Tanisha Thomas stories, Page 5

The effort to restore and preserve the National Opera House, a historic landmark located in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, is receiving a helping hand from Castle of Our Skins, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to amplifying and uplifting Black artistry. Ashleigh Gordon, artistic and executive director and co-founder of Castle of Our...

The Springdale Cemetery Board of Directors is starting the celebration early for the cemetery’s 200th anniversary — in 2027. Cub Scouts from Pack 554 and their parents volunteered their time Tuesday evening to begin the work of preparing for the occasion. They dug up dirt and planted about 500 daffodils...

A political newcomer is looking to earn his first elective office as a state senator. Jake Roberts, 31, of Ross will be facing state Rep. Lori Mizgorski, 55, of Shaler for the Republican nomination in the state 38th Senatorial District race. Both candidates have similar views on abortion following the...

Gilpin supervisors gave a presentation showing what a regional police force would look like with Gilpin and Freeport combined. The presentation Tuesday evening was led by Chris Fabec, who serves as police chief for both municipalities. Fabec said a survey was sent out to Gilpin officers to get an idea...

Penn Hills patrolman Lindsey Bigger laughed as students asked her if it was true that police officers ride around with donuts in their car. Bigger enjoyed the opportunity to educate students on what police officers do. “I love talking to the kids. This shows them we are people too, and...

Leechburg Area Middle School students were in a different classroom environment Tuesday afternoon — for a good cause. Students and staff donned bright Hi-Liter green safety vests and heavy duty gloves, grabbed trash bags and picked up trash around the downtown Leechburg business district and other areas for an hour...

Work is underway on the Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority treatment plant expansion project. The expansion is part of a federally mandated upgrade to control discharges of sewage and stormwater into the Allegheny River. Harmar Township engineer Matthew Pitsch said Hancock Camp Road, a private road that serves the Werner...

Starting in the 2022-23 school year, Penn Hills School District students will have their cellphone and any other communication devices stored away during the school day. Penn Hills High School Principal Eric Kostic made the announcement in a Facebook post on May 5. On April 26, the school board approved...

Despite the cloudy, chilly weather, hundreds of Pittsburgh Penguins fans flocked to perch on a chair and cheer on their team outside of PPG Paints Arena as the “big screen” made its return Saturday. Fans were able to watch Game 3 of the first round from the corner of Centre...

A design challenge contest is calling for Penn Hills community members to reimagine the ideal layout of the Penn Hills Shopping Center to better serve the community. Participants are asked to create a design and upload a photo of it to Instagram, tagging @DesignPennHills. Submissions will be collected through May...

Mowing two acres of a cemetery may not sound like an ideal Friday night activity, but for one Penn Hills resident, it’s his therapy. Carl “Butch” Lang has been helping to maintain the Old German Cemetery, located on the intersection of Hamil and Poketa roads, for nearly the past 10...

Two Penn Hills businesses are coming together to provide the ultimate sweet experience for customers. Sweet Honey’s Bakery is partnering with Ma’s Honey at 11101 Frankstown Road. The joint business will be a diner-style experience, and the menu will expand to offer traditional breakfast items, coffee, baked goods, desserts and...

A Deer Lakes High School student has achieved a musical feat never before seen in the district. Michael Everhart, a senior, became the first Deer Lakes student to qualify for three ensembles — band, orchestra and choir — at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Region Festivals held earlier this...

Fire destroyed a trailer home and damaged a neighboring trailer in Buffalo Township on Saturday morning. No injuries were reported in the fire that broke out around 10 a.m. and lasted until about 3 p.m. at Jack’s Mobile Homes on Bryan Drive, according to Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department Fire...

Sewickley Academy has named Chris J. Anderson as its Associate Head of School. Anderson will assume the role in July, the Academy announced on April 25. “I am so excited to be back. I left 11 years ago to come here to Episcopal Academy. I have really missed Sewickley Academy...

For the third year in a row, the annual ‌Penn‌ ‌Hills‌ ‌Arts‌ ‌and‌ ‌Music‌ ‌Festival‌ will not be held. Penn Hills Arts Council president Catherine Meara said due to covid and other issues among its members, holding the festival was not possible. The event normally takes place in mid-July. “I...

Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society Board President James Thomas remembers when Springdale was called “The Power City.” The establishment of the Cheswick Generating Station in 1970, producing 565 megawatts of electricity, was part of the borough’s claim to fame. The location’s proximity to coal mines and the river was the perfect...

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the two people found dead Monday in a Springdale house as Robert Devaughn Williams, 36, of New Kensington and Morgan Kurpakus, 24, of Springdale. Their bodies were discovered after 3:30 p.m. Monday in a house in the 1000 of block of Pittsburgh...

After what he called “countless empty promises by the administration,” Deer Lakes High School senior Kevin Hoffman said he is compelled to speak up about bullying against him not being handled by the school. Since middle school, he said, he has faced racism, sexual harassment and threats. Each time he...

Growing up, Melinda Suzensky knew right away she was different from her peers. A biracial girl in the predominantly white Allegheny Valley School District, she was bullied for looking different. She described it as being “a chocolate chip within marshmallows in a bowl.” “It was something they weren’t used to...

George Pann smiled as he reached out a hand to pet a large, white sheep. Ryan Maglione, owner of Little Blessings Farm and Mobile Zoo, jokingly asked Pann if he wanted to take the sheep back to his room with him. Pann just laughed, marveling at the animal. It was...

The Springdale Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Jubilee carnival has been canceled, with no plans of returning. Zach Wilhem, secretary for the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, said decreased attendance in the last 10 years and costly overhead expenses led to the decision to stop holding the event. “This announcement is made...

Nestled uphill on Frey Road in Penn Hills is a center that offers a variety of services many residents may not be aware of. The Western Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Development Center is a nonprofit that “has become the only search and rescue agency in Western Pennsylvania,” according to the...

A Penn Hills School District teacher and a Plum resident worked together to bring an uplifting surprise to a family in need on Easter weekend. Alexa Verricho and her family started a tradition three years ago of reaching out to their alma mater to find families in need in the...