Tanisha Thomas stories, Page 13
Longtime Monroeville father-son dental practice surprised with retirement party
A father-son dentist duo got the surprise of a lifetime Sept. 18 for what they were expecting to be completely different events. Richard Sepesy Jr. thought he was attending a wedding. Richard Sepesy Sr. thought he was attending a special church service. “I was telling my wife ‘if we are...
Cheswick Eagle Scout opens dog park in Agan Park in honor of dadVideo
A Cheswick Boy Scout fulfilled his mission of helping the community and honoring his dad through opening a dog park for his Eagle Scout project. Residents can bring their dogs for a fun time at the new Daniel R. Tabacheck Memorial Dog Park at Agan Park in Springdale Township. Dogs...
Deer Lakes School District parents encourage school board to defy state mask mandate
Parents of students at Deer Lakes School District urged school board officials Tuesday to fight back against the state’s mask mandate. Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden addressed the mandate as the meeting started. She told parents that the school must follow any mandates issued by the state. Failure to comply could result...
Cheswick fire victim embraced Chippewa Indian heritage, described as ‘gentle giant’
Darryl Hamley was widely known around the Alle-Kiski Valley as “Chief” because of his Chippewa Indian heritage, according to family members. “They didn’t know a ‘Darryl,’ but they knew a ‘Chief,’ ” said his oldest sister, Jacque Novosel. Hamley, 54, seemingly introduced himself to everyone he encountered and looked forward...
West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 buys former Krigger & Company building
West Deer Volunteer Fire Company No. 3 will soon have a new station to call home. The fire department bought the former Krigger & Company building on 4360 Gibsonia Road for $1.8 million in a deal that closed Sept. 8. The department entered into talks with the property owner in...
Deer Lakes seniors push back against homecoming rule prohibiting outside guests
Deer Lakes High School is facing heat from some students and parents for a newsletter sent Monday informing them students won’t be allowed to bring outside guests to homecoming. “It’s our senior year. We never got a full high school experience because of covid, and it would be nice to...
Springdale Free Little Pantry helps the hungry, encourages community contributions
A little free pantry in Springdale is making a big difference. Not only is Bud & Bob’s Free Pantry helping people in need, it appears to have spurred the opening of at least two other free pantries in the borough. “It takes my breath away to see how people care...
Acmetonia Elementary shows its appreciation to first responders on eve of 9/11Video
Allegheny Valley School District commemorated Saturday’s 20th anniversary of 9/11 a day early Friday by showing its appreciation to local first responders. A table set up under a tent at Acmetonia Elementary in the morning featured donuts, coffee and bagels — all free to first responders who stopped by. Students...
Richland Township receives $20,000 donation to enhance dek hockey rink in memory of former township supervisor
A special donation was recently made to Richland Township in memory of a former township supervisor. The family of Bart Miller gave a $20,000 donation to the township made possible by community members, friends and family. A dedication ceremony was held Sept. 4 to reveal a plaque in honor of...
Allegheny Valley School District seeking to fill school director position
Applications from those interested in filling a vacancy on the Allegheny Valley School Board are due by Wednesday. The district is looking for a resident to replace board member James Gaschler Jr., who resigned effective Monday. The board approved his resignation Aug. 17. Gaschler resigned because he moved or is...
Allegheny Valley School District reports 3 covid cases, 3 people who have been in close contact
As K-12 schools gear up to require masks Tuesday, the day will feel no different for students and teachers in Allegheny Valley School District. They’ve already been wearing masks. Melissa Holler oversees the health and safety plan. Holler said the district has reported three positive covid-19 cases and three people...
Cheswick Community Day returns Sept. 11
Cheswick Community Day is returning after being on hiatus since 2014. The Cheswick Recreation Board will be hosting the event on Saturday, Sept. 11, at Rachel Carson Riverfront Park. During the event’s absence, the borough took over the Strawberry Festival in 2013 and last held it in 2019. The festival...
New Leetsdale July 4 committee looks forward to fresh start
A new board for Leetsdale’s Fourth of July committee is ready to switch up things with the borough’s traditional Independence Day activities. Rebecca Gazda, the committee’s new treasurer, said the committee that consisted of members who volunteered for three decades decided to retire last year. The current committee consists of...
Neighbor Spotlight: Bell Acres historian believes everyone has a story to tell
When it to comes stories, local historian Debby Rabold believes everyone has one to tell. This is what she told two sisters she met to interview for the Franklin Park History book, published in 2006. The sisters asked Rabold why she wanted to interview them, because they felt they had...
Deer Lakes School District reports 12 covid-19 cases, 123 people in quarantine
Deer Lakes School District has reported a dozen covid-19 cases and 123 people in quarantine since its first day of school, Aug. 25. The district is monitoring cases on its website with a tracker showing where each case is throughout the buildings. The tracker shows 10 cases reported in August...
Sewickley dedicates plaque to former Mayor Brian Jeffe
The Broad Street gardens in Sewickley received a prominent new feature dedicated to former Mayor Brian Jeffe. Sewickley Borough presented a plaque to Jeffe on Aug. 31 on Broad Street at the intersection of Thorn Street, displaying a portrait of Jeffe’s face and his years in office with the words...
A look at enrollment and tuition over the past 5 years at Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy and Winchester Thurston
When interim Head of School at Sewickley Academy Ashley Birtwell announced the departure of five administrators and a fifth-grade teacher July 21, questions began to rise about the decision, especially in light of prior events. The announcement came a month after a group called the Sewickley Parents Organization sent a...
Deer Lakes School District excited to be back in-person for the school year
Deer Lakes students returning to school will be recognized in a big way this school year when they walk in the school’s entrance. A new “High Honors” display wall will be used to highlight students’ accomplishments including student of the month, athlete of the month, honor students and other accolades....
Neighbor Spotlight: Penn Hills resident follows passion at Lincoln Park Community Center Food Pantry
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Monroeville Public Library, Recreation & Parks department to build Discovery Gardens around Monroeville
To celebrate September being “Love Your Library” month, the Monroeville Public Library and the Recreation & Parks Department will collaborate on a new project called the “Discovery Gardens of Monroeville.” “We are delighted to be partnering with the Parks and Recreation Department on a project that will bring so much...
Rosedale Fall Festival set to return Sept. 16-18
The Rosedale Beach Club is looking forward to its Rosedale Fall Festival after having to cancel last year’s event. The multiday event will be Sept. 16-18 from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is free with the exception of rides and food. The festival normally averages 600-800 attendees a night. “There...
Sewickley Tuskegee Airmen Memorial events to be held Sept. 5
Nearly a full day of events will honor Sewickley’s Tuskegee Airmen on Sept. 5. The Masonic Allegheny Commandery No. 35 is hosting the fifth annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Sewickley Cemetery at 2 p.m., where the Sewickley Tuskegee Airmen Memorial is located. The Pittsburgh Fire Pipe and Drum Corps, The...
Monroeville Jazz Festival returns Sept. 4
Monroeville’s Jazz Festival is back to celebrate its 18th annual year of providing a day full of jazz, food and fun. The Monroeville Foundation will be hosting the festival Sept. 4 at Monroeville Community Park West. Gates open at 1 p.m. “The foundation is so pleased to have this year’s...
Former Sewickley mayor Brian Jeffe joins board of Tull Family Theater
A familiar face will be joining the Tull Family Theater’s board. After retiring as mayor in January this year, Brian Jeffe was excited when the theater invited him to join its board. Jeffe hopes to help the theater with its finance perpetuation and bring his sense of the town’s history...
Penn Hills charter school plans 2nd floor after district nixes bid to add grades 9-12
Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship is looking to add a second floor to its building to help increase space and enrollment after its plans to expand to grades 9-12 were not approved by the Penn Hills School District. The charter is required to seek authorization or approval from the...
