Patrick Varine stories, Page 88
Extra security in place at Norwin after reported threat against student, employee
Extra security is in place in the Norwin School District today after a threat of violence against a student and a middle school employee was discovered on social media Wednesday, Superintendent Jeff Taylor said. The district said Thursday that the student who made the comment — reported through the state’s...
Woodland Hills appoints Castagna as permanent superintendent; 2 school directors resign
Woodland Hills school officials have made Acting Superintendent Daniel Castagna’s position permanent, voting to confirm his appointment at a special meeting Wednesday night that also included the resignation of two school board members. The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting....
Police say Washington County man fatally shot his neighbor
Pennsylvania State Police have accused a Washington County man of fatally shooting his neighbor Wednesday afternoon in Smith Township. Bryce Kevin Tacy, 52, is accused of criminal homicide in the incident reported at about 2:3o p.m. along Loffert Road. Police said Tacy verbally engaged the victim, Jerry E. Anderson, 44,...
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials add new locations to Trail Towns Festival
When the Westmoreland Heritage Trail Towns Festival kicks off this year, it will add two new towns to the mix, with events happening throughout the day in Trafford, Monroeville, Export and Slickville. “The first festival was in 2019,” said Vicki Rudge, public relations chair for the Westmoreland Heritage Trail. “The...
‘They help everybody’: Hampton-based fitness club introduces Down to Box program
When Fit 4 Boxing Club opened in Hampton in 2015, its owners already had an eye toward working with people of all abilities. As an early example, the club integrated a program called Rock Steady Boxing, which employs a non-contact, boxing-based fitness curriculum for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. A...
Pa. hopes apprenticeship program can help alleviate skilled-worker shortage
Chad Warhold, owner at Warhold Mechanicals in North Huntingdon, has plenty of business. He just needs to find some additional skilled employees, or those willing to learn. “That’s part of why we got into apprenticeships,” said Warhold, whose company does heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and gas line work...
Murrysville Community Library marks 100th anniversary
Nowadays, patrons of Murrysville Community Library can reserve an e-book from the comfort of their own homes, or attend a presentation from an astronaut at NASA by way of the library’s Tech Nook. It’s a long way from the mid-1980s, when former librarian Denise Sticha would return from the grocery...
Fit4Boxing gym in Murrysville, Hampton offers program for those with special needs
When Fit4Boxing opened in Hampton in 2015, its owners already had an eye toward working with people of all abilities. “We started working with people affected by Parkinson’s disease when we first opened,” said Brett Burkhart, managing partner with Fit4Boxing. “My uncle had been training with a guy from Sewickley...
Pittsburgh-area native works with real-life members of Navy’s Top Gun program
Shortly before Memorial Day, veteran actor Tom Cruise will take to the skies once again as Navy pilot Pete Mitchell in the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 action blockbuster “Top Gun.” But at Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nev., Pittsburgh native Amanda Taylor will be working with the real-life members...
Westmoreland native continues growing gamer-coaching company Metafy
Over the past three years, Derry native Josh Fabian has turned his gamer-coaching company, Metafy, into a major player in the gaming industry, raising $25 million in venture capital from international hedge funds such as Tiger Global and Seven Seven Six. As the company has continued to scale up —...
Murrysville area: Golf tournament, veteran banners, more
Email news briefs for the Star to reporter Patrick Varine at pvarine@triblive.com. Golf tourney to benefit FR Panther Foundation The annual golf tournament to benefit the nonprofit Franklin Regional Panther Foundation will take place June 10 at Meadowink Golf Course, 4076 Bulltown Road in Murrysville. The cost is $175 per...
Monroeville begins planning for Westmoreland Heritage Trail connector bridge
While it’s only a short distance from the edge of Valley Park in Monroeville to the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in neighboring Murrysville, the bridge connecting the two is still a fair distance away. “There’s a lot that goes into it,” said Monroeville Municipal Manager Tim Little. “We have to get...
Pit bull shot after escaping Cook Township property
A Cook Township man’s dog was shot Sunday night after leaving his property, police said. The pit bull belonging to Mark E. Ahner, 60, of Stahlstown, escaped the property and became aggressive toward two men near the intersection of Main Street and Hoffer Plan in Stahlstown shortly after 9:30 p.m.,...
Murrysville man designs ‘Monopoly’-themed road rally course
They won’t see Park Place or Boardwalk, but drivers in a Saturday, May 21 Monopoly-themed road rally through Westmoreland County might pass over some old Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. “The course will head out on a winding route to the Bells Mills covered bridge in (Sewickley and South Huntingdon),” said Bruce...
Export officials want more communication with nonprofit social-service site
Export officials are hoping to have a clearer line of communication with a nonprofit that operates a house in the borough for individuals with disabilities. Community Living And Support Services (CLASS), a nonprofit whose mission is to “support people with disabilities as they explore options, participate in the community and...
Murrysville students get a glimpse into the past at replica of 1800s schoolhouse
When Laura Hoff was looking to teach her students at Calvary Early Learning Center about local history in Murrysville, she didn’t realize there was a building full of it just up the road. “I saw a Trib article describing the (replica of the) old Murrysville schoolhouse,” Hoff said. “I stopped...
Reports show fatal crashes increased in Pennsylvania in 2021
Traffic crashes in the U.S. are increasing at a record pace, according to the latest data estimates from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. NHTSA estimates of the first nine months of 2021 project that more than 31,700 people died in vehicle crashes from January to September 2021. That’s an...
Murrysville girl excited to be part of coming-of-age story
The Pittsburgh Youth Chorus and Hill Dance Academy will collaborate to present a coming-of-age story told through choral ballet this month. “‘Crossings’ is a coming-of-age story — told through dance, vocal music, and spoken word — of a young African-American woman growing up ‘Uptown’ and confronting racism in her community,”...
Washington woman, 58, dies following Ridge Avenue shooting
A 58-year-old woman died after being shot Wednesday afternoon along Ridge Avenue in Washington. Emergency responders were called to Ridge Avenue shortly after 5 p.m., where they found Kristin A. Barfield, of Washington, with a gunshot wound, according to the Washington County Coroner’s Office. Barfield was taken to Washington Hospital,...
Police: 1 shot, 1 injured in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood
A man was shot and a woman injured Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood, according to police. Police and EMS were called to Fifth Avenue and Seneca Street just after 6 p.m. for an initial report of two people who’d been shot. Officers located a man and a woman. The...
Police: West Allegheny High School student brought loaded AR-15 to school parking lot
An 18-year-old student at West Allegheny High School is facing charges after police say he brought a loaded AR-15 rifle when he drove to the school Tuesday morning. North Fayette police were initially called to the high school after a school resource officer was notified that the student, Ja’Shon Spencer,...
Crews battle fire spread over multiple houses in Homestead
Fire crews spent hours on the scene of a three-alarm fire on West Street in Homestead after the blaze broke out Wednesday evening. A three-story structure was reportedly engulfed in fire, according to an Allegheny County 911 supervisor. The initial call came in at 6:30 p.m. for a building on...
PennDOT hopes to begin Rosslyn Farms Parkway ramp repair in late June
The bridge carrying traffic from Rosslyn Road onto the inbound side of the Parkway West to be closed “for the next few months,” shortly after a truck crashed into its support structure in early February. A lack of available construction materials will likely keep it closed a bit longer, PennDOT...
West Mifflin man charged with Pleasant Hills burglary, arson
Allegheny County Police have arrested a West Mifflin man in connection with a burglary and subsequent fire at a Cerasi Drive apartment building on Tuesday. County detectives charged Kristopher Friedman, 24, of West Mifflin with burglary, receiving stolen property, arson endangering property and four counts of arson endangering persons. Emergency...
Murrysville considers establishing ‘do not knock’ list for solicitors
During the pandemic, door-to-door solicitation was not something people had to think about much. But with restrictions largely eased and warm weather on the way, Murrysville officials expect solicitation season to be in full swing and are looking to possibly start a “do not knock” registry for residents. “About this...
