Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 122
Dozens of motorcycle riders come out for Blessing of the Bikes in LeechburgVideo
One by one, motorcycles roared into the parking lot at Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company on Sunday, despite the gray skies and drizzling rain. “I was happily surprised to see a good turnout,” said Raymond Zekier, co-coordinator of the annual Blessing of the Bikes hosted by Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church....
Belle Voci women’s choir steps up to help Race for the Cure
Music lovers who attend Belle Voci of Pittsburgh’s final season concert Saturday might feel like they’re on a whirlwind tour of Europe, Asia and Africa — all while never traveling farther than New Kensington. Belle Voci, the inter-generational women’s choir led by O’Hara resident Craig Cannon, will perform “Musica Folk...
Motorcycle crash closes portion of Ferguson Road in Hampton
A portion of Ferguson Road in Hampton is closed after a motorcycle crash that happened just before 7 p.m. Allegheny County dispatchers confirmed that fire, police and EMS have responded to the scene in the 2100 block of Ferguson Road. The condition of the motorcyclist was not yet available. Hampton:...
Photos: Fox Chapel Area prom
Fox Chapel Area students celebrated their prom on May 4, 2019 and this year’s fashions didn’t disappoint. Prior to the event, hosted at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, students and their dates struck poses at many of the picturesque locations across the Lower Valley. Perennial favorites for photos include Squaw...
Robotics team captures top honor at FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship
A team of nine local high school students, including some from North Allegheny and Sewickley Academy, captured the Inspire Award at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championship on April 27 in Detroit, Michigan. The Inspire Award is the equivalent of the Oscar for high school robotics, said Marcel Bergerman,...
5 running unopposed for Fox Chapel and O’Hara councils
Fox Chapel and O’Hara voters won’t have a contested council race in either community during this month’s primary election, according to the Allegheny County Elections Bureau. In O’Hara, there are two Republican candidates vying for two open seats. The terms each run four years and represent the township at-large. •...
Fox Chapel area Girl Scouts host bike safety check to earn Bronze Award
Members of Fox Chapel Area Girl Scout Troop 52751 earned one of the highest honors doled out by the organization, the Bronze Award, after hosting a bike rodeo on April 27 for other children. The troop includes Olivia Ferguson, Adele Grady, Nadia Grady, Lexi King, Emily Korczynski, Julie Patterson, Elyse...
Gardenfest showcases native plants at annual O’Hara event
Gardenfest, the popular showcase of fresh blooms and quality seedlings, returns to O’Hara on May 11. The event will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lauri Ann West Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road. “There’s no better way to celebrate spring,” Jamie Rhoades, director of development, said. Gardenfest is...
4 candidates vying for 3 Sharpsburg council seats
Sharpsburg voters will see four Democratic candidates vying for their party’s nomination in the May 21 primary election. There are no Republicans on the ballot. Four residents are competing for three, four-year seats on council, according to the Allegheny County Elections Bureau. Barring a strong write-in campaign, the winners of...
Dorseyville Middle School musicians win top honors at Ohio festival
Dorseyville Middle School musicians came away from a weekend festival in Ohio with some top honors. Seventh-grader Mia Costello won the Outstanding Instrumental Soloist Award at the Music in the Parks Festival held April 26-27 at King’s Island, near Cincinnati. The teen violinist was selected from among the eight middle...
West Community Center fitness room closing for equipment upgrades
The fitness center at Lauri Ann West Community Center in O’Hara will close tonight for equipment upgrades. The closure, which is expected to last three days, also effects the indoor track. The fitness center is a paid gym inside the community center at 1220 Powers Run Road. It is expected...
Fox Chapel Area students take top spot at Allegheny County Envirothon
Fox Chapel Area High School students will compete in a statewide environmental competition after claiming first place at the local level. District students won first and third places at an April 26 Allegheny County event, Envirothon, hosted at Boyce Park. The winning team includes junior Sina Shaik and seniors Megan...
Photo Gallery: ‘Fox Chapel’s Got Talent’
Fox Chapel Area High School students Luis Fernandez and Grace Stasolla took home a victory by performing “Story of My Life” during the district’s annual talent show. They were up against peers who sang, recited poetry and performed magic during “Fox Chapel’s Got Talent” on April 25. Fernandez and Stasolla...
Fox Chapel Area’s Breen earns full-ride college scholarship
Fox Chapel Area Lead Principal Michael Hower described senior Justin Breen as charismatic and hard-working. It doesn’t seem to have been a stretch. Breen, 18, earned a full-ride scholarship to attend Texas A&M University in the fall. “I’m very thankful to have earned this great honor that will change my...
California-based company invests up to $16 million to launch O’Hara marijuana facility
A California-based real estate company focused on the cannabis industry has acquired property in O’Hara’s RIDC Park to help launch a licensed medical-use marijuana growing and processing facility. Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIP) paid $6.3 million for the industrial space at 575 Epsilon Drive. The company has an agreement with...
Video: The Herald’s top stories of the weekVideo
Here are some of the news highlights from around the Lower Valley for the week of April 22: • Sharpsburg’s walking tour showcases the best of the borough. • Shady Side Academy granted $5.2 million to create scholarship fund. • Blawnox invites residents to help grow community garden. • Fox...
$2.4 million sculpture garden to be planted at Hartwood Acres
About $2.4 million worth of once-weathered art will be installed at Hartwood Acres to create a new sculpture garden, Allegheny County officials announced this week. The outdoor exhibition space will include 12 pieces of art acquired by county parks nearly 40 years ago, and will also feature one new piece....
Shady Side Academy lacrosse hosts ‘Face-Off Against Suicide’
Shady Side Academy boys’ lacrosse captain Ronan O’Connor lost his older brother to suicide in 2013 and is working to prevent others from feeling his family’s pain. He’s spearheaded an all-day fundraiser on May 4 called The Face-Off Against Suicide. It will bring a full-day of Shady Side Academy boys’...
Fox Chapel Area teacher inducted into Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame
Kerr Elementary teacher Carrie Ferguson hopes to use her induction in the Pitt-Johnstown Athletics Hall of Fame as platform to motivate her students. The basketball standout said the achievement should serve to motivate youngsters to maintain a balance between athletics and academics. “It brings great pride as it serves as...
3 running uncontested for Blawnox council
Blawnox voters won’t see a contested race for council in the May primary, according to the Allegheny County Elections Bureau. There are three candidates, all Democrats, vying for three open seats. Each term runs four years. The primary election is May 21. Candidates for council include: • John Simmons, of...
Herb Society hosts May plant sale at Beechwood Farms
Herb enthusiasts, or “herbies,” should mark their calendars for the annual plant sale at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve. The event is a week earlier than usual this year. Hosted by the Western PA Unit of the Herb Society of America, it will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 11...
Shady Side Academy to present student-driven ‘Original Works’
Shady Side Academy senior Koji Shimada is feeling opening-night jitters prior to the Senior School’s Original Works Theatre Festival, despite having performed countless times on stage. The festival will be Shimada’s premiere as a writer, director and actor in his own musical, and the teen is feeling the pressure, he...
Blawnox residents invited to help grow community garden
A community garden is coming to Blawnox, at long last. The initiative by I Heart Blawnox has been in the works at least four years, with volunteers from the religious outreach searching for a proper venue. They’ve joined with borough council to bring a garden to the Blawnox Community Park...
Shady Side Academy granted $5.2M to create scholarship fund
A $5.2 million donation to Shady Side Academy will create a scholarship fund that annually pays for seven students to attend the Fox Chapel-based Middle School and Senior School campuses. It is the second-largest gift in the Academy’s 136-year history, officials announced Wednesday. The donation was made in honor of...
Photo Gallery: Earth Day cleanup at Beechwood Farms
More than 30 volunteers turned out to Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel for an Earth Day cleanup on April 20. Volunteers of all ages helped to remove invasive species from the 5 miles of trails at the 134-acre sanctuary. They also planted native varieties, spread aster and wildflower...
