Tanisha Thomas stories, Page 17
13-year-old entrepreneur supplies 400 notebooks to Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship
A 13-year-old entrepreneur fulfilled her mission of supplying an entire school with notebooks by giving 400 of her homemade creations to Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship on May 28. Ryleigh Mackenzie runs her own school supply business called Kenz N’ Co. selling pencil cases, bookbags, affirmation mirrors, notebooks and...
Pa. State Police provide glimpse into use-of-force training with demonstration for community membersVideo
Pennsylvania State Police invited community members and stakeholders to a demonstration on police use of force Wednesday at the Monroeville Public Safety Training Center. The three-and-half hour presentation titled, “The Realities of Use of Force Encounters” covered legal and policy considerations, use of force and human performance, and video analysis...
Wilkinsburg man killed in shooting near Mt. Carmel Road in Penn Hills
A 24-year-old Wilkinsburg man was shot and killed in Penn Hills on Tuesday morning, according to the Allegheny County Police Department. Police said a shooting was reported at around 10:39 a.m. near the 7700 block of Mount Carmel Road. Robert Higginbotham, 24, was identified as the victim by the Allegheny...
Quaker Valley School District avoids tax increase for 2nd consecutive year
Quaker Valley School District residents will not see a tax increase for the second consecutive year. The Quaker Valley School Board voted unanimously to approve the 2021-2022 final general fund budget on May 25 in the amount of $53,610,250. The budget will be used to fill an estimated $728,000 gap....
Quaker Valley High School to hold in-person graduation
Quaker Valley High School seniors will be able to celebrate the ending of a chapter together in person at Chuck Knox Stadium. Graduation will be held 7 p.m. June 10. Principal Deborah Riccobelli said 157 seniors will be graduating. All students, guests, staff and administration must wear a mask and...
Penn Hills School District to hold peace rally to honor recent students’ deaths
The Penn Hills School District will hold a peace rally Thursday evening following the fourth death of a Penn Hills High School student in six weeks. The rally will be in front of the main entrance of Penn Hills High School at 6 p.m. “We’re calling everybody in Penn Hills...
Penn Hills council considers forming citizen committee for covid grant money guidance
Penn Hills officials are considering forming a citizens committee to help decide how to spend the $18 million in covid relief grant money the municipality will receive this year and next. The stimulus grant money was not on the agenda for Monday’s council meeting but Councilman Jim Getsy brought up...
Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission, Freemasons get together to plant trees in Alcoma neighborhood
Two Penn Hills groups came together recently to beautify the municipality’s Alcoma neighborhood with freshly planted trees. The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission held its Front Yard Tree project, along with the Penn Hills Freemasons, the morning of May 15. An estimated 17 trees were planted in Alcoma homeowners’ yards,...
Tull Family Theater welcomes 2 Black female filmmakers to new residency program
Two Black female filmmakers will be able to bring their film to life about an under-recognized Black inventor thanks to a new program launched by the Tull Family Theater. The theater’s Artists in Residency Program is a 12-month program that focuses on supporting artists “whose work has been interrupted by...
Dedication to be held for new Veterans War Memorial Park in Coraopolis
The newly constructed Veterans War Memorial Park will be able to have a proper dedication on Memorial Day after being canceled last year because of covid. Members and officers of the Keith-Holmes VFW Post 402 will lead the dedication from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31 at 412 Mulberry St....
Penn Hills manager says he ‘regrets’ hiring former Wilkinsburg officer under investigation in shooting death
After Penn Hills reversed course on the hiring of former Wilkinsburg officer Robert Gowans to its police department, Penn Hills Manager Scott Andrejchak said he regrets approving the hiring in the first place. “I made a bad call,” Andrejchak said. “There were things that were overlooked.” Penn Hills council held...
No incumbents will appear on the November general election ballot in the Monroeville council race
After the votes were tabulated in the May 18 primary election, it appears voters in the November general election will see all newcomers vying for open Monroeville Council seats in Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7. This after the only incumbent, Greg Erosenko, who is also a former two-term Monroeville...
Deputy mayor and newcomer appear to edge out incumbent John Petrucci for spots on Penn Hills council ballot
It appears a political newcomer and an incumbent will seek the two available seats for Penn Hills council in the fall. According to unofficial results from the Allgheny County Board of Elections, Deputy Mayor Catherine Sapp received 3,546 votes and political newcomer Joanne M. Fascio received 2,813 votes to defeat...
6 candidates will challenge for 4 spots on the Gateway School Board in November
Six candidates will face off for four available seats on Gateway School District’s school board in the fall. According to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Office of Elections, all six nominees received enough votes in the May 18 primary election to secure a spot on the November ballot. Leslie...
Primary election underway in Sewickley
Voting has begun in the May 18 primary election. Polls in Sewickley opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote, and masks are required. The Sewickley Herald will update readers on election results throughout the day and...
Primary election underway throughout Penn Hills
Voting has begun in the May 18 primary election. Polls in Penn Hills opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. Anyone in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Masks are required. The Penn Hills Progress will update readers on election results throughout the day...
Penn Hills reverses decision on hiring former Wilkinsburg police officer under investigation in shooting death
Penn Hills community members and activists celebrated Monday after the Municipality of Penn Hills pivoted on the hiring of former Wilkinsburg police officer Robert Gowans. Penn Hills council held an emergency meeting Monday afternoon that resulted in letting Gowans go, after facing backlash from the community over his hiring in...
Kennywood, Hersheypark ditch mask requirements for fully vaccinated
Kennywood Park announced Friday that fully vaccinated visitors do not have to wear masks, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s easing of restrictions. The park posted on Facebook on Friday that fully vaccinated patrons do not have to wear a mask, and those who have not been vaccinated...
5 vying for 4 spots on the ballot for Carlynton school board
Editor’s note: Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Carlynton School District residents will see a few familiar faces on the school board director ballot as four incumbent school board directors look to retain their seats, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate...
8 candidates running for 4 spots on the ballot for Chartiers Valley school board director
Editor’s note: Signal Item is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election. Other race previews will run in future issues. In Chartiers Valley School District, eight candidates are competing for four spots on the November ballot for school board director. All candidates are cross-filed on both tickets, with the...
Aquinas Academy student receives award for Eagle Scout project honoring veterans
All it took was a visit to a cemetery near Sam Everson’s home to spark an idea for his Eagle Scout project. The project would lead him to receive an award for his efforts. In addition to attaining Eagle Scout rank, Everson received the Sons of the American Revolution Bronze...
Quaker Valley Middle School returns with 1st live performance in a year
Quaker Valley Middle School students will return to the stage for the first time in a year to present the musical “Into the Woods Jr.” Students will perform the musical May 6-8 live at the Moon Park Amphitheater. The performance will only be available to see live – it will...
St. Matthew A.M.E. Zion Church repairing glass-stained windows
St. Matthew A.M.E. Zion Church is entering the next phase of its year-long effort of renovations. The next project is the repair of the church’s stained-glass windows. The windows were installed in 1911 and the protective covers for them have since yellowed and masked, according to the church. The project...
Northern Tier Library kicks off month-long used book sale
The Northern Tier Regional Library is holding a month-long used books sale in April to celebrate National Library Week. Donated books from patrons will be on sale for 50 cents or $1. DVDs, CDs and audiobooks will be $2. As books sell, more will be replenished each day. Proceeds from...
Sweet Market opens in former Village Candy space in Sewickley
The Easter bunny arrived early to celebrate the opening of a sweet new store in Sewickley, greeting customers as they walked into the one-way stop to treat heaven. Sweet Market, located at 348 Beaver St., had its grand opening Friday. The store occupies the building where former nostalgic candy store...
