Tanisha Thomas stories, Page 8
Penn Hills graduate, Upper Burrell resident publishes her own book
After living in others’ fantasy worlds, Penn Hills High School graduate and Upper Burrell resident Jenna E. Faas was ready to create her own. Writing has been a core passion for Faas, who remembers her mom reading books to her before bedtime at 5 years old. Although she was unable...
Deer Lakes students to present ‘Chicago’ as high school musical
Deer Lakes will be bringing a high school edition of the broadway musical “Chicago” to the stage. Co-director Matthew Derby said the show will be a “nice return to form” after last year’s spring musical being canceled amid the pandemic. The musical follows the story of a woman named Roxie...
West Deer, Indiana Township to see 42% sewage hike take effect in April
West Deer and Indiana Township residents will see a 47% sewage cost increase from the cost of the Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority’s treatment plant expansion. The Deer Creek Drainage Basin Authority board passed the new rate in November. The new rate will take effect in April. The Deer Creek...
Following attorney general’s legal action against Martino Motors, buyers share stories of faulty vehicles
Jennifer Canonico was not surprised when Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro took legal action against Martino Motors on Rodi Road in early February for “continued sales of vehicles that are not ‘roadworthy.’ ” The former Munhall resident has her own story. She often drove past the used car dealer on...
Leechburg Area School Board lifts mask requirement for unvaccinated staff members
Unvaccinated Leechburg Area School District staff members will be able to choose whether to wear a mask in school buildings. The Leechburg Area School Board voted 5-3 Wednesday night to rescind its mask requirement. Members chose between voting yes to lift the requirement or no to hold off on a...
Fund for Advancement of Minorities ends Sewickley Academy partnership
A Black student mentoring group that aims to provide Black students access to private schools around the Greater Pittsburgh area ended its partnership with Sewickley Academy on Feb. 17. The announcement comes amid concerns about the school’s direction with its diversity, equity and inclusion plan, a part of the school’s...
Tull Family Foundation donates $20 million to Sewickley Academy
The Tull Family Foundation donated $20 million to Sewickley Academy, making it the largest donation in the school’s history, according to the school’s press release on Tuesday. Head of Sewickley Academy Ashley Birtwell expressed how thrilled she was about the possibilities the donation brought for the school. “As we continue...
Retired Lower Burrell electrician sparks interest in lamp figurines via Penn Hills marketplace
When Willard “Bill” Booth decided to retire after being an electrician for 38 years, he decided to use his skills to pursue a fun hobby. The 60-year-old started making industrial-styled pipe lamps out of repurposed electrical parts and miscellaneous objects. His specialized hobby has produced figurines of baseball players, musicians,...
Allegheny Valley School District hires new musical director
The show will go on at Allegheny Valley School District with a new musical director for the upcoming season. The school board unanimously voted to hire Anthony Martello. “He was chosen for his willingness to work for our students, his understanding of theater and the ability to share that knowledge...
Allegheny County Conservation District to inspect Cheswick site where 2 excavators are buried under water, mud
The Allegheny County Conservation District investigated the Cheswick site Tuesday where two excavators are submerged up to their cabs in mud and water along the Allegheny River. Spokesperson Lauren Fraley said the Department of Environmental Protection found a contractor for the Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority was working at the...
Leechburg students present projects on influential figures for Black History Month
To highlight the impact Black people have had in society, Leechburg High School students in Honors American History 2 gave Black History Month presentations Thursday morning. “We wanted to do something that was taught beyond the textbook to recognize individuals who have greatly shaped our history,” social studies teacher Scott...
The Colab in Monroeville Mall aims to elevate, feature Black entrepreneurs, small businesses
A Facebook post brought two Penn Hills entrepreneurs together to open a store in the Monroeville Mall that will help fellow entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. Donald Davis sent out a message in a Facebook group asking if anyone did pop-up shops. The 30-year-old received many responses before reaching out to...
Many Alle-Kiski residents experience delay in receiving free at-home covid tests
Almost a month since the Biden administration launched a website for every American household to request free covid-19 tests, many across the nation are still waiting for theirs to arrive. An informal survey of some Alle-Kiski residents showed the patchwork results. Announced on Jan. 18, the website covidtests.gov lets people...
Birtwell officially named Sewickley Academy head of school
A familiar face will be permanently serving as Sewickley Academy’s head of school. The Board of Trustees unanimously voted Feb. 15 to appoint Ashley Birtwell to lead the private school. Birtwell is the first woman to be in the top leadership role in the school’s history. She has been interim...
McRandal Fluid Power, a maker of industrial hoses in East Deer, recognized as national sales leader
Along Freeport Road in East Deer’s Creighton section, there’s a building nestled behind the train tracks that might not draw much attention from passersby: McRandal Fluid Power. “Custom Made Hydraulic Hoses” is what they offer. Few people appreciate the necessary role of the equipment in the machinery of the modern...
Building the Valley: Couple opens Portage Inn at site of former Jim’s Pub 66 in Gilpin
A Gilpin couple is making its way through the food industry by opening a second restaurant in the Alle-Kiski Valley area, the Portage Inn. Jeremy and Ashley Smail have taken over the space of Jim’s Pub 66 in Gilpin along Route 66, closing on the deal in January. In six...
Police: Rollover crash in Pittsburgh’s Perry South possibly connected to carjacking
Pittsburgh police said a rollover crash reported early Friday morning in the city’s Perry South neighborhood might have a connection to an earlier carjacking in Mount Oliver, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV reported. Police said the crash was reported at 4:30 a.m. along Perrysville Avenue. At the scene, police said they...
2 people shot, 3 detained following shooting in Pittsburgh neighborhoods
Pittsburgh police have detained three people following a double shooting in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights and Perry North neighborhoods Thursday night, Public Safety Spokesperson Maurice Matthews said. Matthews said police responded to multiple Shotspotter alerts along Woods Run Avenue in Brighton Heights around 10:40 p.m. Zone 1 officers observed evidence of...
Penn Hills Garden Center merges with Steel Goat Marketplace and Gifts
Penn Hills Lawn and Garden recently transitioned to Gardening With Jayme, and is now a vendor at its neighbor business, Steel Goat Marketplace and Gifts. Penn Hills Lawn and Garden has been around since 1984 on the first floor of the building at the intersection of Rodi and Jefferson roads,...
Pitt police say woman robbed, assaulted near Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh police are searching for a man they said robbed and assaulted a woman before running off Thursday morning. Police said the incident occurred at 12:34 a.m. on the 4000 block of Fifth Avenue in Oakland. The woman told officers an unknown man walked up to...
Lingrow Farm, popular wedding venue in Gilpin, under new ownership in $1.9 million deal
Lingrow Farm, a wedding venue in Gilpin, is under new ownership following a deal closed in late January. Tyler and Leah Frey, a married couple from Imperial, will now be overseeing weddings at the 50-acre site on Forks Church Road. They purchased the business and property from Linda Alworth, the...
Penn Hills used car dealership scammed customers, AG Josh Shapiro says
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday he is taking legal action against two Pennsylvania car dealerships, including one in Penn Hills, that he said violated consumer protections laws. Shapiro said the Penn Hills dealership, Martino Motors at 536 Rodi Road, has been selling cars that are not “roadworthy.” Within...
Truck overturns on Parkway West
An overturned truck on the Parkway West caused heavy traffic delays for commuters Wednesday morning. The incident happened on the outbound lanes of Interstate 376 around the middle of Green Tree Hill, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV. OVERTURNED PICK-UP TRUCK being hooked up to a flatbed tow truck on...
Police say man took bus after robbing Downtown Pittsburgh bank
A man is in custody after police say he robbed Downtown Pittsburgh bank Tuesday morning and used a bus as his getaway vehicle, Public Safety Spokesperson Amanda Mueller said. Mueller said police responded to a reported robbery on the 300 block of Fourth Avenue at 9:16 a.m. The suspect said...
Springdale Police investigating cause of head-on vehicle collision Sunday
No major injuries occurred following a two-vehicle head-on collision Sunday afternoon in Springdale, Springdale Police Captain Derek Dayoub said. Dayoub said the accident occurred on the 500 block of Pittsburgh Street. Police were notified of the crash at 12:44 p.m., he said. Police said one male was taken to the...
