Patrick Varine stories, Page 81
Floral mural created by Export native, touts borough’s historyVideo
There is little doubt that the Westmoreland Heritage Trail has helped reinvigorate downtown Export. Shops along Washington Avenue that once were shuttered have sprung back to life, and projects large and small signal changes to come. Where the trail ends, walkers and cyclists will be treated to the work of...
Franklin Regional to renovate libraries with donation, foundation grantVideo
Franklin Regional Senior High School librarian Wade Burtch wants his library to be anything but a static space. “A high school building is already a pretty rigid environment, and one of the things (high school Principal) Ron Suvak and I talked about was making the library a place where students...
Billy Strayhorn-Duke Ellington’s jazz ‘Nutcracker’ to premiere in Pittsburgh
On Dec. 1, 1938, Pittsburgh resident and jazz composer Billy Strayhorn met the legendary Duke Ellington backstage after a show at what was then the Stanley Theater. Their musical personalities meshed, and Strayhorn’s composition “Take the ‘A’ Train” eventually became the Ellington band’s theme song. The duo also collaborated on...
Franklin Regional hires new assistant superintendent, assistant high school principal
Franklin Regional school board members filled a couple of the positions left open after the departure of several administrators in the past few months. School directors approved a new assistant superintendent and assistant high school principal, following the resignations of Robin Pynos and Ted Benning, respectively. Matthew Delp joins the...
Overnight closures planned as work starts on Rosslyn Road on-ramp to Parkway West
Motorists frustrated with the lack of progress in fixing the Rosslyn Road on-ramp to the Parkway West got some good news this past weekend. Crews are set to begin work Aug. 26 to repair damage to the on-ramp from a February accident. The repairs were delayed because of supply chain...
Murrysville developer earns state builder’s association’s Distinguished Achievement Award
When Jim Rumbaugh of Murrysville agreed to accept an appointment as chair for the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority board, he quickly recognized the challenges he faced. “Plum Borough was in the same basic situation 30 years ago, where the (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection) shut down tap allocations and...
Murrysville area: Charity golf outing, car shows, Women’s Business Network meeting, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Golf outing to benefit Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes The Greater Pittsburgh Business Connection will host a Sept. 26 golf outing to benefit Toys for Pittsburgh Tikes. It will take place at the Westmoreland Country Club, 7100 Mellon Road in Penn Township. Registration...
Export dance studio earns Star Dance Alliance World Championship title
When DeStella Dance Centre owner Alexis DeSabatine is watching her students perform from backstage, she is a bundle of nerves. “I literally hold my breath and tense up,” she said. “I’m so nervous but also so excited.” On July 27, she had plenty to be excited about, watching from backstage...
Franklin Regional Sporting Clays team seeks new members for fall season
Terry Ventorini of Murrysville knows a few kids who might be interested in taking aim at the Salvation Army’s “Shoot for Hope” fundraiser, set for Aug. 18 at Highlands Sporting Clays in Champion. “We had three kids go to the Pennsylvania State High School Clay Target League’s state tournament in...
Westmoreland community-band members combine for patriotic concerts
Musicians representing five Westmoreland County community bands will perform patriotic concerts at the Flight 93 Memorial and in Gettysburg this month. “Sitting beside people you don’t know, pulling out a sheet of music and giving a beautiful performance is the thing I love most,” said Patti Marco, an Allegheny Township...
East Winds Symphonic Band marks 40th anniversary, will play free Monroeville concertsVideo
When Jim Partridge used to attend Trinity Christian School board meetings in Forest Hills, he could always hear a band practicing somewhere in the building. “I used to think, ‘Someday, when I have some extra time, I’d love to play in a band like that,’ ” said Partridge, 65, a Philadelphia...
Delmont puts on quite a show for its Delmont Daze celebration
Officials in Delmont hosted the annual Delmont Daze celebration Saturday with food, fun, live music and a parade through the borough. Other Star communities also have annual summer festivals coming up: Murrysville’s Concert in the Park will take place Aug. 13 from 3 p.m. to dusk, with four bands and...
Murrysville, Export gear up for summer festivals
It’s summer festival season, and local towns are gearing up to celebrate the season with food, music and the occasional fireworks display. In Murrysville, municipal officials will host the fifth Murrysville Concert in the Park, 4056 Wiestertown Road, from 3 p.m. to dusk Aug. 13 at Murrysville Community Park. “We’ll...
TribLive Taste Test: Chunk NibblesVideo
It’s tough to stop your children’s relentless pursuit of junk food. But at least with Chunk Nibbles, the Sweets & Snacks Expo 2022 award winner for “Most Innovative Product,” you’re donating to a good cause while satisfying their sweet tooth. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the four...
Blairsville band joins Beasts of the Burgh rock show at Mr. SmallsVideo
There’s a reason why Nashville is called “Music City USA.” As the center of the country music industry, and with one of the nation’s most vibrant, competitive music scenes, it can create an intimidating situation for a band making its first trip to Tennessee’s capital. Don’t tell that to Mike...
Knoch alum will take on former Bellator interim heavyweight champion on Aug. 12Video
When he steps into the ring at Bellator 284 on Aug. 12, “Tall” Steven Mowry will do so as the No. 5-ranked Bellator heavyweight contender, facing former interim heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky in Sioux Falls, S.D. That’s a long way from the gym at Knoch High School, where the Butler...
Murrysville area: Car shows, school supply drive, Fairview Park Association picnic, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Lions Club car show set for Aug. 28 Lions Clubs in Delmont and Murrysville will host a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Delmont Fire Department. The cost is $10 to enter a car. Dash plaques...
East Winds Symphonic Band marks 40th anniversary, will play free Monroeville concertsVideo
When Jim Partridge used to attend Trinity Christian School board meetings in Forest Hills, he could always hear a band practicing somewhere in the building. “I used to think, ‘Someday when I have some extra time, I’d love to play in a band like that,” said Partridge, 65, a Philadelphia...
Monroeville go-kart track to reopen as Full Throttle Adrenaline ParkVideo
For Justin Lewis, all-around entertainment is the name of the game. “People don’t want to stop by and just waste a couple hours,” said Lewis, president of Full Throttle Adrenaline Park, which recently acquired Steel City Karting behind the Monroeville Mall. “We take a lot of pride in delivering a...
Western Pa. veterinary nurse nominated for American Humane Hero award
Crisis Center North, a nonprofit counseling and resource center based in the North Hills area, has been getting attention the past few years. First it was for Penny, one of CCN’s therapy dogs that also travels to magisterial court to support domestic violence victims. Penny has been in the running...
Pittsburgh artist’s work to be featured, raffled at Middle Creek Wildlife Art Show
Sheree Daugherty has been drawing animals since before she began grade school. “I drew stacks of unrealistic scenes, like elephants, skunks, snakes and monkeys all in the same setting,” said Daugherty, 65, of Pittsburgh’s North Side. A few years later, Daugherty saw a painting by wildlife artist Ned Smith on...
Franklin Regional assistant superintendent resigns
Franklin Regional school board officials will accept the resignation of assistant superintendent Robin Pynos at their meeting Monday. Pynos, a Duquesne University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania alum, came to Franklin Regional from Greater Latrobe School District, the same school district Superintendent Gennaro Piraino left to join Franklin Regional. Pynos’...
Saint Vincent expects 15,000 fans on Saturday: Steelers training camp by the numbersVideo
About 6,000 Steelers fans reserved tickets for the opening day of training camp Wednesday, according to gate staff at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. But that number will skyrocket when the weekend arrives. We collected a few figures from 2022 Steelers training camp to put the first week in perspective....
Murrysville area: Fred Rogers Center presentation, gardening classes, summer softball camp, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Speaker session will focus on Fred Rogers Center Anita Cohen will discuss the work done by the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College at the next “Boomers & Beyond” speaker series on Aug. 9. Cohen will talk about the how the...
South Side distributor plans large-scale expansion in Westmoreland County
The former Beckwith property, west of Route 66 near the northern end of the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass in Salem Township, will become a new distribution center for beer and soda. Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co., based in Pittsburgh’s South Side, is expanding and nearly doubling its storage capacity with...
