Patrick Varine stories, Page 65
Seton Hill pop-up shop to honor memory of 2017 graduate Ashley Kertes
On Saturday, Seton Hill students will honor the memory of a deceased alumna, Ashley Kertes, at a pop-up market filled with handcrafted items made by students at the university. The SHUdents Sell student-run pop-up shop will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Wick and Wax Studio...
Small-town America takes center stage with Franklin Regional production of ‘Our Town’
Declan Van Soest is used to playing characters with a lot more funny lines. “It’s definitely the most philosophical role I’ve ever had,” Van Soest, 17, said of his role as the stage manager in the Franklin Regional Thespians’ upcoming production of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.” Written in 1938, it...
AHN Mobile Health Unit will begin stopping in Jeannette thanks to grant funding
Jeannette Outreach Factory and First Presbyterian Church of Jeannette are partnering to bring the Allegheny Health Network’s Center for Inclusion Health Mobile Unit to town. The unit will begin stopping at First Presbyterian every other Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m. May dates will be May 2, 16 and 30...
Route 22 road work set to start Monday in Churchill, Wilkins and Monroeville
PennDOT will have long-term single-lane restrictions in place starting May 1 as road work begins on William Penn Highway through Monroeville, Churchill and Wilkins. Beginning at midnight on Monday, westbound traffic will cross over to the eastbound lanes at the bridge over Lower Rodi Road. Single-lane traffic in both directions...
Sam’s Club volunteers help clean up Miracle Field in Murrysville
Volunteers from Pittsburgh-area Sam’s Club locations helped to clean up the Miracle League of Western PA ball field in Murrysville and participate with players in one of the season’s first games on Tuesday. It is part of the Sam’s Club Day of Service. Volunteers also presented a $5,000 grant to...
Still playing strong, Jeannette Community Band marks 35th anniversary
Joe Scarlett was — in his words — sitting “fat, dumb and happy” watching television in 1988 when a friend called and asked him if he still had his clarinet. “I hadn’t seen it since 1964,” said Scarlett, 76, of Monroeville. “Then I remembered I’d lent it to a friend.”...
Evidence tampering charges withdrawn against Arnold policeman in Pa. Game Commission case
After being found not guilty last week of unlawfully killing an antlered deer, charges of tampering with evidence were withdrawn Tuesday against an Arnold police officer because of a lack of evidence. Pennsylvania Game Commission officials said Jacob A. Pollick, 29, of Murrysville killed an antlered whitetail Oct. 11 in...
Murrysville sisters turn creative energy into Etsy shop Carefree Critters
As the covid-19 pandemic pressed on into 2021, Anna Pinto wasn’t able to attend her high school in Highland Park, and her younger sister, Gia, wasn’t able to attend the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Both were at their Murrysville residence being home-schooled — and ended up taking the...
Youth choir concert at First Presbyterian in Greensburg to benefit music scholarship
The Chapel Youth Choir and Festive Ringers will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg. Free-will donations will be accepted for the Montreat Worship and Music Youth Scholarship. The choir and ringers are touring musicians from Abington Presbyterian Church...
Murrysville mayor sues Westmoreland elections bureau after being left off 2023 primary ballot
Murrysville Mayor Regis Synan was looking forward to another election season in which he was the sole candidate running for the office. He was surprised to find out that, according to the Westmoreland County Bureau of Elections — but contrary to Murrysville’s Home-Rule municipal charter — he still is mayor...
Coast Guard calls off search for lost boat with Murrysville native aboard
After searching more than 200,000 square nautical miles, U.S. Coast Guard officials and their Mexican counterparts have called off the search for three American sailors, including a Murrysville native, whose boat was last seen April 4. Kerry O’Brien, a 1989 Franklin Regional graduate, left Mazatlán, Mexico the morning of April...
Mask mandate ends at Allegheny Health Network while Excela, UPMC hold to CDC guidelines
Allegheny Health Network is lifting the mask mandate in place at hospitals, outpatient clinics and other “patient-facing” facilities as of Thursday, officials announced. “Throughout this pandemic, AHN has made every effort to help reduce the spread of covid-19 in our region while also keeping out patients, visitors and staff members...
1 transported by ambulance after bus crashes into West Mifflin house
One person was transported by ambulance after a school bus crashed Thursday afternoon into a West Mifflin house, according to Allegheny County emergency officials. Emergency responders were called to the 1500 block of Homestead-Duquesne Road around 3:25 p.m. for a bus that had went off the road and crashed into...
Murrysville council updates alcohol permit policy for parks
As Murrysville officials were going over their park policies, they discovered an odd restriction when it came to alcohol permits for events at park pavilions. “We had a section restricting alcohol at high school graduation parties,” Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said. Some council members thought it didn’t make much sense....
Comedy for a Cause event benefits Myasthenia Gravis Association
A Comedy for a Cause event to benefit the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania will be held at 7 p.m. April 29 in North Huntingdon. It will include comedians Teresa Logan and Phil Hughes, and will be at Elements, 3000 Commerce Loop. The cost is $50 and includes a...
Murrysville area: Plant sale, used book sale, National Day of Prayer and more
Plant sale in Murrysville The Murrysville Garden Club will host its annual plant sale at 11 a.m. May 10 at the Murrysville Volunteer Fire Department pavilion on Sardis Road. The club will sell annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and patio pots, and club members will also be selling propagated plants, second-hand...
Westmoreland County hosts free fishing derby at Mammoth Park
The Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation, Westmoreland County Sportsmen’s League and Dick’s Sporting Goods officials will host a free fishing derby for people of all ages on Sunday in Mt. Pleasant Township. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mammoth Park, 171 County Park Road. Registration...
Murrysville musician will perform with Westminster College OrchestraVideo
It’s one thing to sit down and practice Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at home. It’s quite another to sit down and play it with an orchestra backing you. Westminster College alum and Murrysville resident Amy Simpson will have the chance Friday, as a featured performer at the music department’s...
Washington Township man secures patent for device to help propel wheelchairs
When John Britz played with Lego sets as a child, he rarely built what was pictured on the box. “I was always making other things,” said Britz, 76, of Washington Township, who spent a career in manufacturing with the Elliott Group in Jeannette. Britz’s creativity — which also includes having...
Franklin Regional grad dials in the sounds for Slippery Rock production of ‘Seussical’
During his time working on stage productions at Franklin Regional Senior High School, Tyler Parsonage learned how to work under pressure and think quickly. “In high school, I had limited knowledge, and our equipment wasn’t necessarily top-tier,” said Parsonage, 22, of Murrysville. “I had to work with what we had,...
Former Bella Luna space to reopen as The Coxcomb
As he stood behind what will soon be a finished bar top, Will Patterson of Monroeville heard someone driving past the open door of the former Bella Luna restaurant at the Murrysville/Monroeville border. “Are you open?” the woman asked through her passenger side window. “Early June, hopefully!” Patterson shouted before...
East End native to move machining business from Pittsburgh to Westmoreland County
John Conturo has been in Pittsburgh’s East End his entire life, growing up in Highland Park and starting his machine shop, Conturo Prototyping, at a rented facility in Point Breeze. And while he was hoping to stay in the area, the near future will see a move farther east, both...
Murrysville, conservation district to host ‘healthy stream walk’
Pennsylvania’s extensive mining history — and the resulting acid mine drainage — means that there aren’t many high-quality streams in the region. Murrysville residents, however, have one right in the center of town. Haymaker Run, along Sardis Road, is designated as a high-quality stream, and part of the municipality’s state-mandated...
Export, water authority differ on removal of asbestos-infused waterlines
Export officials’ issues with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County are well documented. Borough council members have chafed as they’ve watched recently paved streets reopened for waterline work. Councilman John Nagoda, in particular, has pushed for the agency to do something about the waterlines in the borough — at least...
Thinning the herd: East Huntingdon farm family auctions Brown Swiss, Ayrshire cows
Susan Spadaro wasn’t expecting to get emotional about auctioning off 100 of her family’s Brown Swiss and 25 Ayrshire cows on Thursday. “We’ve just always had a passion and love for these animals and the dairy industry,” said Spadaro, the fifth generation of the Miller and Love families, which have...
