Patrick Varine stories, Page 83
Penn State Extension will host master-gardener open house in Hempfield
On the “Pittsburgh Gardeners, Homesteaders and Farmers” Facebook page, people are regularly soliciting advice for issues ranging from blossom end rot on their tomatoes, to moles and voles digging holes in their strawberry patches. Natalie Sciulli, 24, of Plum, is thinking about planting garlic next fall. “I grow tomatoes, peppers,...
Plum craft show will benefit multiple sclerosis nonprofits
Alex Ley of Plum is no stranger to multiple sclerosis. Her mother, Tina, was diagnosed with MS more than two decades ago. And she’s no stranger to fundraising for several nonprofits that fund MS research and treatment. Ley has organized a craft show Sunday , July 17 in Plum. Part...
Victim of fatal fire at Mt. Pleasant Township mobile home has been identifiedVideo
A 66-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township woman died early Friday morning when her mobile home was destroyed by fire, according to the the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. The victim, Victoria L. Garsteck, of 216 Thomas St., in the village of Calumet, was pronounced dead at the scene, the coroner’s office said....
Beer at St. Bart’s annual festival made with grain from the farmer next door
When folks grab a glass of beer this weekend at the Saint Bartholomew’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival, they’ll be able to shake hands with the farmers who grew the grains used to create it. “It doesn’t get more local than this,” said Alquin Heinnickel, who joined with Vince...
UPMC opens specialty care center in MurrysvilleVideo
UPMC patients in western Westmoreland County now will have specialists closer to home, following the opening of a specialty center Wednesday afternoon on Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. “I live two streets down, so it’s nice to know we’ll have these services so close,” said Dan DeBone, CEO of...
Murrysville area: Library resource fair, Fairview Park picnic, baseball history program and more
Library will host resource fair The Murrysville Community Library will host an Aug. 16 resource fair, “Cookies & Community,” from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the library, 4130 Sardis Road. Community members can stop by, help celebrate the library’s 100th anniversary and visit with area organizations and businesses that will have tables...
Plum craft show will benefit multiple sclerosis nonprofits
Alex Ley of Plum is no stranger to multiple sclerosis. Her mother, Tina, was diagnosed with MS more than two decades ago. And she’s also no stranger to fundraising for several nonprofits that fund MS research and treatment. Ley has organized craft show this Sunday, July 17 in Plum. Part...
Miracle League of Western Pa. president given community service award
As officials at the Miracle League of Western Pennsylvania begin taking registration for the fall 2022 baseball season, they will have an additional $5,000 to put toward expanding team rosters and giving more special-needs individuals a chance to play ball. League founder Rev. Harold Hicks, of Blairsville, recently was presented...
Murrysville church will host ‘satellite’ version of Laurel Highlands summer day camp
First Presbyterian Church’s pastor, the Rev. Edward Gray, is upfront about the average age of his congregation. “Like a lot of churches, we skew older. When I got here five years ago, our overall membership had declined significantly,” Gray said. “We tried some different things, and many of them have...
Artist teaches how to turn invasive Japanese knotweed into crafting material
When Albert Pantone runs out of paper, he just heads to the nearest stand of invasive Japanese knotweed. “We always think of trees when it comes to paper, but anything with fibers can be used to make paper,” said Pantone, owner of Knot Just Weeds in Braddock. “You can even...
Export officials approve trail extension, will seal borough parking lot
After meeting with members of the Export Business Group, borough officials gave the go-ahead for Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials to extend the trail about 750 feet farther east. “The biggest thing we all agreed on was that they needed to put (trail) parking spots on the south side of the...
Murrysville: Rotary car cruise, steak fry, flag football, more
Upcoming Rotary events • The Murrysville-Export Rotary Club will host its annual Summer-fest car cruise from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Lamplighter. There is a $10 entry cost for those taking part in the show, and the first 150 entries will receive a dash plaque. The...
Export mayor breaks tie in contentious vote to raise sewage ratesVideo
Export Mayor Joe Zaccagnini had to break a 3-3 vote this week as council approved a $5 increase in local sewage rates, passing along a roughly 8% rate hike by the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority that goes into effect in August. “We have to pass on the cost that’s...
Bigfoot — the truck — coming to Export Tire this weekend
You can spot Bigfoot in Murrysville this weekend. But it’s not the mythical forest ape — this Bigfoot is the kind that crushes cars, which is exactly what it will be doing July 9 at Export Tire’s customer appreciation event. “We’d done the same thing when we had our grand...
Historical marker to be dedicated to 1902 Rolling Mill Mine disaster in Johnstown
On the night of July 10, 1902, James E. Roderick, who was then chief of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mines, had recently arrived in Atlantic City, N.J., when he heard a newsboy on the boardwalk shouting about a mine disaster in Johnstown. “I heard the newsboys crying out, ‘Night extra!...
Murrysville Export Emergency Management Agency provides support network for first responders
When it comes to large-scale emergencies, preparation is the key to a proper response. When something such as a ruptured gas line or a late-night power outage at a senior assisted living facility happens, first responders need to be able to do their jobs and rely on a support network...
Pittsburgh native Gene Stovall returns from overseas for hometown performancesVideo
From performing onstage at age 12 in a Pittsburgh Public Theater production of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” to winning talent showcases as a teenager, to moving across the Atlantic Ocean to pursue music full time, Gene Stovall has a passion for performance. “I’ve been wanting this for my whole...
Delmont librarian announces retirement at end of 2022
When Louisa Fordyce first got involved volunteering at the Delmont Public Library, she didn’t have a lot of contact with director Denni Grassel. “But I knew how active she was and how much work she put into the library,” Fordyce said. Today, Fordyce is a member of the library’s board...
Murrysville area: Inline hockey lessons, sewing sale, Delmont Daze, more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Inline hockey lessons at Palmer Imaging Arena Palmer Imaging Arena will host a weekly series of classes teaching children how to play inline hockey. The sessions will be from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the arena, 100 Center Ice Drive in Salem. The...
Pittsburgh-area boxers back in action Saturday at Washington County fairgrounds
Pittsburgh-area fighters will be back in the ring Saturday for a full night of boxing at “Battle at the Fairgrounds II” in Washington County. “We’re excited to return to the Washington County Fairgrounds for the third time,” said Monroeville promoter Derek Gionta. “We have a nice trio of professional fights...
FTMSA work closes part of Meadowbrook Road in Murrysville
Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority work has closed a section of Meadowbrook Road in Murrysville that officials expect to reopen Wednesday afternoon. An FTMSA field supervisor said workers were extending a main sewage line and connecting laterals to properties along Meadowbrook between Haney Court and McWilliams Drive. Work crews expect...
Westmoreland motorcycle ride will benefit nonprofit Amanda’s Heart Foundation
During Amanda Ooten’s struggle as a quadriplegic affected by cerebral palsy, her mother Linda said it seemed like whenever the family needed help, someone was there to provide it. “I’ve always felt like those who give, get double back in blessings,” said Linda. Linda and Ooten, 27, of Wall, used...
No injuries in gas-tanker fire in Murrysville
No one was injured when a gas tanker tanker truck caught fire Tuesday morning along William Penn Highway in Murrysville. Fire crews were called to the 6000 block of Route 22 near Buena Vista Drive around 8:45 a.m., according to a county 911 supervisor, and were cleaning up less than...
Public, private sectors cooperate to try to boost apprenticeship numbers in Pennsylvania
In the years leading up to his graduation from Hampton Township High School in 2019, Nic Michielli discussed his future with district staff. “When I told my high school guidance counselor that I probably wasn’t planning to go to college, the conversation pretty much ended there,” Michielli said. With a...
Uniontown woman dead following shooting outside bar
A Uniontown woman was shot and killed outside a city bar on Thursday night, according to police. Officers responded to the 200 block of North Gallatin Avenue outside McPatton’s Pub around 10:20 p.m., where they found Samantha Harden, 34, with a single gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead a short...
