Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 10
Chris Bason ready to soar with new role at Audubon Society, headquartered in Fox Chapel
After two decades targeting the environmental health of Delaware’s three inland bays, Chris Bason is pivoting his focus to land and birds. Bason is the new executive director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, headquartered at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel. He began the role Sept. 2,...
Faces of the Valley: Tarentum’s Bob Sims, 95, earns title as longest-serving firefighter in the borough
Friends of Bob Sims call him “the War Horse.” To his family, the 95-year-old born and raised in Tarentum is “Pappy.” Last week, Sims earned a new title — the longest-serving firefighter in the Tarentum Volunteer Fire Department, which consists of Highland Hose, Eureka Fire-Rescue and Summit Hose. Sims has...
Justin Johnson appointed to fill Harrison commissioner vacancy
The newest Harrison commissioner said he plans to focus on township revitalization. Justin Johnson, 45, was appointed by the vacancy board to fill a 1st Ward position. He takes the place of Chuck Dizard, who stepped down in July. Johnson was chosen by the township vacancy board after the commissioners...
Highlands, Deer Lakes lauded for healthy student initiatives
It’s not unusual for students at Highlands Early Childhood Center to munch on beets, peppers or squash alongside their chicken fingers at lunchtime. The Harvest of the Month samplings are part of an effort by school leaders to provide access to nutritious foods and support a healthy lifestyle for the...
$6.2M expansion at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison creates AHN rehab hub
A $6.2 million expansion at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison will boost inpatient rehabilitation space by 70% and establish it as a rehab hub for parent company Allegheny Health Network. Space for patients recovering from injuries, surgery and serious illness will increase from 17 to 29 beds. Hospital President Dr....
Harvest Fair blessed by ‘spirit and support’ of volunteer George McDermott
In his role as a volunteer for the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Harvest Fair, George McDermott never stops. The Fox Chapel Area alum and Duquesne University junior has lent his time for three years to ready donations for the church’s annual fundraiser. “We are so busy,” volunteer coordinator Fay Powell...
After deadlock, Harrison to meet Thursday to vote on new commissioner
The vote to fill Harrison’s open commissioner seat will likely come down to one vote, that of vacancy board member George Conroy. Commissioners on Aug. 25 deadlocked in a vote between nominees Alan Fisher of Union Avenue and Justin Johnson of Carlisle Street. Now, the vacancy board — comprising the...
Author Barbara Burstin details legacy of the late Sophie Masloff, Pittsburgh’s 1st female, 1st Jewish mayor
The late Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff was a “character who had character.” That’s according to Barbara Burstin, an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh and author of “Sophie: The Incomparable Mayor Masloff.” The book was released in 2019 through Word Association Publishers in Tarentum. Burstin will detail Masloff’s improbable...
Care Mobile offers free exams, shots for Highlands students
Highlands students can get immunizations, sports physicals and other exams during a visit from the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile on Sept. 19. The Care Mobile offers all district students limited medical care with no out-of-pocket costs. Appointments will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the district community...
Sharpsburg ministry puts new spin on addiction recovery in effort to heal ‘whole person’
Yoga, finance classes and spiritual mentoring are part of an expanded roster of offerings meant to heal “the whole person” at the Addiction Recovery Ministry in Sharpsburg. “We realize that addiction is physical, mental and spiritual,” said Rosemarie Haas, director of the agency along Ninth Street. “We’re trying to help...
Harmar boat fire victim released from hospital, incident still under investigation
The person hospitalized after a boat fire in Harmar on Monday was treated and released, authorities said. No other updates on the person were available, according to Harmar police. Others on the boat, which caught fire about 3 p.m. below Lock 3, were not reported injured. The incident happened between...
Allegheny County Fire Marshal still investigating Brackenridge fire
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal continues to investigate a fire that engulfed the upper floors of a Brackenridge home on Saturday. No injuries were reported in the blaze, which broke out about 11:30 p.m. at 1080 McIntire Way, said Kasey Reigner, public information officer for the Allegheny County Department of...
Tour to highlight local ties to Civil War with stops at Burtner House, Penn Salt, other sites
Civil War buff Ruth McCartan believes some of the best history lessons lie close to home. “You don’t have to go to a battlefield to learn,” the McCandless resident said. McCartan will host a tour Sept. 13 of prominent Alle-Kiski Valley locations with significant ties to the Civil War, which...
From diagnosis to dumbbells: How weightlifting is helping cancer patients
Breast cancer couldn’t stop Dianne Miller from becoming the strongest she has ever been. In fact, the devastating disease is what drove her to pump some iron. After a lumpectomy for Stage 1 cancer in 2023, the 68-year-old from Ligonier didn’t require chemotherapy but opted into a weightlifting study offered...
Tarentum rail crossing to close for 2 days
Work by Norfolk Southern will close a Tarentum rail crossing for two days next week. Paving and repairs will be made to the crossing at Center Street, which turns into W. Fourth Avenue near the tracks. A member of the Norfolk Southern media relations team said work will begin Thursday...
Coat collection helps Highlands students be winter-ready
Highlands School District is collecting coats to help keep students warm this winter. The sixth annual Winter Ready Rams program kicked off this week and will run through Oct. 24. New or gently used warm clothes can be donated at home football games or at one of four locations: 200...
A food desert no more: Second Tarentum grocery store opens
Three months ago, Tarentum was considered a food desert. Now, the borough has a second grocery store along East Sixth Avenue, just three blocks from another that opened in May. MacKay’s Market, owned by Harrison resident Linda Gromley, will celebrate a soft launch from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday,...
Section of Burtner Road in Fawn to close for 3 weeks
A portion of Burtner Road in Fawn is scheduled to close for about three weeks. Work is expected to start Sept. 8 on the stretch of road roughly between Pittsburgh Paws Pet Resort and the Route 28 on-ramp. “Our crews will be installing a jumbo block wall and conducting shoulder...
Fox Chapel author details ‘The Rebirth and Rise of Duquesne University Football’
It was 1969 when a group of college-aged boys gathered in St. Martin’s Hall at Duquesne University to ignite a grassroots effort to return football to the Bluff. Fox Chapel resident Sam Costanzo helped draw up the game plan – and said it was sheer industriousness and passion that led...
Jersey Mike’s eyes Harrison spot
A sub above the rest is coming to Harrison. Jersey Mike’s has submitted a building permit application to fill a vacancy at Highlands Mall on Freeport Road, township officials said. “The space is the former Game Stop,” Township Manager Amy Rockwell said. The application is under review, she said. The...
Sweet revival: Iconic Clark Candies gets a refresh in Tarentum
Brett Luedde says he’s in the business of happiness. The Highland Park native and his wife, Tera, have taken the reins at Clark Candies, a Tarentum institution churning out chocolates since 1937. The East First Avenue factory was founded by Tera’s grandfather and great- uncles, and run for many years by...
Harrison seeking $1.4 million for sewer upgrades, township projects
Harrison Commissioners are seeking $1.4 million in funding through Allegheny County for sewer upgrades and other township projects. The board approved four grant applications. They include: • About $330,000 for the Oak Manor sanitary sewer realignment. • About $314,400 for the Olive Avenue storm sewer upgrade. • About $499, 700...
Apollo-Ridge student dies after falling in Kiski River Saturday; community rallying to help family
Colton Bureau, the 14-year-old Apollo-Ridge High School student who fell into the Kiski River on Saturday, died Monday morning at UPMC Children’s Hospital, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Monday evening. Colton suffered an unspecified medical emergency before falling into the river. First responders were called about 2:45 p.m....
Wealth management firm breathes life into prominent Aspinwall building
Fox Chapel financial adviser Mike Dukovich is breathing life into a longtime Aspinwall office building, opening a branch of YTS Wealth Management in the former Bradford building that sits prominently at the town’s entrance. A leading independent wealth management firm, YTS opened at 133 Freeport Road. “The partnership bought the...
Highlands exposes students to real-life careers at mock town, ‘Ramsville’
Highlands Elementary School students no longer have to wonder what it’s like to be a police officer, barista or a veterinarian. They’ll get exposure to plenty of real-life careers with hands-on lessons through a mini town called “Ramsville,” which was constructed over the summer at the East Ninth Avenue school....
