
Get out and go in search of spring wildflowers with the staff at Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset as they host Wildflower Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, visitors can choose between a 3-mile hike departing at 9 a.m. from the Laurel Hill Visitor Center, and a 5-mile...
Hempfield Area: Incumbents take top spots in races for school board
With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Hempfield Area school director candidates Jeanne Smith and Jennifer Bretz topped the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively. Smith had received 11.6% of more than 16,000 votes, followed by Colleen Gallagher (10.4%), Kathy Charlton (9.8%), Vince DeAugustine (9.8%) and Erin Johns Speese (7.3%) on the...
North Huntingdon: Hempel, Atwood take top spots in commissioner race
With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Tom Hempel won the Republican primary for North Huntingdon First Ward commissioner against challenger Brian West. Hempel received 59% of the vote. With 100% of precincts reporting, Jason Atwood won his primary for Third Ward commissioner against Republican challenger Amy Ghetian. Atwood received 54.3%...
Sewickley Township: Petros wins Republican supervisor race
With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Sewickley Township board of supervisors Chairman Mark Petros received 56% of the vote in a race against challenger Jon Turik, who received 43%. During his tenure, Petros said the supervisors have worked to reduce blight in the township, getting 10 dilapidated, vacant buildings demolished....
Hempfield: Reese, Anderson win Republican primary for supervisor
In the race for two, six-year seats on the Hempfield board of supervisors, Republicans George Reese (35.9%) and Jay Anderson (24.1%) prevailed over Jerry Fagert and Becky Durbin, with 100% of precincts tallied. A little over 680 write-in votes were cast on the Democratic ballot. Anderson, 55, said he has...
Franklin Regional: Sheridan, Bucciero top school board races
With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Amy Sheridan cruised with a comfortable lead over all other candidates on the Democratic ballot for Franklin Regional school board with 34% of the vote. She was followed by George App (15%), Deb Bucciero (14.2%), Scott Weinman (13.5%) and Vince Azzolina (11.45%) On the...
Franklin Regional, conservation district officials seek grant for work on Haymaker Run
Franklin Regional School District officials recognize the value of their front yard at the elementary campus along Sardis Road in Murrysville. With several acres of natural habitat and the high-quality stream in Haymaker Run along its western border, “we’re looking at the Sloan campus as an environmental center,” Superintendent Gennaro...
Archaeological dig in Fayette confirms location of Jumonville Glen skirmishVideo
In his capacity as site manager for the Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Brian Reedy has spent many years telling visitors that he and fellow National Park Service employees were “reasonably certain” they knew the site where the skirmish at Jumonville Glen unofficially kicked off the French & Indian war in...
Pa. Game Commission investigates bald eagle death in Washington County
Officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Operation Game Thief are seeking information about a vehicle seen in the area where a dead bald eagle was found Friday. Game wardens from the commission’s Southwest Region found the eagle along Water Dam Road, near Cherry Valley Dam in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington...
Hanna’s Town marks a half-century of antiques and collectibles sale
From coffee mills and rolling pins to milk glass and empty bottles of questionable medicinal “cures,” vintage and antique shoppers had plenty to choose from Sunday at the 50th annual Hanna’s Town Antiques & Collectibles market. After a rainy Saturday, attendees and vendors couldn’t have asked for better weather than...
Ambridge police criticized for shooting, killing stray dog
Ambridge police have been criticized heavily on social media for their handling of a stray dog on Saturday, after an officer shot the dog when it became aggressive in their parking lot, only to discover a short time later that it was still alive and shot it again. Police said...
Murrysville law student takes part in national moot court competition in New York City
James Capone was anticipating a career in mechanical engineering — having earned a degree and started a job — when he was unexpectedly let go by the company where he was working due to cutbacks during the covid pandemic. “After that happened, I worked at my sister’s law firm as...
Racin’ in the rain: Export event benefits Moose charityVideo
Stephanie Bruggeman of Delmont didn’t need an umbrella to stay dry on Saturday afternoon — her giant inflatable koala costume was doing the job just fine. Bruggeman and a street full of inflatable athletes turned out for the second annual “Blow Up Export” race down Washington Avenue. Proceeds from the...
A few sprinkles can’t spoil 9th annual Loyalhanna SojournVideo
Keystone State Park Manager Kris Baker wasn’t discouraged at all by the gray, drizzly morning that greeted kayakers at the ninth annual Loyalhanna Sojourn. “Sometimes this weather is better and more comfortable,” Baker said. “When it’s 85 degrees and sunny all day, it gets pretty hot out on the water.”...
