Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 135
Big Burrito reveals new concept for Fox Chapel Plaza eatery
Foodies rejoice — the newest concept from the big Burrito Restaurant Group is on track to open in Fox Chapel Plaza this spring. President Chef Bill Fuller announced that Alta Via is expected to open in March, bringing modern Italian cuisine to the spot formerly occupied by Donato’s along Fox...
Shady Side Academy’s Riya Agrawal honored by Rotary for ‘Service Above Self’
Shady Side Academy senior Riya Agrawal was honored by the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh for service to her school and community. Selected as the Rotary Student of Distinction for January 2019, Agrawal volunteers at UPMC Children’s Hospital, as well as at camps for children with special needs. She also leads...
Walnut Grill offers free meals to furloughed federal employees
As the government shutdown trudges toward its sixth week, furloughed and unpaid federal employees can enjoy a free meal thanks to local restaurant chain Walnut Grill. Employees – and their spouses and children – can choose from a menu of salads, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas. The meal also includes a...
Shady Side Academy students honor Martin Luther King with day of service
Bitterly cold temperatures didn’t keep nearly 175 Shady Side Academy students from contributing time to community projects for the Martin Luther King Day of Service on Jan. 21. Despite weather in the single digits and a wind chill advisory, students and staff engaged in hands-on projects for the school’s ninth...
Shady Side Academy performance will benefit Tree of Life families
Families affected by the Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy will benefit from a performance by the SHARP Dance Company at Shady Side Academy. The Philadelphia-based modern dance troupe will present “Spreading Love, Conquering Hate,” at 8 p.m. Feb. 16. Shady Side Academy has donated the use of the Hillman Center...
Photo Gallery: Snow adventures in Aspinwall
The first snowfall of the year along with frigid temperatures had local residents cleaning sidewalks and enjoying outdoor activities over the weekend of Jan. 20, 2019. Jan Pakler is a contributing writer....
Caddy Stacks mini-golf fundraiser sets up at Shaler Library
Get ready to tee off at the seventh annual Caddy Stacks mini-golf fundraiser for the Shaler North Hills Library. The popular event invites participants to play an 18-hole miniature golf course between the library stacks. Community members handcrafted specially themed holes that include Pittsburgh sports teams, fiction books and robots....
Sharpsburg/Aspinwall Rotary treats students to ‘throw-back’ dictionaries
Third-graders throughout the Lower Valley are learning to access knowledge at their fingertips — not through Google, but the old-fashioned way. Sharpsburg/Aspinwall Rotary members for the 12th consecutive year distributed dictionaries to students as a reminder that the ability to use books and reference materials is vital. “Even though computers...
Rigorous state standards force change in Dorseyville Middle School schedules
Rising eighth graders at Fox Chapel Area School District will be able this spring to build schedules by choosing electives like foreign languages, art and band. The input comes as restructured class schedules at Dorseyville Middle School move forward, focusing increased class time on core classes. The changes came about...
Aspinwall VFD kicks off St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser
Aspinwall Volunteer Fire Department is taking orders for its fourth annual St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt fundraiser. The bright green long-sleeved shirts are emblazoned with the department’s call number, 102, on the front and a saw-wielding leprechaun on the back. Written in Gaelic is the phrase “Running through the flames.” “It...
Fox Chapel author weaves childhood memories with exotic musings
Memories of growing up in Fox Chapel, playing in the woods as a child and being called a “chappie” at Fox Chapel Area High School are golden threads for Lloyd Stamy. His book “Reunion of Strangers,” was published in December and weaves memories with musings. While Stamy uses his local,...
Camp Guyasuta opens summer job applications
For people dreaming of warmer temperatures in the face of a massive weekend snow prediction, Camp Guyasuta is now accepting applications for summer jobs. Camp Ranger Mike Daniher is looking for an aquatics director, camp counselors and volunteers to spend days at the 175-acre Boy Scout-owned sanctuary in O’Hara. There...
Parking along public roads prohibited in Fox Chapel during snow
In anticipation of this weekend’s predicted snow, Fox Chapel officials are reminding residents that street parking is prohibited during inclement weather. That includes snow and ice storms. The Pittsburgh region is expected to get 6 to 8 inches of snow Saturday, before turning to a rain/snow mix on Sunday. Vehicles...
Anonymous tip lines available to Fox Chapel Area students
Fox Chapel Area school officials are rolling out a plan to students to submit tips that could potentially thwart school violence. Safe2Say Something is a new statewide youth reporting system through which students can report incidents without giving their name or phone number. “We want parents and guardians to know...
Wrestling tourney in Fox Chapel tweaks schedule because of expected snow
With a definitive weekend weather forecast still outstanding, tweaks are being made to the schedule for the 18th annual Allegheny County High School Wrestling Championship at Fox Chapel Area High School. There will be an additional round of wrestling on Friday (Jan. 18), returning 12 wrestlers on Saturday instead of...
Addiction ministry launching in Sharpsburg
A new ministry at St. Juan Diego Parish is aimed at helping people suffering from substance addiction. “We want to reach out with compassion to the addicted and afflicted,” said the Rev. Michael Decewicz, parochial vicar. Addiction Recovery Ministry, or ARM, targets people with addiction issues, those in recovery and...
Registration open for Shady Side Academy baseball camps
The countdown to spring training is on at Shady Side Academy. The school is offering a baseball clinic for young players to learn the fundamentals of the game. Sessions are are aimed at children ages eight to 13, and will be led by former Major League Baseball players, SSA head...
Cyril Wecht shreds ‘nonsense’ JFK single-bullet theory for Fox Chapel Area studentsVideo
Renowned forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht enthralled a teenage audience at Fox Chapel Area High School with stories of flubbed autopsies and whizzing bullets during a Jan. 11 presentation on the assassination of President John Kennedy. He painted a gruesome portrayal of the final moments of Kennedy’s life for students, most...
O’Hara eyeing paving for Cornwall, Falconhurst; portions of RIDC possible
O’Hara council recently gave residents a peek at the roads to be targeted in this year’s summer paving program. Recommended for milling and resurfacing were Cornwall, Sunridge and Falconhurst drives, and Frick and Worthington roads. Alternates include Sigma, Gamma and Zeta drives in RIDC Park, along with chip sealing of...
North Hills Community Outreach offering help to people impacted by government shutdown
A local community group stepped up to help furloughed and unpaid federal employees during the government shutdown. North Hills Community Outreach will provide emergency food supplies for federal employees who live within one of the nearly 50 northern Allegheny County municipalities served by the nonprofit. “We have already begun receiving...
Fox Chapel ice rink erected; officials urge people to observe rules
The popular ice rink at McCahill Park in Fox Chapel has been erected just in time for the cold temps and snow expected from three potential storms this week. Already though, borough officials are asking people to observe the rules of the rink, particularly the “Closed” sign when posted. “The...
Valentine’s gift bags being compiled for homebound
Sunday school students from St. Juan Diego Parish already are gearing up for Valentine’s Day, planning to shower love on homebound members of the congregation. Students are hosting a collection of well-being items to fill gift bags that will be delivered in early February. Items sought are tea bags, cocoa...
Registration open for Shady Side Academy summer camps
Summer camp at Shady Side Academy might include ceramics, cooking, theater or sports — or all of the above. Registration is open for a bevy of summer programs offered from June 10 to Aug. 9. The nearly 50 flexible camps are aimed at children in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, and...
Dave Nemec to be sworn in as Aspinwall police chief
Veteran Aspinwall police officer Dave Nemec has been promoted to chief, filling a year-old vacancy and ending speculation on the search. He will be sworn in by council in February. “I feel humbled and honored to be appointed to the position,” Nemec said. The pay scale has not been determined,...
Preliminary results of police regionalization study to be released
Initial results of the Lower Valley police regionalization study will be released this week. Members of local government will meet Tuesday to hear preliminary findings of a state-conducted study on police mergers. The meeting is for participants only. Ron Stern, a retired police officer who works for the state Department...
