Patrick Varine stories, Page 72
‘The Pittsburgh Novel’ catalogs Western Pennsylvania fiction back to the late 1700s
As a young man in the early 1960s, Peter Oresick stopped at his local library and borrowed a copy of “Request for Sherwood Anderson,” a story collection by fellow Ford City native Frank Brookhouser. In the book, he recognized settings and surnames from his hometown – and that was the...
1 juvenile dead, 1 in critical condition following shootings in McKeesport
A 16-year-old is dead and another juvenile was in critical condition following a shooting Tuesday afternoon in McKeesport, according to Allegheny County Police detectives. First responders were called to the 3400 block of Versailles Avenue shortly after 3:30 p.m., county officials said. They found two juvenile shooting victims, both of...
Murrysville cooking instructor publishes cookbook
Patty Irrgang of Murrysville has worked as an independent fashion designer and as a space manager in the University of Pittsburgh’s academic provost office. She also has spent nearly a half-century providing the food while tailgating at Pitt football games. During that time, she built up quite a recipe repertoire....
Real-world events, from Mars rover to covid-19 to Artemis rocket, are shaping future scientists
For Alison Bresnahan, there isn’t a better time to be a science teacher. From NASA’s Artemis 1 moon mission to the James Webb Space Telescope to the Mars Perseverance rover to even the covid-19 pandemic, significant real-world events are inspiring the next generation of scientists — even if they don’t...
Murrysville holds public hearing for 2nd fracking well on Plum border
Work on a second fracking site in Murrysville could begin next summer if officials OK the project. Olympus Energy already owns and operates the Titan well pad off Bollinger Road. The company is proposing an eight-well pad off Logans Ferry Road near the northern tip of Murrysville. Olympus is seeking...
Gettysburg Union general’s revolver, cane, brigade sword up for auction this weekend
To call Gen. Daniel Sickles a colorful character might be selling his story a little short. From his political education in New York’s massively corrupt Tammany Hall to his affair with Queen Isabella of Spain to his attempted murder of his wife’s lover — who also happened to be the...
‘Monticello Lights’ fundraiser will benefit Project Bundle-Up, Delmont police this yearVideo
Clark Griswold’s got nothing on the residents of Monticello Drive. Between a dozen of them, they will invest more than 200 hours and use more than 500 strands of lights as they decorate their Delmont homes and yards for the annual Monticello Lights fundraiser. “We’ve added lights, repurposed some things...
Murrysville set to vote on 2023 budget with no tax hike
Murrysville Council last week delayed a vote on a $15.4 million 2023 budget, which does not includes a tax hike. The vote will take place at the final meeting of the year. Chief Administrator Michael Nestico said updates to some elements of the municipality’s salary ordinance require the municipality to...
‘City of Steel’ lets former workers chronicle the rise and fall of Pittsburgh steel industry
When Bruce Spiegel was a child, he would look out his Greenfield window at the heart of American industry: the U.S. Steel Homestead Works. “I would look out into the night and watch the Homestead furnaces blowing blue flames,” Spiegel said. “I thought steel-making was never going to end.” In...
No injuries in Hempfield garage fire
No one was injured early Tuesday morning as crews from Youngwood Volunteer Fire Department extinguished a garage fire endangering a nearby home on Trouttown Road in Hempfield. Firefighers were called to the 100 block of Trouttown Road shortly before 12:30 a.m. for a report of a one-story garage on fire....
New Castle native prepares to enter the cage at Bellator MMA event
He may train in Florida these days, but at Bellator 289 on Friday night, it will be Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia when Western Pennsylvania native Dalton “Hercules” Rosta takes on Philly middleweight Anthony Adams in a mid-card fight. “I always watched UFC growing up — Brock Lesnar, Forrest Griffin, Tito Ortiz,...
Murrysville man helps resettle Ukrainian refugees with sponsor program
Anthony Bucciero of Murrysville was surprised to discover the similarities between the economies of Ukraine and Pennsylvania. “It’s a lot like Pennsylvania, with a lot of farming and manufacturing,” said Bucciero, CEO of Guardian Construction Management Services in Murrysville. “And to think that someone has just come in and bombed...
Tire technology helps boost winter weather safety
November may have started with balmy days and temperatures in the upper 70s, but Old Man Winter appears here to stay as the calendar rolled over to December, and a sizable number of drivers in Western Pennsylvania are scheduling appointments to have their regular radials swapped out for snow tires....
The time a ‘fake Fleetwood Mac’ was booked by Pittsburgh promoter Rich Engler
The recent death of longtime Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie brought memories flooding back for music industry insiders recalling the band’s storied and tumultuous history. Pittsburgh concert promoter Rich Engler is among them . Although Engler has several stories about bringing the rock group to Western Pennsylvania, one of his...
Blessed Sacrament in Greensburg readies ‘Home for the Holidays’ fundraiser
From golf to gift certificates to spa days and symphony concerts, Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish in Greensburg will have something for everyone in its “Home for the Holidays,” a fundraiser for the church’s Bethlehem Project housing ministry. This year’s theme is “The 12 Baskets of Christmas.” “We’ve expanded the number...
From Christmas to country, Pittsburgh-area natives have new music coming outVideo
From original Christmas tunes just in time for the holidays to a self-empowerment anthem, native Pittsburghers have released new music in a variety of genres. Kels, ‘By This Christmas Tree’ EP Pine-Richland High School graduate Kelsey Hillock, who performs under the stage name Kels, released her first batch of original...
Murrysville area: Holiday events, glass recycling, food collection, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Items must be submitted two weeks in advance to make the publishing deadline for the Star. Holiday happenings The following is a list of holiday-related events happening in the Star’s coverage area. Email events to pvarine@triblive.com. • First Presbyterian Church will host...
1 of 2 Tarentum brothers arrested, charged in Harrison shootout
One of two brothers charged in a suspected mid-October shootout in Harrison was arrested Monday morning. Arrested was Troy Vickers, 30, of Tarentum. A felony arrest warrant is still active for his brother, 19-year-old Brian Vickers, also of Tarentum. Troy Vickers was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Western Pennsylvania Fugitive...
Cleveland police seek suspect in Adrianna Taylor killing
A 43-year-old Cleveland man is wanted for the aggravated murder of Adrianna K. Taylor, whose body was found Thanksgiving night in a Wilkinsburg backyard. An arrest warrant was issued for Anthony Kennedy, 43, in connection with Taylor’s death. Taylor, 23, was initially listed as missing by Cleveland police on Nov....
Penn Hills man arrested in Tarentum, charged in Verona shooting
A Penn Hills man faces charges after, police say, he was responsible for a Nov. 10 shooting in Verona and fled from police afterward. Shuron B. Porter, 43, of Penn Hills was taken into custody early Monday in the 300 block of West Eighth Avenue in Tarentum, according to Allegheny...
Rostraver commissioner, already in probationary program, charged with harassment, disorderly conduct
A Rostraver commissioner is accused of disrupting a township Halloween event by threatening people and slapping a fellow commissioner in the face. John J. Lorenzo, 43, of Rostraver was cited with two counts of harassment or physical contact, disorderly conduct and an additional harassment charge in connection with the Oct....
Warden mansion in Mt. Pleasant hosts 32nd annual ‘Festival of Lights’
It’s only appropriate that the 32nd annual Festival of Lights in Mt. Pleasant would feature one tree for every year it has taken place. That means nearly three dozen trees, decorated by members of the public, will be on display — and on sale — to benefit restoration work at...
Police: Pedestrian killed in Route 51 crash in Jefferson Hills
Jefferson Hills police are investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian that took place Saturday evening along Route 51. Robbin Fisher, 61, of Pittsburgh was struck and killed by a moving vehicle while crossing the street, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Emergency officials were called to Route...
Car overturns on Route 380 in Murrysville
Police, firefighters and medics responded to an overturned car crash on the westbound side of Route 380, near 380 Auction Discount Warehouse in Murrysville on Sunday. There were no serious injuries, according to Murrysville Medic One officials. The crash happened shortly after 10 a.m....
Coroner: Cleveland woman found in Wilkinsburg backyard was shot to death
A 23-year-old woman originally reported missing from Cleveland was found shot to death in a Wilkinsburg backyard on Thanksgiving, according to the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner. The body of Adrianna Kiri Taylor was discovered shortly after 9:30 p.m. Nov. 24, in a backyard on the 800 block...
