Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 105
Officials seeking teen resident to represent Aspinwall as junior council person
Aspinwall officials are seeking a teenage resident with an interest in local government to serve as council’s next junior member. Offered through the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the program provides high school students the chance to get a first-hand glimpse into the daily workings of their municipality. The Junior...
A look back at the happenings of the week of Aug. 9 in the Herald areaVideo
Here are some of the top stories from the Lower Valley this week: - O’Hara’s Squaw Valley Park renamed. Council voted 6-1 to rename the site O’Hara Township Community Park, bringing a swift resolution to a two-month heated debate over removing the word Squaw, which is a slur against Native...
A dozen goats will scarf up vegetation along Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve trail
A dozen goats, herded by a donkey named Diamond, will scarf up vegetation along a trail at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel for the next few weeks. The temporary visitors are tasked with the important job of eating invasive plants near an ADA-compliant trail at the campus along...
News briefs: Pop-up clothing sale on tap at Sharpsburg thrift store
The nonprofit Second Harvest Community Thrift Store will host a pop-up clothing sale on Aug. 15 in Sharpsburg to help families with back-to-school shopping by offering low prices on essentials such as shoes, jeans and tops. The event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot at...
Barry Henck takes over as new pastor at Roots of Faith church in Sharpsburg
When Barry Henck landed in Pittsburgh four years ago this winter, he attended a small Bible study at Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg and unknowingly found his calling. “It was freezing cold and I’m standing in a packed room listening to Bible study and loving it,” said Henck, a native...
Shaler Area School District offers virtual workshop to help students navigate new routines
Shaler Area School District families can participate in a virtual conference to help navigate the unique back-to-school experience brought on by the coronavirus. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the remote workshop will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 19. “Together at Home: Back2School” aims to help...
O’Hara Council meeting Zoom bombed before residents continue park-renaming argument
People who tuned into O’Hara Council’s Zoom meeting Tuesday night got an earful that wasn’t about township parks or sewers. Council was the victim of at least two Zoom bombers who unloaded a barrage of vulgarities throughout the first 20 minutes of the remote meeting. The pranksters were able to...
Aspinwall eyes improvements to reduce stormwater overflow to section of Alley A
Aspinwall is eyeing improvements to a section of Alley A that are expected to help reduce stormwater overflow. The cost of the project is $268,660. Work will target a section of Alley A from Center to Western avenues and is expected to be started in the near future, according to...
Fox Chapel Area students in all grades can decide between hybrid model or online learning
Fox Chapel Area students at all grade levels will have the option of returning to class two days a week or learning entirely online. The school board on Monday night approved the district’s return-to-school plan with a vote of 6-3. Board members Amy Cooper, Edie Cook and Dharmesh Vyas opposed,...
Foxwall EMS Chief Josh Worth leaves to take job in West Virginia
From a new bike crew to increased assistance for opioid users, Foxwall’s Josh Worth worked to build stronger relationships with Lower Valley residents during his three years as chief. Worth announced last week that he was leaving the Fox Chapel-based group for an out-of-state job. His last day was Aug....
The Herald student news for Aug. 8
Shady Side Academy rising junior Karen Linares Mendoza has been named as a student member of the board of the Beckwith Institute, a health care group dedicated to improving patient care. Mendoza will serve a two-year term and joins rising senior Nora Navid on the board for 2020-21. Each year,...
Shaler Area School District opts to delay start of school, begin with remote learning
Shaler Area students will start the school year late and when they do, it will be with a 100% virtual learning plan. The school board on Aug. 6 delayed the start of the 2020-21 school year to Sept. 8 and also approved a remote learning model for all students for...
News briefs: Free school supplies for students available in Sharpsburg
Youth Empowerment Project of Sharpsburg, along with Sharpsburg Family Worship Center, will distribute free school supplies for students. The event will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 15 at 600 Clay St., Sharpsburg. Visit sfwc.org to register for a time slot or call 412-799-0701. —- There will be a single-lane...
No browsing but pair of community libraries to open for computer, printer use
You can’t browse the shelves yet but Cooper-Siegel Community Library and its affiliated Sharpsburg Community Library will open Monday for patrons to use computers, fax services and printers. Use is by appointment only. Jill McConnell, executive director of the libraries, said she is thrilled to be able to offer the...
O’Hara, Etna residents can take advantage of county program to fight blight
O’Hara and Etna residents can take advantage of an Allegheny County program to fight blight and at the same time expand their property at a discounted price. The 2020 Side Yard and Blighted Structure Program runs for a limited time through Sept. 30. It assists residents who want to buy...
O’Hara resident’s upcoming book delves into history, science, Greek mythology
Oncology nurse-turned-author Danielle Ancona will take readers on an ethereal journey through history, science and Greek mythology in her upcoming release, “By Immortal Honor Bound.” It is the first book in the O’Hara resident’s “Of Alchemy & Angels” series and is due out Nov. 4. “My hope is this book...
O’Hara Council: Squaw Valley Park is now O’Hara Township Community Park
People watching the O’Hara Council meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday night erupted in cheers and applause following a vote to rename Squaw Valley Park. Council voted 6-1 to rename the site O’Hara Township Community Park, bringing a swift resolution to a two-month heated debate over removing the word Squaw...
Millvale police searching for man accused of beating cousin with baseball bat
Millvale police are searching for a man who they say beat his cousin within inches of his life during an afternoon fight on Aug. 1. Julio Jenaro, a borough resident, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and two counts of reckless endangerment after being accused of beating...
Fox Chapel Area School Board to vote Aug. 10 on back-to-school plan with options
Fox Chapel Area School Board will vote Aug. 10 on its back-to-school plan, with the outside chance that elementary students would return to classes full-time. Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac made a lengthy presentation during a special board meeting Monday, saying that plans currently include hybrid and online options for families...
O’Hara Council: Squaw Valley Park is now O’Hara Township Community Park
People watching the O’Hara Council meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday night erupted in cheers and applause following a vote to rename Squaw Valley Park. Council voted 6-1 to rename the site O’Hara Township Community Park, bringing a swift resolution to a two-month heated debate over removing the word Squaw...
Municipal officers will still have a role in Fox Chapel Area School District plans
Fox Chapel Area officials and local governments are sorting out responsibilities for district police coverage now that budget reductions have eliminated municipal officers from working in district buildings in 2020-21. Municipal officers still will have a role during high school sports and other activities, officials said. O’Hara Officer Ben Wolfson...
Foxwall EMS recognized with Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award
New cardiac monitors and increased training standards have coupled to earn Foxwall EMS top accolades from the American Heart Association. The Fox Chapel-based emergency service was awarded the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold Plus Award, which recognizes programs for efforts in treating people who suffer heart attacks. Deputy Chief Tony Cuda...
Fox Chapel Area School Board to vote on back-to-school plan at Aug. 3 special meeting
Fox Chapel Area students will likely have the option to return to class online or through a hybrid model, with in-school learning two days a week. District officials will outline details of the back-to-school plan during a special meeting at 7 p.m. tonight on Zoom. Information on joining the meeting...
Motorcyclist killed in early morning crash in Beechview
One person was killed Thursday in a motorcycle crash in Beechview, authorities said. Police responded at about 6:40 a.m. along Crane Avenue, near Brashear High School. No other vehicles were involved. Crane Avenue is shut down at Route 51. BREAKING: Motorcyclist killed in earlier crash on Crane Ave, near Brashear...
Fox Chapel committee to examine removing word ‘Squaw’ from street, trail names
A new committee in Fox Chapel will examine the impacts of the word “Squaw” and its use in borough street and trail names. The issue has become hotly debated in recent months, with several residents requesting local governments to replace the word, saying it is a slur against Native American...
