Patrick Varine stories, Page 68
Murrysville area: Paranormal presentation, local scholarships, Pi Day bake sale and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Library speaker will discuss paranormal occurrences in western Pa. The Delmont Public Library will host featured speaker Stan Gordon for a talk on reports of UFOs and Bigfoot in western Pennsylvania on March 29. Gordon will discuss his studies of paranormal incidents,...
National Women’s History Month: Pennsylvania’s 1st female judge appointed in Allegheny County
Debra Todd was recently sworn in as the first woman in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s history to serve as chief justice. March is National Women’s History Month, here’s a look at the history of women in Pennsylvania’s judiciary, starting with their expanded role across the board in 2023. Women make...
Franklin Regional students channel 1950s with spring musical ‘Grease’Video
Last year in the Franklin Regional Theatre Guild’s production of “The Little Mermaid,” students had the challenge of playing princes, mythical creatures or anthropomorphized fish. This year, director Mark Wolfgang said there’s an even bigger challenge — playing a slightly different version of themselves, as the angst-filled high school students...
Pa. game commission seeking genetic info on ‘tame’ ruffed grousesVideo
Have you been harassed by Pennsylvania’s state bird? The game commission wants to know. No, seriously. In the spring and fall, some ruffed grouses exhibit what wildlife experts refer to as “tame” behavior. Despite being completely wild animals, they show very little fear around people and will sometimes even act...
Wildlife livestream helps ‘bring the outdoors in’ for Saint Vincent studentsVideo
Bill Powers of Murrysville is on the lookout for a pileated woodpecker nest somewhere on his property. And Saint Vincent biology professor Jim Kellam is just the man to help him find it. Their mutual appreciation for wildlife has led to the installation of a TV at the Dupre Science...
Senate bill would continue to reduce state police funding from Motor License Fund
Senate Republicans in Pennsylvania advanced a bill that could reopen discussion about former Gov. Tom Wolf’s suggestion that communities without a police force should help fund the state police who provide services there. Senate Bill 121, introduced by Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Johnstown, continues the state’s recent trend of lessening...
Charley Family Shop’n Save named among top 25 independent U.S. grocers
Shoppers at the three Charley Family Shop ’n Save stores in Greensburg and Murrysville don’t have to look far to find owner Tom Charley. If he or his brother, Mike, are not walking around a store chatting with customers, chances are good that Charley has a recent video posted to...
Murrysville author will host Q&A at Penn Area LibraryVideo
When Klaudyna Grudowski was searching for inspiration to write a novel about a young woman’s struggle to escape from a dystopian society, she didn’t have to look far. Grudowski, 35, of Murrysville has been in the U.S. for only a couple of years. She grew up behind the Iron Curtain...
Murrysville Council will look into updating zoning map after ‘litany of rezoning requests’
Murrysville Council’s discussion about its latest rezoning request Wednesday night grew into a larger conversation about taking a closer look at — and potentially updating — the municipality’s zoning map. “I would like to propose a subcommittee to look at zoning in our community,” Councilwoman Jamie Lee Korns said. “I...
Police seek McKees Rocks man in connection with shooting
Allegheny County Police are seeking a man known to frequent the McKees Rocks and Stowe areas in connection with a shooting early Thursday morning in McKees Rocks. McKees Rocks police and paramedics were called to the 100 block of Irwin Street just after 6 a.m. Thursday for a woman who...
Pittsburgh’s Prime Stage heads to Narnia with ‘Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe’
Rehearsals for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” are about to enter what stage manager Britt Kolek said is the best but also the most difficult phase. “We’re starting the really heavily technical rehearsals,” said Kolek, 24, of Freeport, who has been working at...
Murrysville area: George Washington presentation, club scholarships, boxing matches and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Mother of Sorrows pastor to discuss Israel trip Monsignor Michael Begolly, pastor at Mother of Sorrows Church in Murrysville, will discuss his recent trip to Israel at the March 14 “Boomers and Beyond” speaker series at the church. Begolly is a knight...
East Suburban Artists League to host discussion of AI-generated art in Murrysville
When designer Jason Allen won a blue ribbon at the 2022 Colorado State Fair with a piece generated using an artificial intelligence (AI) engine, it sparked controversy and in some cases outrage from artists. Allen created his piece, “Theatre D’Opera Spatial,” using Midjourney, an AI program which creates images from...
Pittsburgh region’s mild winter mitigates some of the misery of ‘pothole season’
Earlier this month, Debbie Bey was looking for someone — anyone — willing to fix a large pothole just off William Penn Highway in Monroeville at the entrance leading to Gabe’s, Sam’s Club and other stores. “I called around to Monroeville, to PennDOT, everywhere, and no one wanted to take...
Burning bush, privet species added to Pennsylvania’s noxious weeds list
Burning bush shrubs may appear pretty in the fall, when their leaves turn a blazing bright red. But they also are pretty invasive, and this year they earned a spot on Pennsylvania’s list of noxious weeds. For the past few years, the list has seen the addition of several plants...
Student teams compete to raise money for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society programs
Regan Fusting’s father wanted to know where she learned to write a corporate donation letter like the one he received earlier this month. “He said, ‘Where’d you learn to do this? It’s so professional looking,’” said Fusting, 18, a senior at Franklin Regional and member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma...
1 arrested after car jumps embankment, crashes into Arnold machine shop
Employees at FPI Industries in Arnold spent their Friday night cleaning up debris after a man jumped an embankment in his car and drove into the front of the building, according to police. Arnold Police took one man into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence, after responding to...
Teens charged after leading state police on high-speed chase down Route 30
Three teens were taken into custody after state police said they escaped from Adephoi Village and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase Thursday night along the Route 30 eastbound corridor. State troopers initially responded to a report around 10 p.m. that an employee’s vehicle had been stolen at Technimark,...
Monroeville woman will present Nancy Drew ‘mystery history’ in Delmont
Tara Rotuna has been solving mysteries alongside Nancy Drew since she was 8 years old. Along the way, she solved some other mysteries, like the truth behind Nancy Drew author Carolyn Keene, and she started collecting Drew books and began attending themed conventions across the country. Rotuna, 52, of Monroeville...
Murrysville area: Herbs presentation, garden club speaker series, class reunion and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Artist presentation focuses on culinary herbs Murrysville artist Eileen Yeager will give a presentation at the Murrysville Community Library on “Ethnic Use of Culinary Herbs.” Yeager’s “World of Herbs” exhibit, which will remain on display at the library for the month of...
United Way shopping spree haul donated to Westmoreland food bankVideo
Sarah Garrison had to drive all the way from Fairmont, W.Va., to Greensburg to do her grocery shopping Wednesday morning. It was for a good cause: The Murrysville native’s mother, Kathleen Maurer, was chosen for the United Way’s annual shopping spree at the Charley Family Shop ’n Save on North...
Presidential records: Jimmy Carter is America’s longest-lived commander-in-chief
Jimmy Carter isn’t just America’s oldest living president. At 98 years old, he is America’s oldest former president, period. Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924 in Plains, Ga. Carter’s family announced this week that he has opted to forgo medical intervention and will receive hospice care at home. Several presidents...
Soccer complex proposal draws criticism from neighbors in Murrysville
A proposal for a soccer complex along School Road South near the Murrysville-Penn Township border is drawing criticism from nearby residents. More than a half-dozen residents are opposed to the proposal to develop a sports complex with one full-sized and one seven-on-seven soccer field in the 4900 block of School...
Murrysville attorney announces district judge candidacy
Murrysville attorney Bob Klingensmith has declared his candidacy for district judge in Export. Klingensmith, 59, is a Republican and Franklin Regional graduate, and attended both Penn State University and Duquesne University’s School of Law. “Throughout my career, I have personally dealt with nearly every legal issue that a district magistrate...
Ligonier police officer declares candidacy for district judge
Shawn Knepper of Ligonier has announced his candidacy for district judge in Ligonier. Knepper is a graduate of both Greensburg Central Catholic and Saint Vincent College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology. He graduated summa cum laude from the Westmoreland County Police Academy, where he was also elected...
