Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 93
Bethel Park teen located safely
Bethel Park police said a teen they were searching for has been found safe. Police issued an alert on its Facebook page Saturday that sought help looking for Maria Musciano, 16. According to an alert on the police Facebook page, Musciano was located early Sunday....
Leechburg food distribution organizers say need is clear as 600 boxes go in about 30 minutesVideo
Volunteers at a food distribution event Saturday in Leechburg swiftly doled out more than 600 boxes of fresh meat, yogurt and produce to people struggling with basic needs nearly a year into the lingering covid-19 pandemic. “The lines are crazy,” said volunteer Reilly Sullivan, 15. “We take for granted how...
Waynesburg man found dead after house fire
A Waynesburg man was found dead in his home after a Feb. 12 fire, authorities said. Daniel Ray Lemley, 54, was pronounced dead at about 7:30 a.m. after a fire in his home along South West Street, according to Greene County Coroner Gene Rush. The cause of death is pending,...
O’Hara eyeing up to 15 roads for summer paving
O’Hara council on Feb. 9 laid out its summer paving project, saying it is eyeing nine roads for improvements with the possibility of adding six alternates. The township’s $13.9 million budget includes $1.1 million for road work. Residents can expect to see the following roads milled and resurfaced in 2021:...
Etna Volunteer Fire Department hosts St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt fundraiser
Etna Volunteer Fire Department is sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt fundraiser but the money won’t pay for turnout gear or new equipment. It will help feed borough neighbors who are struggling during the covid-19 pandemic. Proceeds will benefit Bread of Life Food Pantry, housed in Calvert Memorial Presbyterian Church...
All Saints Church steps up to collect donations for Etna food pantry
The Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna has tripled its donation dropoff days in order to meet the climbing demand for help from hungry families. There has been a 33% spike in the number of people seeking food from the site at 94 Locust St., in the basement of...
Fox Chapel Area School Board mulling March return for middle, high school students
Fox Chapel Area School Board on Feb. 8 pushed back a full-time return to in-person class for older district students until at least March. Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac said the administrative team is weighing options for a potential return for students at Dorseyville Middle School and the high school, pending...
Lower Valley libraries combine literacy and laps for StoryWalks
Colorful pictures, entertaining text and fresh air will converge to engage Lower Valley families through a year-long series of StoryWalks. Hosted by Sharpsburg Community Library and Cooper-Siegel Community Library, the walks are scheduled to begin later this month and run through November. “Families will be able to walk and read...
Student news: Food drive, debate tournament, mock trial and more
The Shady Side Academy Senior School service learning club sponsored a virtual food drive and twice surpassed its fundraising goal, first of $500 and then of $1,000, to raise a total of $2,686 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Proceeds will provide up to 13,432 meals for those in...
A trip to Stippy’s in Blawnox is a sweet treatVideo
Something sweet has sprouted along Freeport Road in Blawnox. Stippy’s Sweet Treats, an old-time candy store, is stocked with all sorts of goodies from gumballs to guava soda to grab-and-go bags of gobstoppers. “Any adult that opens up a bucket of Bazooka and takes a big whiff, I guarantee the...
Little Free Pantry at Sharpsburg Community Library will help combat hunger
A new little pantry in Sharpsburg will help combat hunger and provide necessities that people might not be able to afford. The free food box will be erected at the Sharpsburg Community Library along Main Street. Filled with canned soup, boxed meals, beverages or basic toiletries, the pantry is expected...
Sharpsburg eyes roads for summer paving, seeks volunteers to fill human rights commission
Sharpsburg council has released the list of roads to be targeted in this year’s road paving program. Members are eyeing five streets for improvement, with bids accepted this month. If approved, the project will include 15th Street from Main to South Canal, Church Street from Main to Penn, Short Alley...
Fox Chapel Area to host virtual story time for prospective kindergarteners
Kindergarten story times typically offered as part of the Fox Chapel Area orientation for new students will be hosted virtually, beginning this month. District leaders said they didn’t want to miss the opportunity to reach out to prospective students, despite the lingering pandemic and related social distancing guidelines. “The school...
Shaler Area girls basketball team stands up against racism
When the Shaler Area varsity girls basketball team takes the court against North Allegheny on Feb. 15, hoops won’t be the only spotlight. Athletes on both teams plan to show a united front against racism. The Titans and Tigers will warm up before the 6 p.m. competition in black T-shirts...
Neighbor Spotlight: Sharpsburg garden manager working to provide access to nutrition in community without grocery storeVideo
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Fox Chapel councilwoman lobbies local governments to ban coal tar
Fox Chapel councilwoman Mandy Steele considered it a victory when the borough became the first in the state to ban coal tar, a toxic chemical used to seal asphalt driveways. But she’s not resting with that singular win. “I plan on going in front of all the councils in Allegheny...
Aspinwall school forges ahead with Catholic Schools Week despite pandemic restrictions
There were no donuts with grandparents this year for Catholic Schools Week, nor was there a staff versus students kickball game. Still, Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (CDTCA) in Aspinwall found a way to mark each day with a special celebration of their faith. “The pandemic isn’t stopping us,”...
Triboro Ecodistrict awarded Hillman Foundation grant for sustainability projects
The Etna EcoPark is among several Lower Valley projects to get a boost from the Hillman Foundation this week, which announced $250,000 for sustainability programs in the borough, along with those in Millvale and Sharpsburg. Money was awarded to the Triboro Ecodistrict, a partnership between New Sun Rising, Etna Community...
Longtime member Jeff Stephens takes reins at Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company
As the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company nears its 100th anniversary, members have elected a new chief — one who has served nearly half of the department’s existence. Jeff Stephens, a 42-year member, was elected in January to a two-year term after longtime head George McBriar retired. “I would like to...
Sharpsburg considering volunteer litter program to beautify streets
Sharpsburg councilman Jon Jaso wants residents to walk the walk when it comes to keeping the borough clean. He is spearheading an Adopt-a-Street program where volunteers would pledge to rid litter from a section of borough roads. “They would have to do a cleanup once a quarter, or more if...
Giant Eagle lauded for LGBTQ workplace policies
Giant Eagle was named tops in corporate policies related to LGBTQ workplace quality, in part for its equitable benefits and fostering an inclusive culture, according to a national benchmarking survey. The O’Hara-based company earned a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). “We...
Top stories from across the Lower Valley for the week of Jan. 25Video
Here are some of the top stories of the week of Jan. 25: - Sharpsburg budget holds taxes steady Sharpsburg residents will pay the same real estate taxes to the borough in 2021. The property tax rate will remain 7.5 mills, meaning the owner of a home assessed at $100,000...
Sharpsburg seeks to fill council seat after longtime member Greg Domian resigns
Sharpsburg is seeking interested volunteers to fill a vacancy on council. Longtime member Greg Domian resigned, citing personal reasons. Manager Bill Rossey said the appointee would fill the term through Dec. 31. Anyone interested must be a registered voter and have lived in the borough for at least a year....
Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church reopens its Harvest Fair for February
After a two-month hiatus, the Harvest Fair at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church is back up and running. The fleatique fundraiser remains by appointment only. The popular shopping event was shut down in late-November for covid-19-related concerns when numbers began to creep up prior to the holidays. “We finally have the...
New portal sign welcomes visitors to Blawnox
A new portal sign erected in Blawnox will greet visitors and help boost curb appeal. Visitors entering the borough along Freeport Road from Harmar or Oakmont might notice the blue and gold greeting at the end of town just beyond the Sunoco station. “It’s a way to welcome people,” Manager...
