Tanisha Thomas stories, Page 10
Harmar candy store gets innovative while figuring out how to stay afloat
A year ago, Oh How Sweet It Is owner Robert Wyant was unsure of his candy store’s future in Harmar. Wyant had to close the store for two months in March 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic. While the store was closed, Wyant missed out on his busiest holidays,...
Deer Lakes alum heads Pittsburgh chapter of national Women Interactive Network group
Dawn Pomaybo blazed a trail for herself using her expertise and skills in networking to help women reach their highest potential. The Deer Lakes School Distinct alum, who resides in East Deer, runs her own business and is executive director of the Pittsburgh chapter of the national organization Women Interactive...
Cheswick taxes remain the same, sewage rate increases in 2022 budget
Cheswick Borough property owners will not see an increase in taxes next year but will pay more for sewage. Cheswick officials unanimously voted 7-0 to approve the $2.2 million budget keeping the tax rate at 5.6 mills. The general fund is $1.9 million. Cheswick council member Brad Yaksich was absent...
Dollar General along Route 780 opens in Upper Burrell
Upper Burrell residents anticipating the opening of the Dollar General along Route 780 no longer have to wait. The store, located on 4500 Seventh Street Road, opened its doors on Christmas Eve. The store is expected to gain some traction from its placement near a residential area. “We look forward...
Where can you drop off your Christmas tree to be recycled?
As Christmas season passes and the New Year approaches, there are plenty of Christmas tree recycling programs to ensure your holiday decorations do not go to waste. The Allegheny County is holding its annual Christmas tree recycling program through Jan. 14. Various drop-off locations will be accepting real Christmas trees...
Community Closet at Leechburg church marks 10 years of dressing people in need
Pastor James Arter of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leechburg has seen the impact the church’s Community Closet has on families and individuals. Years ago, a young girl came with her father to buy clothes. She was so taken with the project’s mission that she later returned with clothes of...
Gilpin decides on projects for $80,000 of federal covid relief funds
The Gilpin supervisors intend to allocate $80,000 of the township’s federal covid relief money. The money is part of $125,400 received from the federal fund designed to help communities come back from a broad range of issues they faced in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. Township supervisors Chairman Charles...
Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Semper Gratus. honored as 1 of 50 Disney’s Magic Makers
When Ian Coyle, founder and president of Semper Gratus., found out he was selected as one of Disney’s Magic Makers, he wanted to pay it forward by giving someone else his free trip to Walt Disney World. The act is just one of the qualities the Leechburg native and Shaler...
Lower Burrell Compassion Network hosts free Christmas Eve dinner
People looking to feel less lonely for the holidays or unable to cook a meal were able to have a family-style Christmas dinner at Bethel United Methodist Church on Friday afternoon. The Lower Burrell Compassion Network hosted a free Christmas Eve dinner at the church, serving about 30 families that...
Leechburg Council adopts budget with no tax increase for 2022
Leechburg property owners will not see an increase in borough property taxes next year. Leechburg Councilvoted 4-0 to adopt the $1.2 million borough budget for 2022. Council member Lorraine Bazella was absent from the vote due to a personal matter. The property tax rate will remain at 22.5 mills. That...
Leechburg kids spread Christmas joy with surprise gifts for Lee Haven Towers residents
A cover of “Last Christmas” was blaring from an apartment with its door wide open when Madison Chiusano, 6, and Olivia Chiusano, 3, walked up to it with a red stocking. “We have a gift for you,” Madison cheered as a man walked out donning an elf hat and red...
West Deer supervisors reject well pad proposed by Olympus Energy
The West Deer Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on Dec. 15 not to approve the first of two proposed well pads from Olympus Energy LLC. West Deer Chairman Arlind Karpuzi said the board denied the application because it did not meet the township’s zoning ordinances. West Deer Vice Chairwoman Beverly...
Deer Lakes Hockey Club to hold 3rd annual alumni game raising awareness for suicide prevention
A West Deer mother is determined to fund a Hope Squad for every school district to continue to raise awareness about suicide prevention in honor of her daughter. Molly Rupprecht is humbled to see an idea the Deer Lakes Hockey Club approached her with become an annual event of coming...
Lower Valley EMS working with Allegheny Valley North COG, municipalities to improve financial condition
The Lower Valley Ambulance Service is working with the Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments (AVNCOG) to improve its financial condition. The ambulance service contacted the AVNCOG in early October to inform them of the service’s financial status. A meeting was held Nov. 11 to discuss what was needed and...
Leechburg Area Community Development Corp. continues area’s growth with launch of ‘coworking space’Video
As more people and companies experiment with remote work arrangements, the Leechburg Area Community Development Corporation (LACDC) wanted to provide a space that offers another option: an office-like environment not far from home. The former First Commonwealth Bank building has been transformed into a coworking space with a variety of...
Dasher’s Lightshow at Pittsburgh Mills mall receives mixed reviews
A portion of the Pittsburgh Mills mall parking lot in Frazer received a holiday makeover with the newest Christmas drive-thru attraction, Dasher’s Lightshow. The show made its debut Nov. 5 following its announcement in August. Dasher’s Lightshow co-owner Clyde Lindsey, a Leechburg resident, said he wanted to bring another light...
Arbitrator judge reinstates former Wilkinsburg police officer to Penn Hills
An arbitrator judge has reinstated former Wilkinsburg police officer Robert Gowans to the Penn Hills Police Department. Penn Hills manager Scott Andrejchak said Gowans was reinstated Nov. 24. The officer’s first day on the job was Dec. 13. Andrejchak declined to comment further. Penn Hills Police Department hired Gowans in...
Township officials look to get Low Grade Road construction started by spring next year
Officials from Harmar, Cheswick and Springdale are continuing to work on creating a smoother drive on Low Grade Road, a heavily used route for traffic from Route 28 to the Freeport Road business district. Harmar engineer Matt Pitsch said construction is planned for spring of next year. “We hope to...
Freeport resident opens candle business in Saxonburg, sells local vendors products
A Freeport resident was able to turn a fun bonding activity with her daughters into a family-owned candle business in Saxonburg. In August 2019, Miranda Virone had the random idea to make candles with her daughters, Maggie and Abbie Watson, as a fun way to disconnect from the digital world....
Historic Penn Salt Co. houses in Natrona being torn down; museum planned to preserve history
Work began this month on Federal Street in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood to tear down two historic Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing houses from the 1850s. Harrison Commissioner Chuck Dizard said the houses were falling in under their own weight. “They were in terrible condition and unsafe for the neighborhood,” he said. The...
Gun control advocates gather in Cheswick to protest state rep’s vote in favor of constitutional carry bill
Local gun safety advocacy groups and community members gathered in Rachel Carson Riverfront Park in Cheswick on Thursday afternoon to raise awareness about gun safety. CeaseFirePA hosted the gathering, attended by about 15 people, to bring attention to the support of state Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso, R-Oakmont, for Senate Bill...
Fire at the Arnold Manor public high-rise will prevent 24 residents from returning for an undetermined timeVideo
The 76-unit Arnold Manor public housing high-rise was evacuated Thursday afternoon when fire broke on the fourth floor, and an official said residents in 18 units won’t be able to return for an undetermined time. Many wheelchair-bound residents were carried down the stairs by firefighters. One resident was helped to...
Pine-Richland staffer ‘combing the world’ to find lifesaving bone marrow match for her son
Missy Ramirez has never won the lottery, but she is determined to win the one that will save her 6-year-old son’s life. Ramirez’s son, Jax, was diagnosed with IPEX, a rare genetic autoimmune disease, in October. The diagnosis was a relief for Ramirez who worked tirelessly to find answers to...
Kindermusik to offer classes at Starlight Dance Academy in Emmerling Plaza in JanuaryVideo
Kindermusik educator and program owner Christa Beck will be starting the new year with an additional location — her fourth — of the children’s music program. Opening Jan. 4, the new spot in Indiana Township will be inside Starlight Dance Academy in Emmerling Plaza on Route 910. “I am so...
Arnold resident turns hobby into passion project, donates proceeds to local animal rescues
After spending much of her time working at an animal rescue, an Arnold woman found a way to turn her longtime hobby into a gratifying venture. Stacy Berkoben’s love for sewing proved handy as she began crafting handmade pet toys and beds, accessories, purses, handbags and more. Her inventory of...
