Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 108
Fox Chapel Area School Board holding special meeting to vote on tentative budget
Fox Chapel Area School Board will have a special meeting to vote on the district’s tentative $102 million budget which calls for a 1.5% property tax increase. The remote session will be at 6 p.m. June 29, using Zoom. Anyone who wants to comment during the meeting can access it...
Recreational facilities reopening in O’Hara, Aspinwall
Parks are slowly reopening in the Lower Valley, with O’Hara announcing Friday that all facilities — including playgrounds — are welcoming visitors. Basketball courts, the sand volleyball court at Squaw Valley Park and flex courts are all open in O’Hara, though township officials are still not renting pavilions. In Aspinwall,...
Police: Woman in critical condition after McKeesport shooting
A woman was in critical condition after being shot several times late Sunday in McKeesport, Allegheny County police said. Homicide detectives are investigating the incident which happened just before 10:40 p.m. in the 700 block of Evans Avenue. Emergency crews found the 41-year-old victim suffering gunshot wounds to the back,...
Despite delays, Chase Bank in O’Hara expected to open this year
Construction on a new Chase Bank in O’Hara is moving forward, with an opening expected late this year, bank officials said. Work at the site along Fox Chapel Road was temporarily stalled during a state-mandated shutdown for coronavirus concerns, but resumed in May. “The branch is slated for a Q4...
O’Hara still mulling timeline for fully reopening parks, playgrounds
O’Hara leaders expect to know by Friday if township playgrounds can reopen after an extended coronavirus-related shutdown. Township Manager Julie Jakubec said she expects to make an announcement after council weighs information from Allegheny County. “Council is continuing to monitor the covid-19 daily statistics from the county health department,” she...
Shaler teen selected as Traveling Tutus ambassador
Shaler Area sophomore Hannah Stelitano has been dancing since she learned to walk. The 15-year-old, a member of Ideal Dance in Etna and the Shaler Area Dance Team, trains in ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary and tap (her favorite.) Hannah also uses her moves to put good into the world....
Etna curb and sidewalk repair work beginning
Curb and sidewalk repairs in Etna were scheduled to begin today and last for several months. Work will target Butler Street where traffic will be limited to single lanes at the Freeport Street and High Street intersections. This week, the project bill begin near Elm Street. Crews from Costa Contracting...
Virtual activities hosted by Cooper-Siegel, Sharpsburg Community libraries
The following programs are hosted virtually by Cooper-Siegel and Sharpsburg Community libraries. For a Zoom link or other information, call 412-828-9520 or 412-781-0783 or visit coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org. • Let’s Talk Photos and Memories, 7 to 8 p.m. June 16. Have a few photos on hand to share on camera and chat...
Blessed Trinity Academy student wins full ride to Space Camp
It’s not the moon, but a trip to Huntsville, Ala., will be nearly as cool for Blessed Trinity Academy eighth-grader Michael Bridgeman. The 14-year-old won a full-tuition scholarship to Space Camp in Huntsville, home to the second largest research park in America. Bridgeman, a science enthusiast, will take part in...
Peaceful anti-racism rally draws about 500 people to O’Hara park
The Fox Chapel Area School District needs to equip students for a post-George Floyd world, one that is evolving and answering cries for change, recent district graduate William Generett III told a crowd of protesters on Thursday night. “It’s not OK to talk about Martin Luther King Jr. and call...
Black Lives Matter rally to take place at Squaw Valley Park on Thursday
A community rally to support the Black Lives Matter message will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at Squaw Valley Park in O’Hara. Leaders said this is planned as a peaceful, family-friendly event with songs and speakers that will focus on social justice. Fox Chapel Area graduate and immediate past president...
Shady Side Academy hosting Zoom sessions to discuss any inequities on campus
Shady Side Academy president Bart Griffith told his school community this week that it’s time to move past talking about social injustices and focus on action. The Black Lives Matter message that has spurred protests across the region in recent weeks has students, alumni and parents challenging the school to...
O’Hara begins phased plan to reopen parks
O’Hara has begun a phased reopening of its parks with baseball fields and other low-volume areas first to welcome back visitors. Though walking was permitted on township trails the last few months, council shut down parks and fields to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Township manager Julie Jakubec said...
Lauri Ann West Community Center reopens with new guidelines
Lauri Ann West Community Center opened its doors Monday to visitors eager to return to a “sense of normalcy,” leaders said. New hours for the facility along Powers Run Road in O’Hara will be 6 to 8 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3...
Sharpsburg police station reopens to public
Sharpsburg police station reopened Monday to walk-ins, after nearly three months closed for coronavirus-related concerns. Mayor Matt Rudzki said reopening the station along Main Street coincides with Allegheny County moving into the green phase on June 5 and is part of the borough’s overall steps to reopening. Parking meter enforcement...
Franklin Park, Economy bridge replacement project to begin
A bridge replacement project along Big Sewickley Creek Road is scheduled to begin Tuesday, PennDOT officials said. Motorists who travel the stretch through Franklin Park and Economy should allow extra time. Work begins at 7 a.m. on the $2.38 million project and will limit the road to single-lane alternating traffic....
Etna’s pool will not open this summer
The Etna pool will remain shuttered this summer, a decision that borough leaders said was difficult but necessary in light of coronavirus-related restrictions. Council voted not to open this year after weighing the social distancing guidelines and also taking into consideration repairs that need to be done. “The decision was...
Fox Chapel in brief for the week of June 5
Fiction Writing Contest winners Cooper-Siegel Community Library has announced the winners of the Stay-at-Home Fiction Writing Contest through which dozens of amateur writers submitted original works of short fiction. Themes focused on local Fox Chapel Area lore, ghost stories and tall tales. The winners are: - Youth First Prize ($350):...
Shady Side Academy student news for the week of June 4
Students in the Shady Side Academy Senior School Service Learning Club designed and sold T-shirts with SSA’s distance learning motto, “Together Apart,” on them as a covid-19 fundraiser. The initial proceeds totaled nearly $1,700 and went to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The club sold 170 shirts and money...
Fox Chapel Area School District invites community to participate in commencement celebration
Fox Chapel Area graduates will be lauded Sunday with a Community-wide Hat Toss to culminate the Class of 2020 commencement. A high school graduation ceremony will be livestreamed on the Swift Fox Media YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/c/SwiftFoxMedia, beginning at 7 p.m. Afterward, special guest Bill Hillgrove, the play-by-play announcer for...
Shaler the latest community to cancel July 4 celebration
For the first time in more than four decades, Shaler will not host its July 4th Community Day celebration. The decision was made with an eye toward safety, as commissioners are concerned that the size of the crowd would exceed CDC guidelines for events, manager Tim Rogers said. A post...
Shady Side Academy students win Emmy award
Eight Shady Side Academy students can call themselves Emmy winners after the school’s WSSA-TV Film Club earned a trophy in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) 2020 Mid-Atlantic High School Production competition. The Student Emmy was awarded for a short-form video, “Grateful for Our Teachers,” which features...
State Rep. Tony DeLuca up big in primary rematch against Erin Vecchio
Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio appeared to come up short in her bid to oust longtime state Rep. Tony DeLuca, according to unofficial election returns. It was the second attempt by Vecchio, 61, to toss DeLuca, 83, from the office he’s held nearly four decades. He defeated her...
Rob Mercuri in line for GOP nod to seek House Speaker Mike Turzai’s seat
A Republican from Pine held a wide lead late Tuesday in a three-way race for the GOP nomination to seek the seat of retiring House Speaker Mike Turzai, according to unofficial election returns. As of around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Rob Mercuri had collected 60% of the votes counted in the...
Bridgeville businessman Devlin Robinson leads Sewickley councilman in state Senate race
Bridgeville businessman and military veteran Devlin Robinson held a commanding lead late Tuesday in a Republican primary race for state Senate, according to unofficial tallies. As of 6 a.m., Robinson had collected 58.1% of the votes counted in the 37th State Senate District race, compared to 41.9% for his opponent,...
