Patrick Varine stories, Page 77
Forbes Road students bring cyber-security presentation to Monroeville library
Aiden Gerhart of Monroeville said exploring the internet without a basic working knowledge of scams is like getting onto a boat without a compass or an atlas. But the second-year student at Forbes Road Career & Technology Center doesn’t want people new to the online experience feeling belittled. “A lot...
Tough to find someone to root for on ‘House of the Dragon’
My father and I sat down once when I was younger and watched Quentin Tarantino’s classic 1994 film “Pulp Fiction.” When it was over, he said that he wanted to enjoy it,...
Multiple injuries in 2-car crash in St. Clair
Multiple ambulances were called to the scene of two-car crash at the eastern tip of Westmoreland County on Friday afternoon, according to county 911 officials. Emergency crews responded to Route 711 and Kuvinka Lane in St. Clair Township at 4:20 p.m., for a report of a two-car crash with injuries....
‘Revolutionary But Gorgeous’ captures Pittsburgh activist, rapper’s emotional turmoilVideo
As Pittsburgh activist, podcast host and rapper Farooq Al-Saïd was writing what became his new record, “Revolutionary But Gorgeous,” he was going through a dark period in his life. “I had come to a point where I’d cry as part of my workout and keep moving, but I didn’t feel...
‘There’s no place like’ the Big Brothers Big Sisters ‘Wizard of Oz’-themed gala
Officials at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region are hoping lions, tigers and bears will elicit a few “oh my” reactions at a “Wizard of Oz”-themed fundraiser Friday night in Irwin. The “BIG Night Out Gala” will bring an immersive experience to life in service of the classic...
Murrysville area: 5K run/walk, International Women meeting, fall nature hikes and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Event listings must be submitted at least eight days in advance in order to make the deadline for the Star. • • • Franklin Regional homecoming bonfire The annual Franklin Regional homecoming bonfire will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. Sept. 29 in...
Missing Larimer girl found safe
A 12-year-old girl who had reported missing from Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood has been found and is safe. Kamarah Sanders, 12, had last been seen on Tuesday at her home on the 6000 block of Carver Street. Police described her as 5-feet-5-inches, 90 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She...
Pittsburgh police say missing Marshall-Shadeland woman has been found
Pittsburgh police said a woman who had been missing from the city’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood was found safe. Cayla Combs, 27, had been missing since Tuesday morning. Police describe her as 5-feet-1-inch tall, 200 pounds, with brown eyes. Her hair is half-black and half-blonde. Family members said Combs was a danger...
2 people left homeless, pets dead, after Salem mobile home fire
Two people were homeless Wednesday evening after a trailer fire that killed two of their pets. Neither of the homeowners was injured when a mobile home caught fire early Wednesday evening in the 100 block of Bennett Drive in Salem, fire officials said. Crews were called about 5 p.m. and...
Bells Mills Road closed after vehicle strikes covered bridge
Bells Mills Road connecting South Huntingdon and Sewickley townships has been closed at the Bells Mills Road bridge, after a vehicle struck the bridge on Tuesday, according to PennDOT officials. Damage to the bridge necessitated the road closure, according to PennDOT spokesperson Melissa Maczko. Vaughn Neil, an engineer with Westmoreland...
Prime Stage earns American Council of the Blind award for audio description services
Nathan Ruggles’ work as an audio describer at Prime Stage Theatre means he is responsible for bringing the visual elements of live theater to visually impaired audience members. “It’s all about making that visual imagery present and accessible to people who have visual impairment,” said Ruggles, 48, of Pittsburgh’s Mount...
Franklin Regional restructures administration in pursuit of better student support services
Franklin Regional school officials did some administrative restructuring Monday night, in pursuit of providing more and better support services for students. FR’s education director Jennifer DiFulvio will step into a new role as assistant superintendent where she will work alongside current assistant superintendent Matthew Delp, who was hired last month....
Piper Bay Café plans 2nd location at former Kings in Salem
Jim Fry of Manor has fond memories of stopping at Kings Restaurant when he was younger and getting a slice of hot apple pie with the chain’s trademark cinnamon ice cream. Fry and business partner Preston Gorman of Plum hope to make some new memories, but this time at the...
Rosslyn Road bridge over Parkway West reopens
Work on the bridge carrying Rosslyn Road over the Parkway West in Rosslyn Farms has been completed, PennDOT officials said Monday. Officials closed the bridge in early February after a truck struck it. Repair work began in late August. The bridge reopened to traffic Sunday evening, according to PennDOT....
‘Bat Boy: The Musical’ will open Theatre Factory’s new season
If you say the phrase “supermarket tabloid” to someone and ask what image comes to mind, there’s a good chance they will mention “Bat Boy,” the infamous (not to mention fictional) subject of a 1992 Weekly World News story and the poster child for the height of tabloid silliness. “Bat...
The kettle boils over and all the tea gets spilled on ‘House of the Dragon’
It sure is tough to get through a wedding in Westeros. Veterans of this universe are well aware of the body count that nuptials can produce. I’m not sure if anyone other than Tommen “Baratheon”...
Murrysville man recognized for decades of volunteer service
When Theo van de Venne was looking to move from Belgium to a new home in the U.S., he and his family immediately were drawn to Murrysville. “In December 1976, we had just spent almost four years in Brussels, where I worked for Westinghouse Europe,” van de Venne said. “Murrysville...
Garlic growing in popularity among home gardeners
It’s small, it’s stinky and it can allegedly ward off vampires. It’s garlic, and it’s also apparently gaining quite a bit of popularity with home gardeners. According to a recent poll conducted by AllAboutGardening.com, home gardeners in a dozen U.S. states searched “how to grow garlic” more than questions about...
Tailgaters come from far and wide for Steelers home openerVideo
Despite the fun happening during tailgating at the first Steelers home game Sunday morning, plenty of folks were serious. Serious about their food. Serious about their tailgating setup. And certainly serious about the game. “All right, buddy, that’s enough, let’s go,” said Jackson Hanley’s dad as the 11-year-old Atlanta resident...
Busy Beaver officials look to expand use of autonomous inventory robots
Following a successful pilot program at its Irwin store, Busy Beaver officials have put an autonomous robot to work checking inventory at its Delmont location, a move that has bumped up technology across the board. “We’ve implemented electronic shelf labels, which is a change from the pilot, which was done...
Scottish food, fiddle and friendly competition at 63rd annual Ligonier Highland GamesVideo
Lovers of Scottish harp music may have had a tricky time catching some of its melodic intricacies Saturday morning at the Ligonier Highland Games. That’s because just up the hill, Sean Patrick Regan was playing modern and traditional Scottish melodies on the bagpipe. And while both instruments are beautiful, hearing...
Apple ‘n Arts Festival to mark 40th anniversary Saturday and Sunday
At 7 years old, Casey Schraeder of Murrysville already was showing a keen eye for economics. “He was part of the baking contest at the Delmont Apple ’n Arts Festival, and he wanted to know why the adults got more money for winning than the kids,” said Schraeder’s grandmother Angela...
WestCo Roller Derby team still waiting to hit the rink after 2-year hiatus
Sarah Welch said there was going to be a wonderful group of women from Erie meeting them Saturday at the Mt. Pleasant Sportzone. And Welch couldn’t wait to hit them. Unfortunately, she’ll have to. The 43-year-old Youngwood resident is the captain and team president for WestCo Roller Derby, whose members...
South Huntingdon church predates America, will mark 250th anniversary
In rural South Huntingdon, a large stone block under the roof eaves at Sewickley Presbyterian Church bears the date 1832. The stone marks when the building was constructed, and it was plenty long ago — but the church itself was already 60 years old by that time, formed just a...
Murrysville planners look at proposal for second fracking well
Murrysville planning commissioners will consider a recommendation for the second Olympus Energy fracking well in the municipality. Canonsburg-based Olympus is seeking to build the Hermes unconventional gas drilling well on a 147-acre property just southwest of the Rolling Fields Golf Club, on the 5000 block of Logan Ferry Road. The...
