Patrick Varine stories, Page 95
R.K. Mellon Foundation invests $3.39 million in companies’ ‘social impact’ pitches
For working families, time is a scarce resource. Hours that might otherwise be devoted to leading a healthier lifestyle, or making that annual doctor’s appointment, get shunted aside when life gets in the way. But Allister Chang and Courtney Bragg noticed that many of those working families, particularly in low-income...
Fists fly at ‘Winter Mayhem’ boxing card in Harmar
In the perpetual cross-state rivalry between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, the City of Brotherly Love came out on top over the weekend, as Philly boxer Avery Sparrow bested the Steel City’s Matt “Sweet Child” Conway to win the International Boxing Association Super Featherweight and Pennsylvania state title. Sparrow (11-3, 4 KOs)...
Wireless companies ending 3G service, starting with AT&T
Cathy Gates was doing just fine with a flip phone, but she got rid of it when she was given a 3G smartphone at work. “Later on, about four or five years ago, I got my own, a similar phone, but recently I started having problems with it,” said Gates,...
Fossil of early mammal relative named for longtime Carnegie Museum of Natural History paleontologist
A new fossil species of an early mammal relative has been named for the man who helped discover its location, David S Berman, paleontologist and former curator of vertebrate paleontology at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The fossil, Shashajaia bermani, is from a bone bed co-discovered by Berman in...
Pa. state prison visits suspended amid covid-19 surge, staffing shortages
Citing the impact of the latest covid-19 surge on staffing, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections will suspend in-person visits at all state prisons beginning Thursday through Feb. 28. “Staffing levels have been significantly impacted throughout the winter months by the same uptick in covid-19 cases that our communities are experiencing,”...
Delmont Diggers group to hold ‘seed swap’ at library
Louisa Fordyce of Loyalhanna is interested in attracting pollinators, both to her own garden and to the perennial pollinator garden maintained by the Delmont Public Library. So she was very excited to learn about tithonia, an annual plant also called the Mexican sunflower. “It comes in all different shades of...
Greensburg woman hand-paints Marine Corps tribute on ‘World of Wheels’ motorcycle
Building a custom motorcycle is one thing. Building one that honors one’s brothers in arms is another. At the 60th annual World of Wheels custom car show this weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Todd Keyser of Ligonier is showing off his custom Harley, hand-painted with reminders of...
Pa. covid-19 data follows recent trends in South Africa, U.K., but hospitals remain busy
While Allegheny County’s numbers still are headed in the wrong direction, covid-19 figures posted throughout Pennsylvania are in line with predictions that the U.S. could be nearing the downward curve of the recent surge brought on by the omicron variant. In Allegheny, the weeklong average in hospitalizations is up about...
Feds: New Kensington resident serves federal prison time for illegally receiving pandemic jobless benefits
A New Kensington man served six months in a federal prison after he was convicted of receiving pandemic unemployment compensation that he didn’t qualify for. Erick Woods, 23, of New Kensington was sentenced to time served (six months) and a two-year term of supervised released, after he was convicted of...
The return of ‘Gen. Grant,’ tax help, historical society meetings, more in Murrysville area
‘Grant’ returns to Murrysville library next month Living historian and Gettysburg resident Ken Serfass will once again portray former Civil War general and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant on Feb. 9, presenting “The Surrender of Robert E. Lee.” The program will focus on events leading up to Confederate Gen. Robert...
Greensburg native’s directorial debut will premiere Jan. 21 on NetflixVideo
A few years ago, Sujata Day would likely have described her directorial debut, “Definition Please,” in terms of the number of theaters and cities where it would be opening. And while the Greensburg native’s debut won’t be premiering in theaters, she could conceivably say it will be opening on 95...
Murrysville reminds residents: Don’t blow snow back onto plowed roads
Murrysville public works crews have more than 150 miles of roads to plow and salt during a winter storm like the one that hit Western Pennsylvania earlier this week. And the last thing public works head Bill Paiano wants is his employees having to back-track due to residents blowing snow...
Police investigate fatal shooting in Bellevue
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a woman Wednesday night in Bellevue. Police were called to the intersection of Sheridan and Lincoln avenues at 8:30 p.m., according to an Allegheny County 911 supervisor. They found a 28-year-old woman who had been shot multiple times. She was rushed to a...
Tarentum hit-and-run suspect faces March trial date
A Lower Burrell woman accused of hitting two people with her car near the Tarentum Bridge late last month will face a March trial following a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Lois A. Davis, 55, had two felony counts of accidents involving death or personal injury held for court along with one...
Murrysville fighter prepares for 2nd MMA bout at ‘Brawl in the Burgh 10’ in Monroeville
Growing up in Murrysville, hockey had always been Craig Perry’s sport, but he spent a good deal of time watching mixed martial-arts competitions, too. “Connor McGregor was my favorite, and I always told myself that if I ever got the chance, I’d try MMA,” Perry said. After he stopped playing...
Ohio woman sentenced to 4 years after embezzling $2 million from credit union in Beaver County
An Ohio woman was sentenced to more than four years in prison on Wednesday after being convicted of embezzling from a federal credit union and failing to file tax returns, according to U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung. Stacey Shaw, 48, of Salem, Ohio, was president and CEO at the International...
Irwin’s Ruth Shuster, 100-year-old McDonald’s employee, remembered fondlyVideo
If Ruth Shuster spent any time standing still, it came as a surprise to her family. From nearly three decades of working at McDonald’s Big Mac Museum in North Huntingdon, to hosting holidays well into her 90s, to twice-weekly square dances, the 100-year-old never seemed to slow down. As a...
Drug money seizures help fund simulated weapons training for Indiana County police
Money seized during drug arrests in Indiana County is being used to help train police at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and throughout the county using realistic scenario-based training. About $6,000 in funding was used to purchase equipment from the Simunition FX company, including 10 Glock pistols, four patrol rifle conversions...
Personal collection of Westmoreland Glass Co.’s head decorator will be up for auction
Whenever someone in Kathy Brown’s family had a birthday or special occasion, she knew Uncle Ernie would have a special, hand-painted piece of glass for them. “When my cousin got married, he created something for everyone’s place setting,” said Brown, a Mt. Pleasant resident. “He painted a very special vase...
Taco fundraiser, library programs, more in the Murrysville area
Taco fundraiser will benefit FR marching band Residents can support the Franklin Regional Panther Marching Band by ordering a Moe’s Taco Kit before Jan. 21. The kits are $40 and include 12 soft tortillas, two proteins, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, rice, black beans, sour cream, a bowl of queso,...
Delmont Police receive $30,000 donation for new vehicle
The Delmont Police Department received a sizable donation that will allow them to pay off one vehicle and lease a new one. The donor, who Chief T.J. Klobucar did not name, gave $30,000. That will allow the borough to pay the remaining cost on an existing Dodge Durango and lease...
Pittsburgh fighter will compete for IBA Super Featherweight title in Harmar
Pittsburgh junior lightweight Matt “Sweet Child” Conway will go up against a Philadelphia fighter for the IBA super featherweight championship title in the 130-pound division on Jan. 15, as another full night of boxing returns to the Pittsburgh Shrine Center in Harmar. “We have some fighters on this card from...
Pittsburgh police: Lincoln-Lemington man faces 2 felony counts of animal cruelty
Pittsburgh police have charged a Lincoln-Lemington man with felony animal cruelty after discovering an emaciated, tick-infested dog outside his home. Police responded to a complaint on Nov. 20 on the 1600 block of Broadhead Street, where they said they found an emaciated female dog with untreated wounds, bald spots and...
Westmoreland County, Latrobe nonprofit set to begin 2nd round of federal rental assistance
Since the covid-19 pandemic began, the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program has helped more than 1,000 Westmoreland County families struggling with rent or utilities to remain in their homes. On Monday, the second round of the $25 billion program for renters and landlords is getting underway, and local partner Union...
Pennsylvania Farm Show’s butter sculpture highlights state’s dairy farmersVideo
The Pennsylvania Farm Show, which runs through Jan. 15 in Harrisburg, highlights the importance of the state’s agriculture industry. And one of the largest segments of that industry is dairy products. So it only makes sense that the show’s massive annual butter sculpture, commissioned by the show and sponsored by...
