Patrick Varine stories, Page 79
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...
Sewickley Township farm earns conservation award thanks to management practices
The Lash family of Sewickley Township knows a few things about keeping a farm going. They’ve kept their family farm running for more than two centuries and recently were named Conservation Farmers of the Year by the Westmoreland Conservation District. Once a dairy operation, the Lashes have had to make...
Murrysville area: High tea fundraiser, Scout troop recruiting, Rotary Oktoberfest, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. • • • ‘High Tea’ to benefit Laird Hall First Presbyterian Church officials in Murrysville will organize a “high tea” to raise funds to replace the doors on the church’s Laird Hall. It will be from 1:30-4 p.m., Oct. 23 at the...
WWE shirt sales will benefit Pittsburgh-based cancer research nonprofit
In recognition of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in September, the V Foundation for Cancer Research has announced a host of fundraising initiatives, including sales of a T-shirt to benefit a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit. The WWE and V Foundation have been partners since 2016 in Connor’s Cure, a nonprofit that got its...
Murrysville incorporates residents’ feedback into park improvements
Murrysville Parks and Recreation Director Carly Greene was pleasantly surprised when a group of about 35 people turned out for a May neighborhood parks meeting at Kovalczik Park. Less than a half-dozen folks showed up at previous park meetings, and this big turnout was the precise reason for hosting them:...
Republic Services officials say they’re planning changes to improve Delmont collections
Republic Services municipal sales manager Renee Shipley told Delmont officials that the company is making some changes to help address customer complaints about poor communication and missed collections. “We know you’ve been more than patient with us,” Shipley said at this week’s council meeting. “You’re our partner, and we have...
Targaryens gonna Targaryen on this week’s ‘House of the Dragon’
Allow me to take a deep sigh before attempting to settle comfortably into a review of this frequently uncomfortable episode of television. This week, well, quite frankly, Targaryens gonna Targaryen. This family may...
Murrysville council approves Dollar General, hears car wash proposal
Murrysville council approved a new Dollar General location Wednesday, but not without some concern about its addition to traffic at the intersection of Route 66 and Ringertown Road. “Ringertown is kind of a cut-off from Old William Penn Highway to 66,” Councilman Mac McKenna said. “And no one is using...
Local retailers concerned about 2022 Christmas tree stock
The fall football season is barely underway and the holiday season is still just a twinkle in Santa’s eye, but for Christmas tree growers and sellers of cut trees, it’s crunch time. And things aren’t looking so great. For someone like Lou Biesuz of Export, who operates an annual Christmas...
Suspect in Prospect Terrace shooting arrested by U.S. marshals
U.S. marshals have arrested a man wanted in connection with a September 2021 fatal shooting in East Pittsburgh. Cecil H. Foreman, 45, of Braddock, is alleged to have shot and killed 22-year-old Michael Kelley in the 100 block of Prospect Drive. Kelley’s mother was also wounded in the Sept. 12,...
Murrysville area: Oktoberfest, corn maze, scholarships, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. ——— Historical festival set for Sept. 17 The Murrysville Historical Preservation Society will host its 11th annual festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Sampson/Clark Toll House, 5332 W. Pike St. in Murrysville. “Across a Tollgate in Time”...
Penn-Trafford area: Fall broom sale, Military Food Share, more
Bushy Run Lions to hold fall broom sale The Bushy Run Lion Club will be selling brooms from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept 15-17 in the S. & T. Bank parking lot, 4021 Route 130, Harrison City. A variety of brooms will be available, including household, garage, push (stiff...
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials make minor revisions as extension gets underway
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials have made some minor adjustments as they prepare to build a 750-foot extension to the trail in Export. Export Council voted unanimously Tuesday to execute an easement agreement with trail officials. Westmoreland County Parks Planning Coordinator Jeff Richards said they worked with the borough to refine...
Loaded gun, reported stolen, found near Allderdice High School
Pittsburgh police took custody of a loaded handgun found Wednesday on private property near Allderdice High School in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The gun was discovered by Pittsburgh Public School Police in a Nike shoulder bag. It was under a blue grocery bag on a driveway in the 2000...
Pittsburgh police: Taxi driver robbed in Hazelwood
Pittsburgh police are seeking information about the robbery of a taxi driver on Wednesday afternoon in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood. Police were called the 200 block of Winston Road shortly before 5 p.m. for a report of a strong-arm robbery. They said a juvenile had hired a taxi/ride-hail driver on...
State police charge former Freeport councilman, EMS treasurer with theft of nearly $100,000
State police have charged a former Freeport councilman and Freeport ambulance service treasurer with the misappropriation of nearly $100,000 over a four-year period. Justin G. DeAngelis, 41, who is listed with a Jeannette address according to court records, was charged Tuesday with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and...
First phase of Maple Avenue parking garage work nearly complete in Greensburg
The first phase of repair work on the Maple Avenue parking garage in Greensburg is nearing completion. Greensburg Public Works Director Tom Bell told city council this week that the work should be complete in the next two weeks. The two-level Dr. Robert W. Queale garage on Maple Avenue between...
Irwin scout takes part in ‘100 Nights of Taps’ in Gettysburg
Scotty Clark Jr. has practiced taps, the historic bugle call sounded at military funerals in the United States, countless times. But that didn’t stop the 14-year-old Irwin native from getting a stomach full of butterflies as he prepared to do his part at “100 Nights of Taps” on the historic...
Everyone’s on the hunt in this week’s ‘House of the Dragon’
Everyone is on the hunt in the third episode of HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” a show that has already spawned a sexually-inspired acronym which is unprintable here. King Viserys is on the...
‘Murrysville Madness III’ brings boxing back to SportZoneVideo
With two nights of boxing at the Murrysville SportZone under his belt and a regular rotation of venues ready to stage fights in the Pittsburgh region, Monroeville promoter Derek Gionta is feeling good. “The operation is getting to be routine, so now we know what to expect from a setup...

